Lawrence Contractor Penalized $46,150 for Asbestos Violations Found During Inspection in Burlington

Licensed Asbestos-abatement Contractors Working at Commercial Building

depBOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) penalized two asbestos-abatement contractors $46,150 each for violations found during a routine inspection of a work site at 64 Cambridge Street in Burlington. All State Abatement Professionals of Plaistow, N.H. and Cruz Abatement and Contracting Services of Lawrence had been contracted to perform asbestos abatement work at this commercial site.

MassDEP found during its December 9, 2014 inspection of this property that approximately 150 linear feet of pipe-wrap asbestos-containing material had been removed with glove bags that did not have air-tight seals. Failure to adequately wet the asbestos material prior to removal in this manner would cause airborne asbestos fibers, which pose a health risk. Asbestos is known to cause asbestosis and various forms of cancer.

Additional violations at the renovation site included failure to have the asbestos-removal work area isolated with barriers, vents or doors, and putting asbestos-containing waste into improperly sealed bags that were not labeled as required.

“Preventing asbestos fibers from becoming airborne is essential, and failure like this is not acceptable,” said Eric Worrall, director of MassDEP’s Northeast Regional Office in Wilmington.  “Removal, bagging, labeling, shipping and disposing of asbestos must be done properly and safely to protect workers and the general public.”

All State Abatement Professionals was the lead contractor, and will pay $10,500 of its penalty and the remaining $35,650 will be suspended provided there are no additional violations for one year following the date of its last payment to the Commonwealth.

Cruz Abatement and Contracting, which was retained as a sub-contractor, will pay $10,000 of its penalty and the remaining $36,150 will be suspended provided there are no additional violations for one year following the date of its last payment to the Commonwealth.

Property owners or contractors with questions about asbestos-containing materials, notification requirements, proper removal, handling, packaging, storage and disposal procedures, or the asbestos regulations are encouraged to contact the appropriate MassDEP Regional Office for assistance at: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/about/contacts/

MassDEP is responsible for ensuring clean air and water, safe management and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources