The Legislature has declared that exposure to asbestos fibers, a known carcinogenic agent, creates a serious risk to the public safety and health and that the public is more frequently exposed to these risks as a result of an increasing number of rehabilitation, reconstruction and demolition projects on buildings or structures containing asbestos or asbestos materials.

It is the purpose and intent of this Part to reduce the risks to the public associated with exposure to asbestos and to conform to Federal requirements set forth in the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Asbestos Standard for the Construction Industry, by requiring appropriate training and certification of persons employed in all aspects of an asbestos project, as well as those who supervise and employ them; by requiring the licensing of asbestos contractors; by setting forth standards and procedures that shall be followed when removing, enclosing, encapsulating, repairing, or disturbing friable or non-friable asbestos or handling asbestos or asbestos materials in a manner which may result in the release of asbestos fiber; by requiring notification of the Department of Labor prior to commencement of large asbestos projects; by requiring notification of building/structure occupants; by requiring asbestos surveys; by setting forth recordkeeping and reporting requirements for asbestos contractors; and by establishing an inspection and enforcement program within the Department of Labor.