Being an employer means more than managing a team and ensuring you’re hiring the best of the best; namely, it also means fostering a safe and healthy work environment for everyone involved.

And when asbestos comes into the picture, such responsibility will only complicate matters further.

So, if you’re left asking questions about when, why, and where to take action, we’ve got you covered:

Looking Through the Legal Lens

Employers, in general, are required by law to provide protection for their workers with regard to potential asbestos exposure. In particular, they must take precautions in accordance with federal, state, and local standards.

“These standards require employers to protect workers by assessing asbestos levels, marking off regulated areas, posting hazard signs, using engineering controls (such as ventilation systems equipped with HEPA filters), and finding ways to control work practices to reduce levels of asbestos in the air,” according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

If an employer fails to protect their workers, both the employer and the employee alike are at risk of developing lasting health complications. Consequently, the employer may be subject to…

• Fines
• Lawsuits
• And more

When Responsibilities Come Into Play

Even if an employer is aware of their asbestos-related responsibilities, they may not necessarily know when, specifically, to take such precautions and schedule an asbestos inspection.

That being said, “The Asbestos NESHAP requires a thorough inspection for the presence of asbestos prior to the start of all renovations and/or demolitions,” the Florida Department of Environmental Protections explains.

In other words, any time any friable asbestos-containing material (ACM) — ​​any material that contains more than one percent asbestos by either weight or area — may be damaged or otherwise exposed, employers must take action.

Take Asbestos Action with the Professionals

“Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance asbestos has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant,” as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Asbestos has also been used in a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials, friction products, heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings.”

Thus, it can be difficult for any one employer or building manager to know where asbestos may reside within the commercial space.

And that’s where Luce Air Quality comes in!

Our certified team of technicians is ready to conduct an expert asbestos assessment in your workplace. In fact, we are licensed in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, meaning commercial owners throughout the south can trust us to locate, identify, and inspect any present ACM according to standards.

Ready to learn more? Simply contact our team today by calling 904-803-1014! We look forward to helping you breathe a healthy sigh of relief.