Workers were jackhammering a balcony for removal at an old structure in Spring Valley, Rockland County, New York last Friday when an asbestos-filled ceiling partially collapsed on them, leaving many of the laborers with cuts and bruises and causing fear about exposure to hazardous asbestos material.

According to an article in the Journal News, the building – an old school district administration building now owned by the United Talmudical Academy – had some structural issues, but the owners also lacked a village permit that would have allowed them proper and safe removal of the building’s mezzanine level. They have since been issued stop-work orders and violations notices, said a Spring Valley Village official.

Though the Satmar Hasidic Jewish religious institution had filed for a permit, they failed to wait until the request was reviewed and the permit issued. Instead, they chose to proceed without proper notification and – say the workers – without letting them know asbestos was present in the structure. Spring Valley Fire Dept. Captain Ray Canario said the workers also weren’t dressed in the proper safety gear needed for the safe handling of asbestos. Hence, the workers had to be decontaminated because their bodies and clothes were covered with asbestos dust. Firefighters, police, and emergency medical personnel also had to undergo decontamination to be sure they were free of toxic asbestos fibers, which can cause mesothelioma and other lung ailments.

After the collapse, Canario requested assistance from the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), which sent a representative to the site. OSHA notes that additional charges may be brought against the Satmar Hasidic Jewish community, which is already facing a fine of $5000 per day for the violation of working without a proper permit.

Two workers were immediately taken to the hospital for obvious injuries, says Canario. Others who were present at the site face the potential of someday developing asbestosis or asbestos-caused mesothelioma due to the negligence of the building’s owners.

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