Asbestos training rules

AN ACT Relating to department of labor and industries' authority 1
to enact rules related to regulating asbestos training; and amending 2
RCW 49.26.110. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 49.26.110 and 2011 c 301 s 14 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) No employee or other individual is eligible to do work 7
governed by this chapter unless issued a certificate by the 8
department. 9
(2) To qualify for a certificate: 10
(a) Certified asbestos workers must have successfully completed a 11
four-day training course. Certified asbestos supervisors must have 12
completed a five-day training course. Training courses shall be 13
provided or approved by the department; shall cover such topics as 14
the health and safety aspects of the removal and encapsulation of 15
asbestos, including but not limited to the federal and state 16
standards regarding protective clothing, respirator use, disposal, 17
air monitoring, cleaning, and decontamination; and shall meet such 18
additional qualifications as may be established by the department by 19
rule for the type of certification sought. The department may require 20
the successful completion of annual refresher courses provided or 21
Z-0434.2
HOUSE BILL 2494
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Obras, Berry, Parshley, Scott, Reeves, Nance,
Ormsby, Hill, Pollet, and Reed; by request of Department of Labor &
Industries
Read first time 01/15/26. Referred to Committee on Labor & Workplace
Standards.
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approved by the department for continued certification as an asbestos 1
worker or supervisor ((. However, the authority of the director to 2
adopt rules implementing this section is limited to rules that are 3
specifically required, and only to the extent specifically required, 4
for the standards to be as stringent as the applicable federal laws 5
governing work subject to this chapter)); and 6
(b) All applicants for certification as asbestos workers or 7
supervisors must pass an examination in the type of certification 8
sought which shall be provided or approved by the department.9
These requirements are intended to represent the minimum 10
requirements for certification and shall not preclude contractors or 11
employers from providing additional education or training.12
(3) The department shall provide for the reciprocal certification 13
of any individual trained to engage in asbestos projects in another 14
state when the prior training is shown to be substantially similar to 15
the training required by the department. Nothing shall prevent the 16
department from requiring such individuals to take an examination or 17
refresher course before certification. 18
(4) The department may deny, suspend, or revoke a certificate, as 19
provided under RCW 49.26.140, for failure of the holder to comply 20
with any requirement of this chapter or chapter 49.17 RCW, or any 21
rule adopted under those chapters, or applicable health and safety 22
standards and regulations. In addition to any penalty imposed under 23
RCW 49.26.016, the department may suspend or revoke any certificate 24
issued under this chapter for a period of not less than six months 25
upon the following grounds: 26
(a) The certificate was obtained through error or fraud; or27
(b) The holder thereof is judged to be incompetent to carry out 28
the work for which the certificate was issued. 29
Before any certificate may be denied, suspended, or revoked, the 30
holder thereof shall be given written notice of the department's 31
intention to do so, mailed using a method by which the mailing can be 32
tracked or the delivery can be confirmed to the holder's last known 33
address. The notice shall enumerate the allegations against such 34
holder, and shall give him or her the opportunity to request a 35
hearing before the department. At such hearing, the department and 36
the holder shall have opportunity to produce witnesses and give 37
testimony. 38
(5) A denial, suspension, or revocation order may be appealed to 39
the board of industrial insurance appeals within ((fifteen)) 15 40
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working days after the denial, suspension, or revocation order is 1
entered. The notice of appeal may be filed with the department or the 2
board of industrial insurance appeals. The board of industrial 3
insurance appeals shall hold the hearing in accordance with 4
procedures established in RCW 49.17.140. Any party aggrieved by an 5
order of the board of industrial insurance appeals may obtain 6
superior court review in the manner provided in RCW 49.17.150.7
(6) Each person certified under this chapter shall display, upon 8
the request of an authorized representative of the department, valid 9
identification issued by the department. 10
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