While you cannot always control the presence of asbestos in your job sight, there are things you can and should do to protect your employees. Taking every precaution can shield your company against potential lawsuits.
An unfounded accusation against your business could disrupt operations and threaten credibility. Mitigating these risks requires you to plan for the unexpected and do everything in your power to protect your people from asbestos exposure.
Investing in adequate insurance
Pollution liability insurance can provide support if someone accuses your company of asbestos exposure on your job sight. You will want to discuss the unique needs of your organization with your insurance provider to select adequate coverage. You should also revisit your policy frequently to determine if it will continue to provide optimal coverage even as your company grows and changes.
Following federal protocols
Conduct research about best practices for protecting your employees. Learn about federal protocols and stay informed about changes to applicable regulations. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, some of the ways you can protect your workers from asbestos exposure include the following:
- Posting signs warning of potential exposure
- Requiring aspirators and other PPE
- Marking off regulated areas
- Assessing asbestos levels in areas of exposure
You should also enforce protocols such as wetting down areas that could contain asbestos before moving materials around. Additionally, require your workers to discard or clean their PPE on sight to avoid contaminating their homes.
Your diligence to mitigate the hazards asbestos causes may improve your defense if you ever do face a lawsuit.