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Asbestos Notification

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TechGrl06

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Texas

Quick question - I work for an environmental construction company who is currently on a closed refinery cleaning it up. At the beginning of the project the client removed Asbestos and told us that everything was clean and safe to work in. Come to find out, a couple years later that they did not get all the asbestos in the areas we have been working in. Client brought the abatement crew back in to test where results proved to have high levels of asbestos still in areas that we were told were safe to work in. We were informed of these findings through a source that works for the client, however have not been "formally" told by the client. He also advises us that the report is currently being reviewed by his legal team and that we can not say a word. This was a year ago.

My question is what is the time frame of having to notify employees that they have been exposed to asbestos? Is the client wrong in not allowing us to inform anyone? Are we in trouble for not informing?


Thank you in advance.
 


Ladyback1

Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Texas

Quick question - I work for an environmental construction company who is currently on a closed refinery cleaning it up. At the beginning of the project the client removed Asbestos and told us that everything was clean and safe to work in. Come to find out, a couple years later that they did not get all the asbestos in the areas we have been working in. Client brought the abatement crew back in to test where results proved to have high levels of asbestos still in areas that we were told were safe to work in. We were informed of these findings through a source that works for the client, however have not been "formally" told by the client. He also advises us that the report is currently being reviewed by his legal team and that we can not say a word. This was a year ago.

My question is what is the time frame of having to notify employees that they have been exposed to asbestos? Is the client wrong in not allowing us to inform anyone? Are we in trouble for not informing?


Thank you in advance.
So, you have absolutely no documented proof that there is an asbestos issue?

There could be asbestos in the refinery, and it not be an issue. Asbestos is only an issue if it is "loose" or airborne.

There are people who live in homes that are covered in asbestos shingles, but as long as the shingles are intact there isn't an immediate health risk.

Until you have confirmation that the asbestos is present in a form that is an environmental and/or health risk, you have nothing to report to your employees. However, if you already knew that asbestos had been an issue, why weren't you utilizing proper safety equipment?

You could always go in and ask your client about the asbestos.

(you want to talk real asbestos issues, research Libby, MT and the WR Grace Co.!:()
 

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