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April 10, 2013
Paterson, NJ - As authorities in Paterson, New Jersey continue to investigate why prison inmates and untrained municipal employees were charged with the task of removing asbestos materials from municipal offices that were undergoing renovation, the city has finally decided to seek out a private licensed contractor to remove and disposal of the toxic debris.
“This is part of being in compliance with what (the state) requested,” Paterson Public Works Director Christopher Coke said, noting that the city council will meet next week to vote on a resolution that charges them with the task of gathering bids to complete the project.
In the meantime, many still wonder what city officials were thinking when they drafted inmates and employees not licensed to handle asbestos to start the job several months ago. The city’s law department and the state’s labor department have confirmed that they are involved in the investigation as is Sheriff Richard Berdnik, who is interested in learning the facts because the inmates used in the project were part of his Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (SLAP).
“Our guys weren’t equipped to do that and we weren’t educated to do that,” said Michael Jackson, a member of the executive board of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 2272, referring to the municipal workers. “The city tried to cut costs and it put people in danger.”
Coke claims, however, that the workers were never in danger of asbestos exposure. He says all employees were given masks and gloves while working inside the Ellison Street structure and that air and dust samples were taken and came back negative. Others say that Coke brought in a fan to clear the dust before the samples were taken.
Now, the inmates and municipal workers remain worried about their health, aware that inhaling asbestos fibers could eventually cause severe respiratory problems and issues such as the development of mesothelioma cancer.
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