Asbestos 101: What Restorers Need to Know About Testing, Work Practices, and Compliance

Industry experts break down asbestos triggers, safe work decisions, and regulatory risks

On this episode of Ask The Expert, we dive into the fundamentals of asbestos, and the real-world decisions restorers face in the field. Our special guests include industry experts Derrick Hall, COO and Principal Project Consultant for ELEMENT Building Sciences; Barry Rice, CSP, EHS Director for Signal Restoration; Brandon White, PhD, MS, BS, CIEC, Principal Industrial Hygienist for EFCI; and Ryan Whitney, MS, GSP, CIEC, CFSC, Environmental Biologist, Lead Industrial Hygienist, and Microscopist for EFCI.

With several decades of combined industry experience, these gentlemen discuss when asbestos testing triggers after arriving onsite, what work, if any, can safely begin before sampling results are available, and how restorers determine when to proceed as planned, modify work methods, or transition into abatement once the results are received. They also focus on protecting your teams, minimizing regulatory and legal exposure, and keeping your jobs moving.

Highlights of this discussion:

It’s important to establish formal, regulation-based triggers tied to site conditions, material observations, and scope changes, rather than relying on tribal knowledge. OSHA requires testing regardless of building age or insurance approval.
Implement standardized, documented processes centered on regulatory requirements to eliminate guesswork and ensure compliance.
You should proceed with limited stabilization work only when materials remain undisturbed, all suspect materials are treated as asbestos-containing, and appropriate PPE and controls must be in place.
You and your team need to obtain the proper training and certifications and engage your local Industrial Hygienists and consultants to define your work parameters and minimize regulatory, legal, and safety exposure.
Use the testing results to establish a clear scope of work and negative exposure assessment to determine whether you should proceed as planned, modify your methods, or transition into abatement.
Engage qualified third-party professionals upfront instead of self-performing testing to prevent documentation gaps, improper handling, increased liability, and long-term costs.

A special thank you to our friends at ICP Group for sponsoring this Asbestos Roundtable.

On the Go?

Listen to the audio version of our conversation!

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Kayla McGowan is the Editor-in-Chief of R&R Magazine, with 10 years of experience in marketing and communications in the restoration and cleaning industry. She leads the editorial strategy for R&R and The Experience Events, creating content that informs and connects industry professionals.

Kayla holds a B.S. in Criminal Science and M.S. in Public Safety and Emergency Management from Grand Canyon University. She serves as Co-Chair on the RIA’s Marketing Committee.

Kayla is a Microbial Warrior®, a Certified Forensic Operator® and a High Risk/ High Level Decontamination Specialist™. Kayla is passionate about elevating the industry, is a food lover, enjoys spending time with her family, and embracing the outdoors.