Michigan man files whistleblower lawsuit against former employer
Ray Barker II of North Branch, Michigan, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging that his former employer, the Genesee County Community Action Resource Department (GCCARD), put workers and the community in danger while weatherizing homes last year. Barker claims he was fired after alerting his superiors to the dangers of using powerful equipment to uproot asbestos-laden insulation from up to 75 area homes. He also claims that the weatherization work, intended to make the low-income homes more energy efficient and better equipped for winter temperatures, raised clouds of dust.
Steve Walker, GCCARD executive director, says that the story is simply not true, and that Baker was fired for poor performance on the job. He insists that the company follows all safety procedures and protocols.
The Michigan Occupational Safety & Health Administration (MIOSHA) guidelines for asbestos handling specify that if a material is suspected of containing asbestos, the work should stop so the material can be tested. Asbestos exposure can lead to serious illnesses like asbestosis and mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.
For the full story, go to Flint Journal.
