Comments | hip_domestics: Asbestos worries

marusja in hip_domestics

Asbestos worries

Nov 09, 2010 09:40

Hi HD ( Read more... )

Comments 16

mk_tortie November 9 2010, 17:48:29 UTC

I would suggest giving environmental health a call for advice and possibly action. I checked your profile - if you're still in SF then this might give you the right contact number: http://www.sfdph.org/dph/EH/default.asp

zaxwrit November 9 2010, 17:59:35 UTC

Act fast. Call the city, bldg dept, whomever will take action and make them stop until it's tested. Good luck.

siriel November 9 2010, 18:02:25 UTC

Call the local health inspector. They take this kind of shit very seriously. When the asbestos lining of our ancient water heater started crumbling off in sheets, we called and the guy showed up the same day. Then he paid a personal visit to our landlady to inform her he'd be bringing in a hazmat team. And she'd be paying for it.

mahasin November 9 2010, 18:17:52 UTC

This!

marusja November 9 2010, 18:26:00 UTC

Apparently it's not the same in San Francisco, nobody gives a damn unless you are a Section 8 or a commercial building.

cheekyassmonkey November 9 2010, 19:51:55 UTC

actually, you should get a faster response, since everything causes cancer in california. keep calling, you just haven't gotten to the right place yet.

jabber November 9 2010, 18:13:29 UTC

All of the above - and start looking for a new place because your landlady will likely not want to renew your lease if this costs her more than she expected to pay.

rosemere_rat November 9 2010, 18:16:57 UTC

^^ this :[

kathyrhino November 9 2010, 18:19:27 UTC

I took a peek at your profile to see where you live. Call the Bay Area Air Quality Management District ASAP and tell them what is going on. They are the ones with federal authority to do something. Here's a link to their main asbestos page and their number is 415-749-4762. Tell them what kind of activity is going on, what building materials are being disturbed (drywall? siding?). Drywall dust gets everywhere and can be unpleasant, but asbestos isn't something to mess around with. Oh, and the inspectors you mentioned are called AHERA certified.

Also, don't landlords legally have to provide you 24 hours notice (not consent though) before entering your space for work like that?

Good luck!

marusja November 9 2010, 18:25:14 UTC

We called them.
The are only concerned about commercial buildings.

kathyrhino November 9 2010, 18:39:26 UTC

Seriously? Wow. I wonder who enforces the NESHAPs then? I guess federal rules are not enforced similarly between states. California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the only other agency I can think of. I wish I could be of more help. The BAAQMD didn't have any suggestions on who to call?

tappanga November 10 2010, 16:42:55 UTC

Call the news station. My local news has a "Six on Your Side" segment (they're channel six) and they step in for residents who have problems they can't get solved, like paying a person who doesn't complete the work, or getting the city to inspect for things like that. No one wants bad publicity.