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Mesothelioma News | 2008
IG - The Lack of Regulation Raises Threats of Lead and Asbestos
WASHINGTON - An alert issued by the D.C. Inspector General indicates that the D.C. government's regulation of lead and asbestos removal is ineffective, insufficient and might increase health risks for residents of the District residents undertaking renovation projects.
Both the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and the Department of the Environment are not doing enough to protect residents and workers from the harmful risks of lead or asbestos, the IG reported in a management alert. According to the findings, gaping holes in current laws allow basic renovation work to be unregulated.
An inspection of DCRA, which the IG has yet to finish, caused the warnings to emerge. The issues of asbestos and lead, however, were urgent enough to justify the alert being posted.
Learning disabilities in children can be caused by lead exposure, and it is also harmful for adults. Lung disease and cancer can be caused by asbestos.
In terms of lead, only those projects specifically designed to eliminate or reduce lead hazards are regulated for unsafe work practices and therefore require permits. The IG wrote that homeowner renovation work "can also pose significant health risks."
It was also warned by the IG that the DCRA renovation permit process could result in asbestos fibers being disturbed if the Department of the Environment applications aren't being reviewed. The IG found that "DCRA permit application forms do not require applicants to report renovation work that may include disturbing, removing, or encapsulating asbestos."
DDOE Director George Hawkins, In a written response, said the District is charting new laws for paint work that is lead-based, including a program that focuses on renovations.
DCRA Director Linda Argo, in her response, indicated that revising the permit process is not necessary because all construction permit applications are already reviewed by DDOE.
