In a stark reminder of workplace safety, New Jersey contractor Jose Correa has pleaded guilty to a serious environmental crime that endangered construction workers in East Harlem. During a supermarket renovation project in late 2022, Correa made a dangerous and illegal decision that could have had devastating consequences.

VIOLATION OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
Instead of hiring certified asbestos abatement professionals, Correa instructed his construction workers to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles and mastic without proper safety equipment. This reckless approach exposed workers to potentially fatal asbestos contamination, violating federal environmental regulations.

PLACING WORkERS AT IMMINENT RISK
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York took swift action. Correa now faces up to one year in prison for negligently releasing asbestos into the air, putting workers at imminent risk of serious injury or death.

Key details of the case include:

- Location: A supermarket in East Harlem, Manhattan

- Time frame: November to December 2022

- Violation: Negligent release of asbestos, breaking the Clean Air Act

- Contractor: Jose Correa, 66, from Englewood, New Jersey

GRAVE RISKS OF ASBESTOS EXPOSURE
EPA-CID Special Agent Tyler Amon emphasized the grave risks, noting that asbestos exposure can lead to cancer, including mesothelioma, lung disease, and serious respiratory conditions. The case serves as a critical warning to contractors about the importance of following safety protocols and hiring qualified professionals for hazardous work.

This prosecution underscores a crucial message: cutting corners on safety is not only illegal but can put human lives at direct risk.

New Jersey Contractor Pleads Guilty To Negligent Release Of Asbestos

Recommended Citation: Gelman, Jon L., NJ Contractor Cuts Corners, Risks Worker Lives, www.gelmans.com (12/13/2024) https://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/2024/12/nj-contractor-cuts-corners-risks-worker.html

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*Jon L. Gelman of Wayne, NJ, is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters). For over five decades, the Law Offices of Jon Gelman 1.973.696.7900
jon@gelmans.com has represented injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational illnesses and diseases.