Asbestos that is in good condition and left undisturbed is unlikely to present a health risk. The risksfrom asbestos occur when it is damaged or disturbed where asbestos fibers become airborne andcan be inhaled. Managing asbestos in place and maintaining it in good repair is often the bestapproach.

You can perform an internet search for "asbestos contractor" and the location of your home. Contact your state to determine what state training and accreditation requirements may exist forboth the contractor and their workers. EPA recommends that you use an asbestos contractor that isproperly trained to handle asbestos.

If you have vermiculite insulation in your home, you should assume this material may becontaminated with asbestos and be aware of steps you can take to protect yourself and your familyfrom exposure to asbestos. The EPA recommends that vermiculite insulation be left undisturbed.Airborne asbestos fibers present a health risk through inhalation, so the first step is to not disturbthe material, which could release fibers into the air. If you disturb the insulation, you may inhalesome asbestos fibers. The degree of health risk depends on how much and how often this occurred.If you choose to remove the vermiculite insulation, this work should be done by a trained andaccredited asbestos abatement contractor that is separate and independent from the company thatperformed the assessment of the vermiculite insulation to avoid any conflict of interest.

Removal of the vermiculite insulation may not be necessary if it is confined in a manner where it willbe left undisturbed. If you choose to have the vermiculite insulation removed, the EPA recommendsthat you use a trained and accredited asbestos contractor that is separate and independent fromthe company that performed the assessment of the vermiculite insulation to avoid any conflict ofinterest.

To become a properly trained and accredited asbestos professional you will need to seek trainingfrom a training provider that offers courses approved by the EPA or a state to conduct asbestostraining pursuant to the Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan. Most states also require a license toperform this work. Your training course completion certificate is a general prerequisite to applyingfor such a license. The training courses vary in length from 2 to 5 days depending upon the type ofwork you wish to perform. Accredited asbestos training courses are offered in five separatedisciplines; Asbestos Abatement Worker, Asbestos Abatement Supervisor, Inspector, ManagementPlanner and Project Designer. Some states may refer to these training disciplines by different, yetsimilar names.

You can perform an internet search for "asbestos inspection and assessment" and the location ofyour home. Also, make sure that the inspector is properly trained and accredited by your state.

It's not possible for you to tell whether a material in your home contains asbestos simply by lookingat it. If you suspect a material within your home might contain asbestos (for example floor tile,ceiling tile or old pipe wrap) and the material is damaged (fraying or falling apart) or if you areplanning on performing a renovation that would disturb the material, the EPA recommends that youhave it sampled by a properly trained and accredited asbestos professional (inspector).

It is possible that some aftermarket brakes, especially imported brakes, may still contain asbestos.

The Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools Rule, pursuant to the Asbestos Hazard EmergencyResponse Act (AHERA) requires schools to make their asbestos management plans available to thepublic, including parents, within 5 working days of the request. The asbestos management planshould discuss the location and type of asbestos-containing materials and any preventive measuresor response actions taken in your child’s school. You can also contact the school's AHERADesignated Person directly for more information, or if you have specific questions about asbestos inyour child's school. The AHERA Designated Person’s name and contact information appears in themanagement plan.