State Agencies Investigate UConn’s Asbestos Mishandling

Three state agencies have opened an investigation into asbestos violations that exposed employees at the University of Connecticut to the cancer-causing substance during a renovation of the school president’s office.

The state Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Labor and Department of Public Health are each looking into the incident to find out if UConn violated asbestos regulations. The school could be fined for any violations.

The incident took place during a renovation project in UConn President Michael Hogan’s office at Gulley Hall that started in last August. The state Labor Department will be investigating if any Occupational Safety and Health Administration laws were violated.

The DEP is investigating how UConn handled any asbestos once employees removed the materials from the building, according to DEP spokesman Dennis Schain. Schain said any violations taking place occurring inside the building would fall under the scope of the DPH or labor department.

UConn spokesman Michael Kirk said the university is working with all the agencies that sent compliance officers to the UConn campus for investigation.

It was on October 1 that employees replacing flooring informed UConn’s office of Environmental Health and Safety regarding two materials they noticed under the flooring. Both the substances were tested for asbestos and one of the results came back positive.

Asbestos exposure can cause respiratory problems and, at times, terminal diseases such as mesothelioma.

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