In December 2022, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) issued an enforcement order against Mistick Construction Company and its associated entities for violating asbestos abatement regulations during the renovation of 49 properties in Pittsburgh’s North Side. The violations, which included a failure to conduct required asbestos surveys, exposed both workers and residents to serious health risks and underscored the dangers of improper handling of hazardous materials.
At the heart of the violations was the failure of the respondents to comply with the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), which mandates that asbestos surveys be conducted prior to any demolition or renovation work. Asbestos, a known carcinogen, can cause life-threatening conditions such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis when its fibers become airborne and are inhaled. ACHD discovered that the 49 properties, part of a multi-phase renovation project, had undergone substantial renovation without these surveys, violating both federal and local laws.
A complaint from a concerned citizen prompted the ACHD’s investigation, which revealed that asbestos had been detected in six of the renovated properties. However, ACHD noted that the absence of asbestos in the remaining structures at the time of inspection was not indicative of safety; it was possible that asbestos had been disturbed and improperly handled during earlier phases of the renovation. The potential exposure to asbestos for workers and nearby residents is deeply concerning, as the health consequences of inhaling asbestos fibers can take decades to manifest, making immediate impacts invisible but potentially devastating in the long term.
Beyond the health risks, Mistick’s disregard for safety protocols, including the absence of asbestos abatement permits and the failure to maintain negative air pressure to prevent asbestos contamination, raised significant environmental concerns. The ACHD’s enforcement order highlighted multiple instances where critical safeguards were ignored. For example, there were no clearly visible warning signs at the worksites alerting passersby to the presence of asbestos, and proper containment measures such as sealing off work areas and maintaining adequate ventilation were not followed.
The economic ramifications of these violations are nothing to sneeze at!
ACHD initially assessed a civil penalty of $4.2 million, a figure later negotiated down to $754,600. Yet, the cost to public health and the local economy may far exceed these penalties. The neighborhoods in question are already vulnerable, with many low-income residents. The potential for long-term health impacts from asbestos exposure could lead to increased medical costs, reduced work capacity, and a strain on public health resources in Allegheny County.
The enforcement order indicates that this was not the first asbestos-related violation for Mistick Construction. A previous infraction occurred during the company’s work on the Brewhouse project in Pittsburgh’s South Side, where they were similarly cited for failing to obtain the necessary permits for asbestos abatement.
Despite these prior penalties, the company engaged in further violations, suggesting a pattern of negligence that puts both workers and the public at risk.
The social impact of these violations cannot be understated. Pittsburgh’s North Side is a historically significant and economically diverse area, home to families, schools, and businesses. For many residents, the discovery of asbestos violations in their community brings a new layer of anxiety and uncertainty, as they now grapple with the potential for invisible, long-term health hazards. Moreover, these violations disproportionately affect the most vulnerable, as low-income and minority communities are often the ones most exposed to environmental hazards due to inadequate housing conditions and regulatory oversight.
This man right here is Bud Wilson. He was in charge of the construction of the commercial properties at Mistick when all this was going down.
He has a LinkedIn page.
This man is Bob Mistick (CEO and owner). He inherited the company from his late father.
