You’re in the middle of a remodel at your construction job when someone pulls up some old flooring, breaks through a wall or exposes damaged insulation – and it looks like it might contain asbestos. Your supervisor tells everyone to just keep working, insisting that it’s harmless enough to just cover or bag up and toss.
This is not a situation where you should just do as you’re told and hope for the best. Once materials containing asbestos break down, microscopic fibers become airborne and you can breathe them in without seeing, smelling or knowing they are there.
Georgia has rules for asbestos remediation
You can’t confirm something is asbestos just by looking. In general, an inspection is needed unless any suspicious material is going to be treated as if it is automatically asbestos and handled appropriately. A dust mask and gloves are not adequate protection, either.
Under state law, any project involving 10 square feet or 10 continuous linear feet of crumbled or broken material containing asbestos needs a licensed asbestos-abatement contractor. The contractor, in turn, is required to notify the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and use specific procedures for containing, removing and disposing of the contaminated materials.
In general, if you encounter a situation like this at work, you need to raise your concerns with your boss. Do not collect a sample yourself or take your equipment or work clothing into your vehicle or home to prevent secondary transfers of the asbestos fibers. If you’ve been exposed in the past to asbestos and you’ve developed an illness as a result, the best thing you can do is seek legal guidance. There are funds available, and an experienced asbestos attorney can help you document your exposure, investigate what safety requirements were ignored and determine your legal options.