OLYMPIA – Today the governor signed legislation into law that tightens the regulation of asbestos in building materials and existing industrial facilities.
Senate Bill 6473, sponsored by Sen. Derek Stanford (D-Bothell), restricts the use of asbestos-containing building materials and requires owners of industrial facilities to monitor known installations of asbestos.
The law prohibits, with some exceptions, the use of asbestos-containing materials in new non-residential construction and renovations. It also requires owners of industrial facilities to determine whether asbestos-containing materials are present and to develop and maintain an asbestos management plan if present.
Importantly, the law also improves labeling requirements for asbestos by changing the threshold of asbestos in building materials that triggers labeling requirements. Currently, these materials may contain 1% asbestos without a label; the bill lowers that threshold to 0.1%.
“There are still many permitted uses for building materials that contain asbestos, and existing buildings built with asbestos will continue to deteriorate over time,” said Stanford. “The use of these materials is a threat to construction workers and workers in industrial facilities. This bill will improve safety in the workplace and place asbestos management requirements on industrial facilities similar to those used for public schools.”
