ABSTRACT
Assessing the potential hazard to occupants due to the presence of asbestos in building materials is a subjective process which generally includes a visual inspection of the building, bulk sampling of suspected asbestos-containing materials (ACM), evaluation of the ACM, and a determination of the appropriate response actions. It is important to understand that the mere presence of asbestos in a building does not necessarily constitute a hazard or unacceptable risk to health. The only federal regulation which requires inspections for ACM is the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). This law, commonly known as "AHERA", was signed into law by President Reagan on October 22, 1986. Once the ACM has been identified and classified, a management planner must determine the appropriate response action for each material. Training in the techniques for collecting bulk samples of suspect ACMs is necessary. Associated with bulk sampling is the use of personal protective equipment.
