Church Ceiling Collapse Injures 12, Triggers Asbestos Investigation
By Jim Greene
Published on July 03, 2010
After the recent collapse of a portion of the ceiling in a North Carolina church caused minor injuries to 12 people, local officials are investigating the possibility that the incident exposed dangerous asbestos fibers. One official said the presence of asbestos is likely, since the church was built when the cancer-causing material was in widespread use.
About 150 people were attending Sunday services at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Hickory, about 60 miles northwest of Charlotte, when a portion of the ceiling collapsed. The resulting shower of debris sent 12 members of the congregation to the hospital with minor injuries. All were treated and released by that evening.
County Official Says Asbestos Presence Likely
Joel Herman, interim chief of building services for Catawba County, said the ceiling material would be tested for asbestos. He said the church was built in 1958, when asbestos was commonly used in building construction and the link between asbestos fibers and the incurable cancer mesothelioma was not fully understood.
Herman said that any asbestos found would be removed by trained professionals. He said his department would also investigate whether the collapse was the result of original construction or repairs to the ceiling in 1994.
Asbestos Exposure is Only Known Cause of Deadly Cancer
Inhaling asbestos fibers is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a cancer that attacks the outer lining of the lungs and heart, as well as the inner lining of the chest and abdomen. The incurable disease develops gradually, so it cannot be diagnosed until years after its onset.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the use of asbestos in most commercial applications in 1989. The success of a subsequent court challenge allowed trace amounts in certain products, but it is no longer used in most building materials. EPA guidelines call for the removal of any exposed asbestos.
If you have developed mesothelioma or lost a loved one to this incurable cancer, contact an experienced product liability/personal injury attorney. Through successful litigation, many mesothelioma victims have received financial compensation from those held responsible for their asbestos exposure. You may be eligible for similar compensation to help with medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering, or loss of companionship.
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