Asbestos

What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that can be found in various locations throughout a structure. Some examples include, but are not limited to acoustic ceilings, taping mud on sheet rock, plaster, flooring, heating ducts, stucco, flue pipes, pipe lagging, and roofing.

Friable asbestos can be crumbled by hand pressure. Asbestos fibers are easily released into the air.

Nonfriable asbestos is bound with other materials in products such as roofing shingles and vinyl-asbestos floor tiles. When cut, drilled or sanded these materials release asbestos fibers.

Health risks:
Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, a cancer in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. Exposure to asbestos occurs when asbestos fibers are released into the air and inhaled. Asbestos is a carcinogen with no known safe level of exposure. Because the health risk is so high, we recommend hiring professionals to handle and remove it to minimize exposure. For information about how and why to hire an asbestos abatement company, visit asbestos.com/abatement-guide.

Asbestos testing:
Prior to purchasing real estate, or performing construction or demolition in order to protect the occupants and any workers on-site, a survey of the building should (and in many instances may be required) be conducted by a Certified Asbestos Consultant. To locate a list of consultants visit: Cal/OSHA Division of Occupational Safety and Health http://www.dir.ca.gov/Database and permitting requirements for removing asbestos are complicated. For any size job a licensed asbestos abatement contractor is recommended. California law prohibits any person from advertising for the removal of asbestos unless certified. The law also requires that the contractor's license number be included in the advertisement.

For a list of registered asbestos contractors, contact Cal/OSHA Division of Occupational Safety and Health http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/ACRU/ACRUhome.htm, choose "Asbestos Registrants." This list is updated weekly.

To verify proper licensing:
California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) (800) 321-CSLB(2752) or visit http://www.cslb.ca.gov State Law, notifications are required for asbestos removal from any size job 10 days prior to starting work; jobs exceeding 100 sq. ft. require both notification and registration.

• North Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District (NSCAPCD) (707) 433-5911 (commercial and residential properties located north of Windsor).

• Bay Area Air Quality Management District (415) 771-6000 (commercial and residential properties located south of Windsor).

• County or city building department.

• District Cal/OSHA Asbestos office for Notification forms and Registration applications.

District Cal/OSHA office
1221 Farmers Lane, Ste. 300
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707) 576-2388

• Department of Toxic Substances Control, Duty Officer (800) 728-6942.

Disposal:
Asbestos waste generated by a do-it-yourselfer or asbestos abatement contractor becomes the responsibility of the building's owner. Asbestos waste greater than 5-gallons or 50 pounds must be transported by a registered hazardous waste hauler.

Please wet down, double-bag, and dispose of any asbestos at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility within 24 hours of wetting and bagging.

More information related to asbestos may be found here: https://www.mesothelioma.com/asbestos-exposure/handling/ and here: www.asbestos.net/asbestos/recycling/ and here: https://www.baaqmd.gov/permits...