Mesothelioma Prevention: Asbestos Regulations Strengthened in New York City

Recent legislation passed in New York City will significantly improve the health and safety concerns of workers during large demolition and reconstruction projects.

The new legislation is included in a 12-part series of bills intended to change regulations regarding asbestos, construction and demolition. The underlying motive of the bills is to reduce asbestos exposure through several new safety practices.

Exposure to asbestos is known to cause serious health conditions, including lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma. All three of these conditions can be life-threatening as they are usually diagnosed in the advanced stages of development.

One important section of the legislation will prevent demolition and asbestos abatement projects from being performed at the same time, thus reducing the amount of people exposed to asbestos. Before these regulations, demolition crews were able to walk around without masks or respirators while asbestos abatement was being conducted.

Other pieces of the legislation will require contractors to take tougher exams before being issued asbestos abatement licenses. Exams will cover new practices, safer handling procedures and proper disposal methods.

Additional regulations will prohibit all uses of matches, cigarette lighters and smoking on the same floor where asbestos abatement is taking place to ensure all protective gear is being worn.

Discussions on the proper handling of asbestos materials and educating contractors on how to prevent exposure can better prepare those that encounter asbestos. Even professional asbestos abatement companies can improperly remove asbestos and fail to use protective equipment.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn said, “Taken together, these 12 measures represent a significant overhaul of the City’s demolition and asbestos abatement procedures.”

Additional information about mesothelioma and asbestos may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 at 4:14 pm and is filed under Asbestos Abatement, Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos Legislation, Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.