The EPA recommends that you ask these asbestos professionals to document their completion of federal or state-approved training. Each person performing work in your home should provide proof of training and licensing in asbestos work, such as completion of EPA-approved training. The EPA also recommends using separate firms for assessment and removal services, to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Unless it is labeled, it is not always possible to determine if a product contains asbestos without laboratory analysis. Therefore, until a suspected product is tested, it is best to assume that it contains asbestos and not disturb it in any way.
Most states require homeowners to disclose known hazards before selling.
If you are selling a home with asbestos containing materials, check with a local attorney or real estate agent to determine your obligation to disclose the presence of asbestos. Asbestos-containing products were widely used in the construction of houses, apartments, offices and schools up to the 1970's. However, the presence of asbestos-containing products in your rental unit is not necessarily a hazardous condition. In 1995, OSHA issued workplace standards for testing, maintenance and disclosure of asbestos. Unless the property owner rules out the presence of asbestos through testing, it is presumed that asbestos is present.