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Senior Living Facility Company in California Agrees to $1.125 Million Settlement to Resolve Alleged Asbestos Violations

Asbestos Testing Services

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	9/23/2024
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	Senior Living Facility Company in California Agrees to $1.125 Million Settlement to Resolve Alleged Asbestos Violations
Introduction	EMSL Analytical offers laboratory services, sampling supplies, test kits, air monitoring instruments, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to identify and mitigate exposure risks to asbestos to protect people and to help keep companies in regulatory compliance.
Santa Clara, California, September 23, 2024 The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office recently announced that it, along with the District Attorney’s Offices of Monterey, Alameda, San Francisco, and Sonoma counties, reached a $1,125,000 settlement with a senior living facility company after alleging the business failed to test for asbestos in its homes for seniors. The company had been accused of asbestos-related violations at eight of their senior living facilities in the state. It was reported that prosecutors claimed that between 2014 and 2022, the company performed extensive renovations at some of their facilities, but failed to obtain building permits and failed to test for asbestos before the renovations. According to the settlement announcement: Owners and operators of buildings undergoing demolition and renovation must have building materials sampled and tested to determine if asbestos is present before starting work, even if a facility has previously been renovated. In general, where regulated asbestos containing materials are present and will be disturbed, qualified and licensed asbestos abatement contractors must be used to ensure that all asbestos is removed before it is disturbed. “In this case, the senior living facility company will pay $700,000 in civil penalties, $162,500 in funding for college-level science courses to educate students about air pollution and air quality management, and $262,500 in investigative cost reimbursement,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc.. “At EMSL Analytical, Inc, our California laboratories offer material, industrial hygiene, and environmental testing for asbestos. We also provide sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, air monitoring instruments, and a comprehensive range of personal protective equipment. These services and resources protect building occupants and workers, and can be instrumental in helping companies avoid these types of costly health and safety penalties.” To learn more about asbestos or other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) testing resources, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675, or email info@EMSL.com. For access to IEQ test kits, 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.