RCW 49.26.010
Legislative declaration.
Airborne asbestos dust and particles, such as those from sprayed asbestos slurry, asbestos-coated ventilating ducts, and certain other applications of asbestos are known to produce irreversible lung damage and bronchogenic carcinoma. One American of every four dying in urban areas of the United States has asbestos particles or dust in his or her lungs. The nature of this problem is such as to constitute a hazard to the public health and safety, and should be brought under appropriate regulation.
[
2010 c 8 s 12027
;
1973 c 30 s 1
.]
RCW 49.26.013
Inspection of construction projects required.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2)(a)(ii) of this section, an owner or owner's agent who allows or authorizes any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition project which has a reasonable possibility, as defined by the department, of disturbing or releasing asbestos into the air, shall perform or cause to be performed, using practices approved by the department, a good faith inspection to determine whether the proposed project will disturb or release any material containing asbestos into the air.
Such inspections shall be conducted by persons meeting the accreditation requirements of the federal toxics substances control act, section 206(a) (1) and (3) (15 U.S.C. 2646(a) (1) and (3)).
An inspection under this section is not required if the owner or owner's agent is reasonably certain that asbestos will not be disturbed or assumes that asbestos will be disturbed by a project which involves construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition and takes the maximum precautions as specified by all applicable federal and state requirements.
(2)(a)(i) Except as provided in RCW 49.26.125
and (a)(ii) of this subsection, the owner or owner's agent shall prepare and maintain a written report describing each inspection, or a statement of assumption of the presence or reasonable certainty of the absence of asbestos, and shall provide a copy of the written report or statement to all contractors before they apply or bid on work.
(ii) The department of transportation may include a good faith inspection into the scope of construction contracts for a project in lieu of conducting a good faith inspection prior to contractors bidding on the work if, prior to the start of demolition and construction, a contractor:
(A) Completes the good faith inspection;
(B) Prepares and maintains a written report describing each inspection, or a statement of assumption of the presence or reasonable certainty of the absence of asbestos; and
(C) Provides a copy of the report or statement to the department of transportation.
(b) Upon written or oral request, the owner or owner's agent shall make a copy of the written report or statement available to: (i) The department of labor and industries; (ii) contractors; and (iii) the collective bargaining representatives or employee representatives, if any, of employees who may be exposed to any asbestos or material containing asbestos.
(c) A copy of the report or statement shall be posted as prescribed by the department in a place that is easily accessible to such employees.
[
2025 c 417 s 602
;
1995 c 218 s 1
;
1989 c 154 s 2
. Prior:
1988 c 271 s 7
.]
NOTES:
Findings
—
Intent
—
2025 c 417:
See note following RCW 82.38.030
.
Purpose
—
1989 c 154:
"The purpose of chapter 154, Laws of 1989 is to make corrections to chapter 271, Laws of 1988, and to ensure that the changes made in that chapter meet the constitutional requirements of Article II, section 19 of the state Constitution." [
1989 c 154 s 1
.]
Severability
—
1989 c 154:
"If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [
1989 c 154 s 14
.]
RCW 49.26.016
Inspection of construction projects
—
Penalties.
(1) Any owner or owner's agent who allows the start of any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition without first (a) conducting the inspection and preparing and maintaining the report of the inspection, or preparing and maintaining a statement of assumption of the presence or reasonable certainty of the absence of asbestos, as required under RCW 49.26.013
; and (b) preparing and maintaining the additional written description of the project as required under RCW 49.26.120
shall be subject to a mandatory fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars for each violation. Each day the violation continues shall be considered a separate violation. In addition, any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition which was started without meeting the requirements of RCW 49.26.013
and
49.26.120
shall be halted immediately and cannot be resumed before meeting such requirements.
(2) No contractor may commence any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair or demolition project without receiving the copy of the written report or statement from the owner or the owner's agent. Any contractor who begins any project without the copy of the written report or statement shall be subject to a mandatory fine of not less than two hundred and fifty dollars per day. Each day the violation continues shall be considered a separate violation.
(3) The certificate of any asbestos contractor who knowingly violates any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter shall be revoked for a period of not less than six months.
(4) The penalties imposed in this section are in addition to any penalties under RCW 49.26.140
.
[
1995 c 218 s 2
;
1989 c 154 s 3
. Prior:
1988 c 271 s 8
.]
NOTES:
Purpose
—
Severability
—
1989 c 154:
See notes following RCW 49.26.013
.
RCW 49.26.020
Asbestos use standards.
Standards regulating the use of asbestos in construction or manufacturing shall be established by the director of the department of labor and industries, with the advice of the state health officer and the department of ecology. Standards to be adopted shall describe the types of asbestos that may be used in construction and manufacturing, the methods and procedures for their use, and such other requirements as may be needed to protect the public health and safety with respect to air-borne asbestos particles and asbestos dust.
[
1973 c 30 s 2
.]
RCW 49.26.030
Containers for asbestos products.
Products containing asbestos shall be stored in containers of types approved by the director of the department of labor and industries, with the advice of the state health officer and the department of ecology. Containers of asbestos shall be plainly marked "Asbestos
—
do not inhale" or other words to the same effect.
[
1973 c 30 s 3
.]
RCW 49.26.040
Regulations
—
Enforcement.
The asbestos use standards required under RCW 49.26.020
and the list of approved container types required under RCW 49.26.030
shall be adopted as regulations of the department of labor and industries. The department shall have the power to implement and enforce such regulations.
[
1973 c 30 s 4
.]
RCW 49.26.100
Asbestos projects
—
Definitions.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Asbestos abatement project" means an asbestos project involving three square feet or three linear feet, or more, of asbestos-containing material.
(2) "Asbestos project" means the construction, demolition, repair,  maintenance, remodeling, or renovation of any public or private building or mechanical piping equipment or systems involving the demolition, removal, encapsulation, salvage, or disposal of material, or outdoor activity, releasing or likely to release asbestos fibers into the air.
(3) "Department" means the department of labor and industries.
(4) "Director" means the director of the department of labor and industries or the director's designee.
(5) "Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, association, corporation, sole proprietorship, or the state of Washington or its political subdivisions.
(6) "Certified asbestos supervisor" means an individual who is certified by the department to supervise an asbestos project. A certified asbestos supervisor is not required for projects involving less than three square feet or three linear feet of asbestos-containing material.
(7) "Certified asbestos worker" means an individual who is certified by the department to work on an asbestos project.
(8) "Certified asbestos contractor" means any partnership, firm, association, corporation or sole proprietorship registered under chapter
18.27
RCW that submits a bid or contracts to remove or encapsulate asbestos for another and is certified by the department to remove or encapsulate asbestos.
(9) "Owner" means the owner of any public or private building, structure, facility or mechanical system, or the agent of such owner, but does not include individuals who work on asbestos projects on their own single-family residences no part of which is used for any commercial purpose.
[
1995 c 218 s 3
;
1989 c 154 s 4
. Prior:
1988 c 271 s 6
;
1985 c 387 s 1
.]
NOTES:
Purpose
—
Severability
—
1989 c 154:
See notes following RCW 49.26.013
.
RCW 49.26.110
Asbestos projects
—
Worker's and supervisor's certificates.
(1) No employee or other individual is eligible to do work governed by this chapter unless issued a certificate by the department.
(2) To qualify for a certificate:
(a) Certified asbestos workers must have successfully completed a four-day training course. Certified asbestos supervisors must have completed a five-day training course. Training courses shall be provided or approved by the department; shall cover such topics as the health and safety aspects of the removal and encapsulation of asbestos, including but not limited to the federal and state standards regarding protective clothing, respirator use, disposal, air monitoring, cleaning, and decontamination; and shall meet such additional qualifications as may be established by the department by rule for the type of certification sought. The department may require the successful completion of annual refresher courses provided or approved by the department for continued certification as an asbestos worker or supervisor. However, the authority of the director to adopt rules implementing this section is limited to rules that are specifically required, and only to the extent specifically required, for the standards to be as stringent as the applicable federal laws governing work subject to this chapter; and
(b) All applicants for certification as asbestos workers or supervisors must pass an examination in the type of certification sought which shall be provided or approved by the department.
These requirements are intended to represent the minimum requirements for certification and shall not preclude contractors or employers from providing additional education or training.
(3) The department shall provide for the reciprocal certification of any individual trained to engage in asbestos projects in another state when the prior training is shown to be substantially similar to the training required by the department. Nothing shall prevent the department from requiring such individuals to take an examination or refresher course before certification.
(4) The department may deny, suspend, or revoke a certificate, as provided under RCW 49.26.140, for failure of the holder to comply with any requirement of this chapter or chapter
49.17
RCW, or any rule adopted under those chapters, or applicable health and safety standards and regulations. In addition to any penalty imposed under RCW 49.26.016, the department may suspend or revoke any certificate issued under this chapter for a period of not less than six months upon the following grounds:
(a) The certificate was obtained through error or fraud; or
(b) The holder thereof is judged to be incompetent to carry out the work for which the certificate was issued.
Before any certificate may be denied, suspended, or revoked, the holder thereof shall be given written notice of the department's intention to do so, mailed using a method by which the mailing can be tracked or the delivery can be confirmed to the holder's last known address. The notice shall enumerate the allegations against such holder, and shall give him or her the opportunity to request a hearing before the department. At such hearing, the department and the holder shall have opportunity to produce witnesses and give testimony.
(5) A denial, suspension, or revocation order may be appealed to the board of industrial insurance appeals within fifteen working days after the denial, suspension, or revocation order is entered. The notice of appeal may be filed with the department or the board of industrial insurance appeals. The board of industrial insurance appeals shall hold the hearing in accordance with procedures established in RCW 49.17.140
. Any party aggrieved by an order of the board of industrial insurance appeals may obtain superior court review in the manner provided in RCW 49.17.150
.
(6) Each person certified under this chapter shall display, upon the request of an authorized representative of the department, valid identification issued by the department.
[
2011 c 301 s 14
;
1995 c 218 s 4
;
1989 c 154 s 5
. Prior:
1988 c 271 s 10
;
1985 c 387 s 2
.]
NOTES:
Purpose
—
Severability
—
1989 c 154:
See notes following RCW 49.26.013
.
RCW 49.26.115
Asbestos abatement projects
—
Contractor's certificate required.
Before working on an asbestos abatement project, a contractor shall obtain an asbestos contractor's certificate from the department and shall have in its employ at least one certified asbestos supervisor who is responsible for supervising all asbestos abatement projects undertaken by the contractor and for assuring compliance with all state laws and regulations regarding asbestos. The contractor shall apply for certification renewal every year. The department shall ensure that the expiration of the contractor's registration and the expiration of his or her asbestos contractor's certificate coincide.
[
1995 c 218 s 5
;
1989 c 154 s 6
. Prior:
1988 c 271 s 11
.]
NOTES:
Purpose
—
Severability
—
1989 c 154:
See notes following RCW 49.26.013
.
RCW 49.26.120
Asbestos projects
—
Qualified asbestos workers and supervisor
—
Prenotification to department
—
Fire personnel.
(1) No person may assign any employee, contract with, or permit any individual or person to remove or encapsulate asbestos in any facility unless performed by a certified asbestos worker and under the direct, on-site supervision of a certified asbestos supervisor. In cases in which an employer conducts an asbestos abatement project in its own facility and by its own employees, supervision can be performed in the regular course of a certified asbestos supervisor's duties. Asbestos workers must have access to certified asbestos supervisors throughout the duration of the project.
(2) The department shall require persons undertaking asbestos projects to provide written notice to the department before the commencement of the project except as provided in RCW 49.26.125
. The notice shall include a written description containing such information as the department requires by rule. The department may by rule allow a person to report multiple projects at one site in one report. The department shall by rule establish the procedure and criteria by which a person will be considered to have attempted to meet the prenotification requirement.
(3) The department shall consult with the Washington state association of fire chiefs and may establish any additional policies and procedures for municipal fire department and fire district personnel who clean up sites after fires which have rendered it likely that asbestos has been or will be disturbed or released into the air.
[
2010 1st sp.s. c 7 s 52
;
1995 c 218 s 6
;
1989 c 154 s 7
. Prior:
1988 c 271 s 12
;
1985 c 387 s 4
.]
NOTES:
Effective date
—
2010 1st sp.s. c 26; 2010 1st sp.s. c 7:
See note following RCW 43.03.027
.
Purpose
—
Severability
—
1989 c 154:
See notes following RCW 49.26.013
.
RCW 49.26.125
Prenotification to department
—
Exemptions.
Prenotification to the department under RCW 49.26.120
shall not be required for:
(1)(a) Any asbestos project involving less than forty-eight square feet of surface area, or less than ten linear feet of pipe unless the surface area of the pipe is greater than forty-eight square feet. The person undertaking such a project shall keep the reports, or statements, and written descriptions required under RCW 49.26.013
and
49.26.120
which shall be available upon request of the department. Employees and employee representatives may request such reports under RCW 49.26.013
(2).
(b) The director may waive the prenotification requirement upon written request of an owner for large-scale, ongoing projects. In granting such a waiver, the director shall require the owner to provide prenotification if significant changes in personnel, methodologies, equipment, worksite, or work procedures occur or are likely to occur. The director shall further require annual resubmittal of such notification.
(c) The director, upon review of an owner's reports, work practices, or other data available as a result of inspections, audits, or other authorized activities, may reduce the size threshold for prenotification required by this section. Such a change shall be based on the director's determination that significant problems in personnel, methodologies, equipment, worksite, or work procedures are creating the potential for violations of this chapter or asbestos requirements under chapter
49.17
RCW. The new prenotification requirements shall be given in writing to the owner and shall remain in effect until modified or withdrawn in writing by the director.
(2) Emergency projects.
(a) As used in this section, "emergency project" means a project that was not planned and results from a sudden, unexpected event, and does not include operations that are necessitated by nonroutine failure of equipment or systems.
(b) Emergency projects which disturb or release any material containing asbestos into the air shall be reported to the department within three working days after the commencement of the project in the manner otherwise required under this chapter. A notice shall be clearly posted adjacent to the worksite describing the nature of the emergency project. The employees' collective bargaining representatives, or employee representatives, or designated representatives, if any, shall be notified of the emergency as soon as possible by the person undertaking the emergency project.
Incremental phasing in the conduct or design of asbestos projects or otherwise designing or conducting asbestos projects of a size less than forty-eight square feet, or other threshold for exemption as provided under this section, with the intent of avoiding prenotification requirements is a violation of this chapter.
[
1989 c 154 s 8
. Prior:
1988 c 271 s 13
.]
NOTES:
Purpose
—
Severability
—
1989 c 154:
See notes following RCW 49.26.013
.
RCW 49.26.130
Asbestos projects
—
Rules
—
Fees
—
Asbestos account.
(1) The department shall administer this chapter.
(2) The director of the department shall adopt, in accordance with chapters
34.05
and
49.17
RCW, rules necessary to carry out this chapter.
(3) The department shall prescribe fees for the issuance and renewal of certificates, including recertification, and the administration of examinations, and for the review of training courses.
(4) The asbestos account is hereby established in the state treasury. All fees collected under this chapter shall be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account shall be spent after appropriation only for costs incurred by the department in the administration and enforcement of this chapter. Disbursements from the account shall be on authorization of the director of the department or the director's designee.
(5) During the 2003-2005 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the asbestos account to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance in the account.
[
2003 1st sp.s. c 25 s 924
;
1989 c 154 s 9
. Prior:
1988 c 271 s 15
;
1987 c 219 s 1
;
1985 c 387 s 3
.]
NOTES:
Severability
—
Effective date
—
2003 1st sp.s. c 25:
See notes following RCW 19.28.351
.
Purpose
—
Severability
—
1989 c 154:
See notes following RCW 49.26.013
.
RCW 49.26.140
Asbestos projects
—
Enforcement
—
Penalties.
(1) Unless specifically provided otherwise by statute, this chapter shall be implemented and enforced, including penalties, violations, citations, and other administrative procedures, pursuant to the Washington industrial safety and health act, chapter
49.17
RCW.
(2) A person or individual who previously has been assessed a civil penalty under this section, and who knowingly violates a provision of RCW 49.26.110
through
49.26.130
or a rule adopted pursuant to RCW 49.26.110
through
49.26.130
is guilty of a misdemeanor.
[
1987 c 219 s 2
;
1985 c 387 s 5
.]
RCW 49.26.150
Discrimination against employee filing complaint prohibited.
Any employee who notifies the department  of any activity the employee reasonably believes to be a violation of this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter or who participates in any proceeding related thereto shall have the same rights and protections against discharge or discrimination as employees are afforded under chapter
49.17
RCW.
[
1989 c 154 s 10
. Prior:
1988 c 271 s 16
.]
NOTES:
Purpose
—
Severability
—
1989 c 154:
See notes following RCW 49.26.013
.
RCW 49.26.901
Effective dates
—
1988 c 271 ss 6-18.
Sections 15, as reenacted and amended in 1989, and 18, chapter 271, Laws of 1988, are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect as of March 24, 1988. Sections 6 through 8, 10 through 13, and 16, chapter 271, Laws of 1988, as reenacted or amended and reenacted in 1989, shall take effect as of January 1, 1989.
[
1989 c 154 s 11
. Prior:
1988 c 271 s 19
.]
NOTES:
Purpose
—
Severability
—
1989 c 154:
See notes following RCW 49.26.013
.