Earlier this week two Oklahoma City officials were found guilty of negligent asbestos exposure allowing asbestos to be removed and released into the air.

The two men were accused of knowingly exposing two inmates to asbestos dust and forcing them to remove it without proper protection in accordance with the law.

The Allegations

The City Manager of Elk City, Oklahoma, Guy R. Hylton, Jr. and a building superintendent, Chick Arthur Little, reportedly used two inmates from the Elk City Work Center to remove asbestos from an old railroad depot.

According to the court papers, the two inmates were not provided with the proper protective gear to be working with and around the dangerous carcinogen.

The law requires anyone working around asbestos to wear protective clothing and take protective measures; however, the city officials did not give the inmates such options.

Jury Decides

After hearing the case, the jury concluded that the city officials knowingly and negligently caused the release of asbestos into the air putting the inmates and other residents in the surrounding areas at risk.

“Public officials used prisoners to remove cancer-causing asbestos without protective equipment,” explained Granta Nakayama, EPA assistant administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “All people deserve protection from exposure to environmental hazards, no matter their station in life.”

(Source: Newswire)

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