New Hampshire Man Will Spend Six Days in Jail for Asbestos Violations

Paul Davis of Winchester, New Hampshire was sentenced to one year in jail after being found guilty of violating environmental law during an asbestos removal project.

The judge suspended all but 6 days of the sentence, so Davis will spend less than a week in jail despite the fact that he endangered many lives in his community. Davis will also be fined $3,000.

Davis did not have the proper asbestos abatement contractor license to undertake asbestos work, meaning that he may have endangered lives throughout his community. Ordinarily, a certfied asbestos removal worker takes many precautions to protect himself and the people around him from inhaling toxic asbestos fibers.

The indictments facing Davis related to a asbestos abatement project at 127 School Street in Keene, New Hampshire. The incident got the attention of the State Attorney General and Keene Police Department, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division.

“The improper removal of asbestos creates a significant health risk to the people who live or work in the immediate area of the removal. Strict enforcement of the laws regulating the safe handling of asbestos is necessary to protect the residents of our state,” said Attorney General Ayotte.

Asbestos is a known carcinogen. Airborne asbestos fibers can become lodged in the lungs if inhaled. These deadly particles can then hasten the development of such deadly diseases as asbestosis, lung cancer, and pleural mesothelioma.

Asbestos was once commonly used in building materials such as fireproofing, insulation, tiles, and even some cements and paints. The deadly substance, once prized for resistance to heat and chemical damage, is now known to be a deadly killer.

Source: http://www.doj.nh.gov/publications/nreleases2009/012109.html