{"id":13069,"date":"2025-12-12T11:27:48","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T16:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/?p=13069"},"modified":"2025-12-12T12:09:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T17:09:40","slug":"what-to-do-if-my-employer-isnt-following-asbestos-osha-regulations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/blog\/what-to-do-if-my-employer-isnt-following-asbestos-osha-regulations\/","title":{"rendered":"What Do I Do If My Employer Isn\u2019t Following OSHA Asbestos Regulations?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Since the dangers of asbestos have become widely recognized, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has put strict rules in place to protect workers from exposure.<\/p>\n<p>Asbestos can cause <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/\">mesothelioma<\/a>, lung cancer, and other serious diseases, often decades after exposure occurs. <strong>More than 1.3 million U.S. workers still face asbestos exposure risks today<\/strong>, especially those in construction, maintenance, and industrial jobs.<\/p>\n<p>Both federal and state regulations require workplaces to measure the amount of <a href=\"\/asbestos\/\">asbestos<\/a> present and keep employees safe. Unfortunately, some employers don\u2019t always follow these safety guidelines, putting workers at risk of serious health consequences.<\/p>\n<p>Learn about OSHA\u2019s asbestos standards, your rights as a worker, and how Mesothelioma Hope can help if you\u2019ve been diagnosed with an illness from <a href=\"\/occupations\/\">occupational asbestos exposure<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>What Are the OSHA Rules Concerning Asbestos?<\/h2>\n<p>OSHA has several sets of standards to protect workers from <a href=\"\/asbestos\/exposure\/\">asbestos exposure<\/a>, which could still occur today in high-risk workplaces like construction sites, auto repair shops, and shipyards.<\/p>\n<p><strong>OSHA\u2019s worksite protections for asbestos include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Assessment and monitoring:<\/strong> Workplaces must determine if any of their employees\u2019 job duties will cause asbestos fibers to become airborne. If so, the employer must perform routine monitoring to ensure exposure stays within the legal limit.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Exposure limits:<\/strong> OSHA\u2019s permissible exposure limit for asbestos is no more than an average of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter over an 8-hour period. The excursion limit (EL) is less than 1 asbestos fiber per cubic centimeter over a 30-minute period.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hazard communication<\/strong> <strong>and personal protective equipment:<\/strong> Employers must clearly warn employees when asbestos is present and provide protective equipment. Respirators must be fit-tested, and simple dust masks aren\u2019t approved for asbestos protection.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recordkeeping:<\/strong> Employers must keep copies of all tests documenting levels of asbestos and surveys tracking workers&#8217; medical conditions possibly linked to their occupation for at least 30 years.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Separate and safe break areas: <\/strong><a href=\"\/occupations\/work-sites\/\">Job sites<\/a> that require work with asbestos must provide a break area that is separate from the work area and hygiene stations to reduce the risk of contamination.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These standards protect workers in all 50 states. Some states have their own OSHA-approved state plans, which may include more specific regulations than federal OSHA rules. Check with your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osha.gov\/contactus\/bystate\">local OSHA office<\/a> for the asbestos regulations in your area.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind, however, that there is <strong>no safe level of exposure to asbestos<\/strong>, meaning even one fiber can cause damage to the body\u2019s sensitive tissues.<\/p>\n<p>Download our <strong>Free Asbestos Products Guide<\/strong> to learn more about the health hazards of asbestos and what you can do if you or a loved one was exposed.<\/p>\n<h2>What Are My Rights as a Worker?<\/h2>\n<p>Under OSHA regulations, you have the right to a safe workplace that doesn\u2019t put you at risk of serious injury or illness. This includes protection from asbestos and other toxic materials.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You also have the right to:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access records of hazard measurements, work-related illnesses, and injuries<\/li>\n<li>File a confidential complaint with OSHA and request a workplace inspection for safety hazards without fear of retaliation<\/li>\n<li>Obtain regular training and information about workplace hazards and ways to prevent dangerous exposures<\/li>\n<li>Receive proper safety gear and personal protective equipment (PPE)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you\u2019re concerned about your health and safety on the job or that your employer isn\u2019t following OSHA asbestos standards, consider reporting it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"did-you-know icon-bell\"><style type=\"text\/css\">.did-you-know{background:#F3F2F0;border-radius:10px;margin:40px 0;padding:20px 20px 20px 80px;position:relative}.did-you-know:before{position:absolute;left:20px;top:20px;width:45px;height:45px;background:#0FAEBF;border-radius:50px;color:#fff;text-align:center;line-height:45px;font-size:27px}.did-you-know .heading{font-size:24px;color:#100134;padding:10px 0;display:block;margin:0 0 5px}.did-you-know h2,.did-you-know .h2,.did-you-know h3,.did-you-know .h3{font-size:24px;line-height:1.14}@media screen and (min-width: 1024px){.did-you-know{padding:25px 25px 25px 90px}.did-you-know:before{left:25px;top:25px}.did-you-know .heading{padding:8px 0}.did-you-know h2,.did-you-know .h2,.did-you-know h3,.did-you-know .h3{font-size:24px;line-height:1.14}}<\/style><strong class=\"heading\">Did You Know?<\/strong><p>In 2024, OSHA issued <strong>2,470 citations for violations <\/strong>of the Respiratory Protection Standard, according to the National Association of Home Builders. These violations often include failure to protect workers from airborne contaminants such as asbestos.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>How Do I Complain About Asbestos to OSHA?<\/h2>\n<p>To file a complaint with OSHA about health-related concerns or an unsafe workplace, you should contact your local office as soon as possible.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You can file a complaint by: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Calling your local OSHA office<\/li>\n<li>Completing an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osha.gov\/form\/osha7\">online complaint form<\/a> on the OSHA website<\/li>\n<li>Sending a completed OSHA complaint form via email, fax, or U.S. mail<\/li>\n<li>Visiting your local OSHA office in person<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Reporting potential asbestos hazards helps protect not only you but <strong>also your family<\/strong>, since asbestos fibers can cling to clothing or equipment and expose loved ones through <a href=\"\/asbestos\/exposure\/secondary\/\">secondhand contact<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Coming forward can feel stressful, especially if you fear retaliation at work. However, <strong>OSHA will keep your identity confidential if you ask<\/strong>, and your employer is not allowed to punish you for reporting unsafe working conditions.<\/p>\n<h2>How We Can Help Workers Diagnosed With Mesothelioma<\/h2>\n<p>For decades, <a href=\"\/asbestos\/companies\/\">asbestos product manufacturers<\/a> hid the dangers of asbestos, exposing millions of dedicated workers to this devastating cancer-causing substance. We\u2019ve seen firsthand how thousands of families have been hurt by mesothelioma through no fault of their own.<\/p>\n<p>If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma from working with or around asbestos, you don\u2019t have to walk this path alone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mesothelioma Hope\u2019s nurses and Patient Advocates can help you:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Understand your diagnosis and treatment options<\/li>\n<li>Connect with top mesothelioma specialists and cancer centers<\/li>\n<li>Access financial assistance from legal claims and VA benefits<\/li>\n<li>Find emotional and practical support services for you and your family<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Get the compassionate support you deserve by calling <strong><a href=\"tel:+18666088933\" title=\"Click to call (866) 608-8933\" class=\"in-content-tel-link\" data-ce-category=\"Click to Call\" data-ce-label=\"(866) 608-8933\">(866) 608-8933<\/a><\/strong> or filling out our <a href=\"\/about\/contact\/\">contact form<\/a> today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Since the dangers of asbestos have become widely recognized, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has put strict rules in place to protect workers from exposure. Asbestos can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other serious diseases, often decades after exposure occurs. More than 1.3 million U.S. workers still face asbestos exposure risks today, especially&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":23902,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[269],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-awareness-advocacy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13069"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13069\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}