• Asbestos can be found in many older houses and factory buildings.brick warehouse image by David Woods from Fotolia.com
  
  Asbestos is a fiber that, when woven together, creates a thick, highly flexible material that can be used to insulate and is fire-retardant. Many construction projects used asbestos as insulation. However, repeated exposure to asbestos causes lung disease and cancer, and so older buildings that might have asbestos must be tested in order to find and remove asbestos. The law that directs asbestos testing and removal is the Occupational Health and Safety Administration's Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, or AHERA.
  
  

Training for Testing

• Testing and removing asbestos requires specific training taught in accredited asbestos courses. Any professional will have to show proof of passing these courses before being hired. These courses provide education in five sub-disciplines as designated by the Environmental Protection Agency: contractor, inspector, management planner, project designer and worker. There are also required annual refresher courses to inform asbestos inspectors of new guidelines and technologies. Information regarding these courses can be found in the National Directory of AHERA Accredited Courses.
  
  

Safety Concerns

• Asbestos can be incredibly carcinogenic, so the Occupational Health and Safety Administration developed a number of rules and limits regarding asbestos exposure for workers in several industries, including regulations that dictate at what point testing becomes mandatory. In addition to rules to protect workers, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration also provides regulations for how samples have to be collected for testing, to ensure the safety of those conducting asbestos tests.
  
  

Asbestos and You

• Many Americans worry about asbestos, and are not trained asbestos professionals. The Environmental Protection Agency offers advice about asbestos exposure and when and how to find an asbestos professional. Always make sure your asbestos professional can show evidence of coursework, especially in states where licensing is required. Ask for references and check them. Make sure any suspected materials are tested in a lab setting, and that many samples are taken. Most importantly, do not allow an asbestos professional to perform unnecessary renovations to your home.