Truck carrying asbestos overturns on queens highway

NEW YORK â€" A tractor trailer driver lost control of his truck on the Clearview Expressway around 2 pm Sunday and spilled asbestos containing material across the road. Artur Gaska, 39, was driving on the highway Sunday afternoon when he lost control of his tractor trailer truck and struck the median, then overturned the trailer. Waste in the back of the truck spilled across the road. That waste turned out to be toxic asbestos containing material. Gaska fled the scene and was arrested later in Philadelphia. Police are still questioning him about his cargo and its destination. Asbestos is classified as a toxic substance by the EPA. Even in very small amounts, asbestos dust in the air may cause a number of serious illness when inhaled. Among the illnesses are lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, a rare cancer that is more prevalent among certain occupational groups that worked with asbestos. Because asbestos dust presents a serious health hazard, the federal government has strict regulations regarding its removal and disposal. Asbestos, which is very often present in older homes, must be removed from all properties to be demolished before demolition begins. The asbestos removal must be carried out by a trained and licensed contractors who take specific precautions to avoid releasing asbestos into the atmosphere. The methods of removing asbestos safely include containment by plastic to keep asbestos fibers in a small area, and the use of protective equipment when working with asbestos containing materials. In addition, asbestos containing materials may only be taken for disposal to landfills that are equipped to handle the hazardous substance. Asbestos removal can add considerably to the cost of demolition and renovations. Many major cities are facing the problem of dilapidated and crumbling properties that have been abandoned by their owners who will not pay the costs of asbestos abatement before demolishing their buildings. Those buildings become both a public safety hazard and a health hazard when the asbestos containing materials inside begin to deteriorate and release asbestos into the atmosphere. Improper removal and/or disposal of asbestos debris carry heavy fines, and may put a company in line for multiple fines for a single incident. If the truck’s asbestos laden cargo was being hauled illegally or being transported to an illegal asbestos dump site, Gaska’s employers, as well as Gaska himself, could find themselves facing criminal charges, civil fines and punitive fines, as well as expensive penalties from a number of different agencies. Police are still uncertain about the details of the crash and why Gaska left the scene of the accident, but there are reports that the truck was covered only with a tarp. Because of the dangers of airborne asbestos fibers, asbestos is supposed to be hauled in closed containers. Officials closed the Clearview Expressway for over 12 hours while workers from the Department of Environmental Protection cleaned up the asbestos spill wearing hazmat suits and gas masks. “(asbestos) is very dangerous when it’s airborne,” said trucker Vinny Chieffo, who added that the truck should not have been carrying asbestos with just a drape over it. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)