ASBESTOS REMOVAL AND TESTING
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Hiring an asbestos abatement company, and not doing it yourself, is the wisest and safest decision when it comes to removing asbestos from any residential, commercial or public building. Asbestos abatement companies will properly test for the toxic mineral, follow strict regulations and processes, and carry the right abatement removal equipment to keep them, others and you safe from exposure.
Before renovating or tearing down a building or home, the structure should be tested for asbestos because exposure to asbestos fibers may lead to health problems. Although asbestos-containing products are generally safe when left undisturbed, they become brittle over time and can crumble. But the popularity of do-it-yourself (DIY) projects has heightened possible asbestos exposure.
If damaged asbestos-containing materials are not properly removed by an asbestos abatement company, they can endanger your life and the lives of others who come into contact with asbestos dust, fibers or raw asbestos materials.
Asbestos abatement companies are not all the same. Some specialize only in asbestos abatement, while others offer environmental services, demolition services and general contracting services that may include abatement.
Within the U.S., asbestos abatement regulations vary from state to state and city to city, some extend beyond the federal laws that require Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) licensing.
Abatement begins with a certified asbestos inspector who takes samples of suspected asbestos. Samples are analyzed at a laboratory to determine the extent of the problem. The asbestos removal can be complex and includes several site preparations.
Asbestos is still present in many structures and is still used in some industrial processes and commercially available products. However some asbestos-containing products and materials have been banned. Information on banned asbestos materials can be found at the website of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Note: The California Business & Professions Code 7180(b) allows Contractors with AHERA-certified asbestos inspector training to take up to 12 samples in residential dwellings for bid preparation, employee health and safety or contract completion purposes. Be aware only a Cal/OSHA-Certified Asbestos Consultant (see below) can interpret the results and provide a full range of asbestos consulting services.
Anyone thinking about removing asbestos may want to contact a Cal/OSHA-Certified Asbestos Consultant. Only a Cal/OSHA-Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) can provide asbestos consulting (as defined by the Business and Professions Code, 7180-7189.7, and triggered by the same size and concentration triggers as for registered contractors). These services include building inspection, abatement project design, contract administration, supervision of site surveillance technicians, sample collection, preparation of asbestos management plans, and clearance air monitoring.
Cal/OSHA does not recommend specific asbestos removal contractors. For general guidance on choosing a contractor, see the Contractor's State License Board 10 Tips and other guides at www.cslb.ca.gov A Cal/OSHA-Certified Asbestos Consultant may help this process. In choosing a contractor, you may want to consider a contractor's experience, work plan, proof of training and other documentation, and compliance history. See the Cal/OSHA and U.S. EPA compliance history database www.osha.gov/oshstats/. Note: the U.S. EPA database will not include all violations issued by local air quality districts. You can also contact them directly.
If you do call us directly, we will discuss your concerns. The ACRU does review the results of investigations by Cal/OSHA Enforcement and other agencies. We may take separate administrative action, particularly if registrants display a pattern of non-compliance with asbestos and related laws and regulations.
The following is a summary of the major asbestos notification and information requirements in 8 CCR 1529, 5203, 341.6-341.14 and the California Health & Safety Code. See the codes for the complete requirements. Note: Employers also have additional informational duties towards their employees under 8 CCR 1529, 1509 or 3203 (the Injury and Illness Prevention Program requirements for construction and general industry), 3204 (Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records), as well as other Title 8 regulations.
Asbestos is a fibrous natural mineral once used in a variety of building materials. It is known to cause lung cancer and respiratory diseases. MassDEP regulates abatement, construction and demolition projects that involve asbestos.
The physical properties that give asbestos its resistance to heat and decay are also linked with a number of adverse human health effects. Asbestos tends to break apart into a dust of microscopic fibers that remain suspended in the air for a long time. When inhaled, these fibers can cause:
Although seldom used in construction since the late 1980s, building materials that contain asbestos are still legal to sell. They can be found in structures of all ages in various forms: decorative plasters, fireproofing, resilient flooring, heating system insulation, wallboard joint compound systems, mastics, roofing, exterior siding, and more.
See the MassDEP Asbestos Information & Resource Guide in Additional Resources below to learn more about state and federal regulatory requirements and find answers to common questions about asbestos.
The Department of Labor Standards (DLS) regulates occupational asbestos exposure in Massachusetts. The agency also licenses asbestos removal contractors, analytical laboratories, and training providers.
Before taking asbestos to a landfill or transfer station, contact the facility to determine if, when, and under what conditions the facility will accept the material. Asbestos abatement contractors licensed by DLS can be hired to remove asbestos and take it to an approved disposal facility. Asbestos wastes may not be sent to a combustion facility or construction and demolition (C&D) material processor.
Intact and unbroken vinyl asbestos tile (VAT) and asbestos containing asphaltic roofing and siding material that are removed in accordance with MassDEP regulations may be managed as solid waste and disposed in any MassDEP-permitted solid waste landfill.
Asbestos is a highly toxic mineral that causes lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis which result in death. Asbestos fibers are microscopic, and are used in many different building materials. Asbestos has not been banned, and is still being used today. If asbestos containing materials are disturbed, the toxic fibers can contaminate the building, and be breathed in by anyone who lives or works in the area. Cleanup of a contaminated building can dramatically increase the cost, and delay the project.
Building owners and construction contractors both share responsibility for asbestos testing when doing work on the building. A good faith inspection for asbestos, performed by an AHERA certified building inspector is required before any remodel, repair, removal, or other work that could disturb suspect materials.
Get an asbestos survey performed by an AHERA certified building inspector prior to any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition project regardless of the age of the building.
Short-term notifications are used for projects that start in less than 5 days and have work requirement or waiting the 5 days would cause unnecessary hardship (ex. Water loss and homeowner is displaced, or asbestos that was not on the original survey is found during construction, etc).
You want to be a certified asbestos worker. Individuals must complete a Washington State Certified 4-day course that meets the requirements of WAC 296-65-005 and WAC 296-65-010 for asbestos abatement workers. Topics focus on all aspects of abatement operations including asbestos types, uses and building material types; health hazards; regulations; worker protection and decontamination issues; personal protective equipment; site safety; state of the art work practices and engineering controls. Hands-on training includes the use of respirators; removal and repair of simulated asbestos materials; glove-bag installation, use and removal; construction of containments; decontamination; and proper entry and exit procedures from the regulated area. The initial course requires successful completion of the class and a final exam score of 70% or higher. Certification license cards are issued from the Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries.
You will supervise asbestos abatement projects or oversee asbestos workers. Individuals must complete a Washington State Certified 5-day course that meets the requirements of WAC 296-65-007 and WAC 296-65-012. The course includes all of the content in the 32-Hour Asbestos Worker course as well as supervision and management, administrative programs, how to select and set-up engineering controls properly, how to conduct air monitoring, and how to set-up and manage supplied air breathing systems. Hands-on exercises are included such as setting up and calibrating air sampling equipment, Type C systems, respiratory protection, glove-bagging, calculating and locating ventilation requirements for an enclosure, and 3-stage personnel decontamination. Certification license cards are issued from the Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries.
Get an asbestos survey performed by an AHERA-certified building inspector prior to any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition project regardless of the age of the building. You will need to post this survey on the job site.
In the mid-1980s, newly enacted state and federal legislation required that schools be inspected for asbestos and that plans for its management be developed. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) staff