Asbestos Abatement Company Causes Mesothelioma Risk
An asbestos removal company is the subject of a health complaint from the Public Justice Center (PJC) that alleges it put its workers at risk of potentially developing deadly asbestos illnesses such as mesothelioma.
According to the Baltimore Sun, the PJC claims that WMS Solutions LLC forced its employees to purchase their own asbestos safety equipment – which includes goggles, gloves, and respirators - and pay for the proper medical exams that were required to perform asbestos abatement for the company. If workers didn't make the payments upfront, the costs were deducted from their paychecks.
The complaint also claims that some WMS employees working at two specific work sites were forced to wash respirator filters and reuse. Other workers on the site were given fresh filters as often as twice a week.
These actions would violate federal laws instituted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that require employers to provide proper protection to employees who must work with dangerous materials such as asbestos.
The PJC is seeking an investigation and for WMS workers to be reimbursed for the hundreds of dollars they have spent on supplies, tests, and training for their job. Bills that are currently pending in the state House and Senate are also seeking to add additional legal protection for workers who handle asbestos materials.
If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos at work and now suffers from mesothelioma, contact Sokolove Law today to learn more about pursuing a mesothelioma lawsuit.