A number of employees of the town of Amherst, New York were recently exposed to asbestos during demolition work performed as part of an upgrade of the town’s Sewage Treatment Plant. The employees were replacing failing filters at the treatment plant, which requires the removal of a concrete pipe that is attached to each filter. One of the employees became concerned that the pipe might contain asbestos, so they checked with the plant managers who verified that the pipe was made of concrete mixed with asbestos. The angry workers then complained to the town because they were not given the proper protective gear for working with asbestos. The town’s engineer, Jeffrey Burroughs, said that neither the town nor the plant’s mangers had any idea that the exposed pipes contained asbestos and had they known, they would never have knowingly exposed the workers without informing them. He said most pipes that used asbestos were buried underground and they were as surprised as the workers to see a pipe in the open.

The town has since sealed off the area and secured the necessary funds to bring in an asbestos removal contractor.

Labels: asbestos