The Environmental Protection Agency had enforced a multitude of laws and regulations regarding asbestos ranging from the protection of the public to training grants. These do lack specificity when it comes to general workers in the United States. There is a specific regulation about school employees and their exposure to asbestos, when construction will be allowed, etc. However, there does not appear to be any law or regulation specific to all workers and certainly not phone company workers. The EPA does strictly enforce the laws and regulations that are in place to protect the public and other workers from exposure to asbestos. (www.epa.gov)

OSHA: Solutions, Risks and Consequences

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has set forth guidelines to direct the workers in the United States in using equipment to protect themselves from asbestos exposure. “Controlling the exposure to asbestos can be done through engineering controls, administrative actions, and personal protective equipment. Engineering controls include such things as isolating the source and using ventilation systems. Administrative actions include limiting the workers exposure time and providing showers.

This seems to cover the important aspects of asbestos exposure and adequately inform the workers of their risk, how to prevent exposure, what to do if they are exposed, and how to follow up with their company. This does not seem to be a widely known policy within the association, according to a worker who has been employed with this company for thirty-two years and served as president of a local CWA for twenty-three years. This worker also reports there is no personal protective equipment available on his truck he uses to drive to installation sites.

The Communication Workers of America address asbestos exposure in the Health and Safety Fact Sheet #1. Monitoring of asbestos levels is addressed: “Work places which contain asbestos products must be monitored by the employer to determine asbestos levels. If monitoring levels indicate that workers have been exposed to more than the permissible limit, they must receive a written notice within five days of the employer's obtaining the test results. Workers must be allowed access to any record concerning their exposure to asbestos. The employer must keep records of asbestos exposures at least 30 years.” Medical Surveillance is addressed: “Workers must be provided with employer paid medical examinations within 30 da

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