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Asbestos Removal Supervisor Sentenced to Prison

March 13, 2000

A former supervisor was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison, two months home detention and three years probation for ignoring safe asbestos removal procedures.

EHS Today Staff

A former supervisor at a renovation and demolition project at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Whidbey Island, Wash., was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison, two months home detention and three years probation.

Thomas Pearson received his sentence after the court found that he was guilty of violating the Clean Air Act and ignoring safe asbestos removal procedures in June and July 1996.

Pearson directed workers to remove asbestos-containing material from pipes, tanks and boilers at the Air Station's central heating plant without first wetting the asbestos to prevent the airborne release of asbestos fibers.

Approximately 700 bags of dry asbestos-containing material were found at the project site.

Inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer, a lung disease known as "asbestosis" and mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the chest and abdominal cavities.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.