Florida contractors must remain in compliance at all times with both federal and state regulations regarding the removal and disposal of asbestos during renovations and other projects.
The intent of our state’s Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Asbestos National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) program is to substantially lower the number of asbestos fibers that are released into the atmosphere during the removal process. There are specific practices that must be followed, according to the Asbestos NESHAP guidelines.
Some single-family homes will come under the Asbestos NESHAP regulations as units in a larger demolition or renovation project. As these contracts can be quite lucrative for South Florida contractors, falling out of compliance with the Asbestos NESHAP regulations can become a nightmare unless the situation is quickly remedied. Not only could you face legal penalties and fines, but the reputation of your company could get dragged through the mud to the point where you can no longer find sufficient work.
Both the federal asbestos regulations and those of the state of Florida can be complex. You could wind up out of compliance without your knowledge due to the unwitting actions of a member of your construction crew. Maybe the disposal site wasn’t certified to accept asbestos or the workers lacked the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to work around or with asbestos. Either way, the buck stops with the contractor.
If you have experienced a problem with the regulations regarding asbestos removal and disposal in Florida, you may need to seek the counsel of an experienced construction law attorneys.