The Answer is Up There
Friday, November 10th, 2006Commentary by Lance Hill November 10, 2006 It’s an open question for social psychologists whether or not suffering makes people more compassionate or simply hardens their heart to the suffering of others. For those of us living in New Orleanians in the aftermath of Katrina, the answer may be right over our heads. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused roof damage to tens of thousands of buildings in New Orleans that were roofed with asbestos shingles. Unfortunately, under Louisiana law, no asbestos abatement precautions are required for most owner-occupied homes or commercial rental properties with four or fewer units. Everyday in New Orleans you can witness the widespread removal of roofing-material in which asbestos shingles are ripped from roofs and thrown from the roof into open dumpsters. If the tiles break or are spread on driveways and in lawns where they can be crushed, they can eventually release asbestos dust which can be inhaled by roofing workers, building tenants, and neighbors. Fibrous asbestos is also being removed from buildings without adequate precautions in other building materials forms such as floor tile, acoustic ceiling tile, and fireproofing.
Asbestos particles released from shingles when inhaled can cause numerous respiratory diseases, including asbestosis and lung cancer (plueral mesothelioma). Children playing in yards adjacent to homes that had asbestos improperly removed can disturb fibers in the yard and inhale them months after roof repairs. The same is true for yard workers who inadvertently stir up asbestos fibers when they mow lawns.
The danger to roofing workers and tenants is obvious. Roofing workers in New Orleans since Katrina are mostly itinerant Latino laborers and it is common to see them working without respirators and protective clothing, in clear violation of OSHA regulations that require personal protection equipment for workers handling asbestos materials. On several occasions I have seen Latinos working on roofs in the complete dark of night with no lights whatsoever—and with no apparent concern from the home owners. Rental occupants and neighbors are seldom informed that asbestos dust might be contaminating their breathing air during renovations or that it can be tracked into homes or deposited into their yards. In the coming years, thousands of homes damaged by Katrina will have asbestos removed which can create potential health hazards for workers, renters, and neighbors. Since a large number of the roofing workers are illegal aliens, we can expect that they will eventually be sent back to the countries of origin, carrying in their lungs the seeds of a long and painful death.
Although the potential health crisis cuts across income lines, poor African Americans who rent in older neighborhoods are more likely to be exposed to asbestos health dangers in the future. Once again, Katrina is exacerbating inequality and health disparities. Insurance companies are contributing to the problem by not covering the added costs of asbestos abatement, which can double the price of a new roof. But the ultimate decision of whether or not to endanger the health of roofing workers and contaminate a neighborhood with asbestos rests with local home owners and rental owners. They can insist on safe asbestos abatement procedures, which most roofing companies are trained and licensed to perform.
Everyone who was affected by Katrina has suffered, but we need to be vigilant that our own suffering does not make us indifferent to the suffering of others. Our actions in the future will prove if were merely survived Katrina or if we grew as a community from the tragedy.
_______________________
Lance Hill is Executive Director of the Southern Institute for Education and Research at Tulane University and author of Deacons for Defense: Armed Resistance and the Civil Rights Movement. Permission is granted to link or republish at no cost. You can subscribe to his commentaries at http://www.southerninstitute.info/commentaries