Asbestos
NYSUT Occupational Health and Safety Field Directory.

Asbestos is a very dangerous fiber that was used as a building material and insulation product for many years. Exposure to asbestos may cause several types of cancer, including lung cancer, and a scarring of the lungs called asbestosis. NYSUT members can be exposed by working with it (maintenance workers) or because it wasn't handled safely in their buildings. The following organizations and government agencies can help make sure that you and your co-workers aren't harmed by sloppy asbestos work:

• White Lung Association, 80 Eighth Avenue, New York NY 10011, 212-886-9859. A volunteer organization of asbestos victims and others concerned with health and safety. Gives information on health and safety, medical-legal resources, and steps to take to avoid asbestos exposure. Refers questions on training to the New Jersey White Lung Center: 201-758-1590.

• New York State Department of Labor, Asbestos Control Program, License and Certificate Unit, State Campus Building 12, Rm. 161, Albany NY 12240, 518-457-2735. Licenses asbestos abatement contractors, certifies asbestos workers, receives notification of projects, enforces NY asbestos regulations (except in New York City).

• New York State Department of Health, Asbestos Workers Safety Training Program, Center for Environmental Health, Flanigan Square, Rm. 230, 547 River Street, Troy, NY 12180-2216, 518-402-7940. Approves and reviews asbestos safety training programs of private asbestos safety training providers. Also responds to public questions about asbestos safety in the home and workplace. Provides pamphlets such as "Asbestos in the Home", "Asbestos in the Workplace", and "The New York State Citizen's Guide to Asbestos".

• New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Asbestos Control Program, 59-17 Junction Boulevard, Corona NY 11368; public information 718-595-3682, certification center 718-595- 3693. Accepts illegal asbestos removal complaints, enforces abatement regulations, notification, training and certification of asbestos workers and investigators.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region II, Air Compliance Branch, 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007-1866, 212-637-4080. Oversees federal asbestos regulation for public and private elementary and secondary schools. Provides general asbestos information and notification of asbestos disturbance during building renovation or demolition.

ASBESTOS CONTROL BUREAU

The Bureau enforces the New York State Labor Law Industrial Code Rule 56. Any work that disturbs asbestos during renovation, construction or demolition of buildings is covered by Code Rule 56. Even removal of asbestos insulation from pipes to fix a leak would be something the Control Bureau could investigate. A major purpose of Code Rule 56 is protecting people in buildings.

Asbestos Code Rule 56

The code requires the licensing of contractors, certification of all persons working on asbestos projects, proper procedures for asbestos removal, filing of notifications of large asbestos projects and pre-demolition survey of buildings to identify any asbestos which may be in a building to make sure asbestos is handled safely. The Bureau works closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and national databases established under the federal National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and NARS/ACTS.

ASBESTOS CONTROL BUREAU

DISTRICT OFFICES

New York State Department of Labor
DOSH-Asbestos Control Bureau
Room 405
65 Court Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone 716-847-7601

New York State Department of Labor
DOSH-Asbestos Control Bureau
Room 401
450 South Salina Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone 315-479-3215

New York State Department of Labor
DOSH-Asbestos Control Bureau & Program Manager
Room 157
Building #12, State Campus
Albany, NY 12240
Phone 518-457-2072

New York State Department of Labor
DOSH-Asbestos Control Bureau
P. O. Box 683, Mail Stop #75
New York, NY 10014-0683
Phone 212-352-6109