Asbestos Testing Services

Boston, Massachusetts, March 24, 2023

Last month, the Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts announced that a construction company, plumbing contractor and a demolition company will pay up to $325,000 in civil penalties to settle claims of illegal asbestos work during a renovation project at a public university in the state.

According to the announcement, the three firms are alleged to have violated the state’s clean air law and asbestos regulations by repeatedly and illegally failing to properly remove and dispose of asbestos or asbestos-containing-materials (ACM) in a campus dormitory that was unoccupied by students but housed an open and operational student health services center. The AG’s Office alleges that the defendants’ actions threatened the health and safety of their workers, nearby residents, university employees working in the dormitory and student health center, and the surrounding neighborhood.

“Anytime a building or structure is demolished or renovated without properly handling any asbestos-containing materials, asbestos fibers could easily be released into the environment endangering anyone in the area,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. This is why disturbing asbestos is highly regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and many states that administer their own asbestos programs. Failure to comply with these requirements can not only jeopardize people’s health, the penalties and litigation associated with these types of cases can be exceptionally costly for companies and individuals.”

The only way to know for sure if a material contains asbestos is to have it tested. EMSL Analytical, a leading provider of material, industrial hygiene and environmental testing for asbestos and other regulated substances, has a laboratory in Massachusetts and dozens more across the United States and Canada. Their asbestos experts provide laboratory services, sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, air monitoring instruments, building inspection tools and personal protective equipment.

To learn more about asbestos or other environmental, health and safety testing resources, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800)220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com. To access test kits for asbestos or other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) issues, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com. 

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.