Marshal, NC Town Hall Renovation May Have Violated Asbestos Regulations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently received an asbestos complaint from a volunteer architect in Marshall, North Carolina.

Katherine Bond was volunteering her time and expertise for renovations for the new town hall when she discovered that the town may have improperly removed asbestos from a city building.

In a letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Bond wrote, “What started as a concern over a potential fire hazard with new insulation being placed on an existing ceiling has resulted in the improper removal of material which I believe contains asbestos. This material was removed by town employees without proper equipment and job site safety procedures.”

A number of diseases can be caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was popularly used for insulation qualities until the 1970s when it was found to be a health hazard. Diseases such as asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer, are often caused by airborne asbestos fibers. Due to a long latency period, symptoms often take 20 to 50 years to appear.

Laws in North Carolina prevent demolition or renovations in structures that contain asbestos unless it has been properly removed so dangerous airborne fibers are not released. This asbestos abatement can only be preformed by accredited professionals according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Luther Nix, the Town Alderman, said he thought the renovations were compliant with OSHA’s regulations but would invite the organization to evaluate the work to be sure it was done properly.