Asbestos remover claims exposure to toxic chemical in suit

An employee of Midwest Asbestos Abatement alleges he suffered injuries to his hands, lungs and whole body after coming into contact with a hazardous chemical on a job site at Solutia, Inc. in Sauget.

Daniel P. Foley is seeking in excess of $200,000 in damages from Solutia, its employees Thomas Gartzke and Terri Watkins, as well as NPN Environmental Engineers, Inc., a company in charge of maintaining worksites free of adverse environmental concerns, court papers say.

According to a suit filed July 25 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Foley claims that while removing asbestos at a job site July 9, 2007, he came into contact with p-nitroaniline, a chemical used as an intermediate in the synthesis of dyes, antioxidants, pharmaceuticals and gasoline, in gum inhibitors, poultry medicines, and as a corrosion inhibitor, according to Wikipedia.

Among other things, Foley claims the defendants failed to have proper safety, fire or engineering consulting personnel in the area where he was working.

"Said defendant(s) failed to provide any or adequate instructions or training for the plaintiff or his fellow employees regarding the work being performed and exposure to the chemical p-nitroaniline," the complaint states.

He also claims the defendants failed to provide or require the use of protective clothing, respirators, gloves or boots for workers.

According to Wikipedia, p-Nitroaniline is "particularly harmful to all aquatic organisms, and can cause long-term damage to the environment if released as a pollutant."

Foley is represented by Grey Chatham of Belleville.