01. Laws and Regulations
Hawaii Asbestos Laws and Regulations
The primary state laws regulating asbestos in Hawaii are found in Chapter 342P of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, which also covers lead.
Asbestos Inspection in Hawaii
The Hawaii Director of Health has the power to inspect (or order an inspection of) any building or other place to investigate both suspected and actual asbestos use, in accordance with applicable laws and warrant requirements. Any violation of asbestos rules and regulations discovered as a result of such an inspection may result in written notice, a hearing, a plan for remediation, and/or penalties based on the intent of the violation (e.g., negligence, knowing endangerment, etc.). These actions apply to both initial and continuing asbestos violations. In extreme or emergency situations, the Hawaii Director of Health can order the immediate reduction or cessation of asbestos exposure, and even order a state of emergency if necessary.
Asbestos Abatement in Hawaii
Before starting any renovation or demolition on a regulated building containing asbestos, the owners or contractors are required to notify state, local, or EPA officials. During the demolition or renovation activities, licensed asbestos contractors are required to follow special procedures related to the removal, handling, and disposal of asbestos-containing materials. Like other states, Hawaii follows the EPA’s National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).
Asbestos Licensing in Hawaii
Licensed asbestos workers must at minimum be 18 years old and complete an initial four-day training session, plus any refresher courses that may be required periodically. In addition to taking training and refresher courses, contractors and supervisors must have experience in containment (six months) or general construction (three years) before they are licensed. Inspectors generally need two years of college education or a high school degree plus experience in industrial hygiene or asbestos abatement. Additional licensing requirements are required for asbestos management planners, asbestos project designers, and asbestos project monitors. Various initial and annual renewal fees apply to each level of asbestos licensing in Hawaii.
02. Asbestos Jobsites
Hawaii Work Sites Involved in Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Hundreds of commercial and military work sites throughout Hawaii have exposed unsuspecting workers to asbestos. We have listed below some of the most egregious jobsites and employers who have been named as defendants in mesothelioma lawsuits filed in Hawaii.
Hawaii Sites Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred
-
Barbers Point
- Chevron Usa Inc
- Standard Oil
-
Hilo
- Hawaii Electric Light Company
- Hawaiian Agricultural Company
- Hilo Sugar Company
- Paauhau Sugar Plantation Company
- Waiakea Steam Plant
-
Honolulu
- Bechtel Power
- California Packing Corporation
- Dole Company
- H.R. Worthington
- Hawaiian Pineapple Company
- Honolulu Shipyard
- Hutchinson Sugar Plantation Company
- La Haina Plantation
- Owens-Corning
- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard
- Standard American Dredging Company
-
Lahaina
- Pioneer Mill Company Ltd
-
Nanakuli
- Kaiser Cement & Gypsum
In addition to the list above, asbestos exposure has occurred at many other locations in Hawaii as well. If the site where you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos is not on the list above, contact an attorney to see if the job site in question had a history of exposing workers to asbestos.
03. Lawsuits
Hawaii Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Hawaii residents living in the following towns and cities have filed mesothelioma lawsuits to protect their rights and seek compensation from manufacturers and distributers of asbestos.
- Laupahoehoe, HI
- Waianae, HI
04. Settlements
Mesothelioma Settlements for Hawaii Residents
We have listed below a few of the verdicts and settlements compensating victims of asbestos exposure in Hawaii.
Note: Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact a reputable Hawaii lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
05. Law Firms
Mesothelioma Law Firms that Represent Hawaii Residents
The following law firms have lawyers who specialize in handling mesothelioma cases. These firms either have offices in Hawaii or have filed lawsuits on behalf of Hawaii residents. They have knowledge of asbestos companies that have unknowingly caused exposure to asbestos to unsuspecting workers.
Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney and Meisenkothen is a national mesothelioma law firm recognized for its representation of over 3,000 hardworking men and women who have been exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with mesothelioma. ELSM’s experience in asbestos litigation spans four decades.
06. Filing Deadlines
Mesothelioma Statute of Limitations in Hawaii
Once diagnosed, a mesothelioma victim has a limited amount of time to file a mesothelioma lawsuit in Hawaii. For individuals who die from this aggressive cancer, their surviving family members also have a limited period in which to submit a claim. The table below outlines the specific personal injury and wrongful death statutes of limitation in the state of Hawaii.
Gathering the evidence necessary to file a mesothelioma lawsuit can be time-consuming, so it is important to begin the process as soon as possible. Talk to a lawyer experienced with asbestos-related claims to make sure that you and your family do not lose your right to compensation.
