Asbestos Survey & Certification - Washington (DOSH)

In Washington, the asbestos question on a renovation job is supposed to be answered before the job is even bid. State law makes the building owner get a good faith inspection by an accredited inspector before any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition that could disturb asbestos, and it makes the owner hand the written report to every contractor before they bid. No contractor may start without it. If asbestos is going to be removed or encapsulated, the work goes to a state-certified contractor with state-certified supervisors and workers. This Washington Asbestos Survey & Certification Toolbox Talk covers both halves of that rule.

Where the boundary of this talk sits#

This talk covers Washington's pre-project asbestos inspection, the report, and the certification and notification rules for asbestos projects. Asbestos health effects, exposure limits, work practices by class, and respirator selection belong to the asbestos awareness and respiratory protection talks.

The anchor#

Here is the distinction that carries this whole talk: in Washington the survey comes before the bid, not after the first suspicious pipe wrap — before authorizing any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition project, the owner must have an accredited inspector do a good faith inspection, put it in a written report, give that report to contractors before they apply or bid, and post it where employees report to work, and no contractor may begin the project without receiving it — so a crew that shows up to demo a ceiling with no report in hand should not start, and the only ways around the survey are for the owner to be reasonably certain the project will not disturb asbestos, or to assume the material is asbestos and handle it under the full asbestos rules.

Who must survey, and when#

RCW 49.26.013(1) says an owner or owner's agent who allows or authorizes any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition project that has a reasonable possibility of disturbing or releasing asbestos into the air must perform, or cause to be performed, a good faith inspection. The inspection must be done by a person meeting the accreditation requirements of section 206(a) of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act.

WAC 296-62-07721(1)(c)(ii) puts the same duty in the rule: before authorizing or allowing the project, the owner or owner's agent must perform, or cause to be performed, a good faith inspection by an accredited inspector to determine whether the materials to be worked on or removed contain asbestos.

Note the list includes maintenance and repair, not just demolition. A plumber opening a wall or an electrician drilling through a ceiling in an older building is on a project the rule covers whenever there is a reasonable possibility the work will disturb asbestos. The size of the job does not change the question.

The report, before the bid#

Under RCW 49.26.013(2) and WAC 296-62-07721, the inspection is documented in a written report kept on file. The owner must provide a copy to all contractors before they apply or bid on the work, make it available on request, and post a copy conspicuously at the location where employees report to work. One exception was added to the statute in 2025: the Washington State Department of Transportation may write the good faith inspection into the construction contract instead, in which case the contractor must complete the inspection, prepare the written report or statement, and give a copy to WSDOT before demolition and construction start.

The rule then closes the loop from the contractor's side: no contractor may commence any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition project without receiving a copy of the written report or statement.

An owner or owner's agent who fails to comply is subject to a mandatory fine of not less than $250 for each violation.

The two ways around the survey#

WAC 296-62-07721 says the good faith inspection is not required if the owner or agent is reasonably certain that asbestos will not be disturbed by the project, or assumes that the suspect material contains asbestos and handles it under the full asbestos rules in WAC 296-62-07701 through 296-62-07753. The statute says the same, requiring the owner who assumes asbestos to take the maximum precautions specified by all applicable federal and state requirements.

"We'll just be careful" is neither exception. Assuming asbestos means treating the material as asbestos for everything that follows.

Certified contractors, supervisors, and workers#

Chapter 296-65 WAC regulates the removal or encapsulation of any material containing more than 1 percent asbestos.

• Contractors. WAC 296-65-030(1)(a): only certified asbestos abatement contractors may submit bids or work on asbestos abatement projects.
• Supervisors. WAC 296-65-030(4): a certified asbestos supervisor must provide direct, on-site supervision. Under WAC 296-65-012, supervisor certification requires at least 1,600 hours of experience in listed asbestos disciplines, a 40-hour approved course, a passing score of at least 70 percent on a 100-question exam, and an 8-hour refresher to renew. Certificates are valid one year.
• Workers. WAC 296-65-030(3): only certified asbestos workers may work on asbestos projects. Under WAC 296-65-010, worker certification requires a 32-hour approved course, at least 70 percent on a 50-question closed-book exam, and an 8-hour refresher to renew. Certificates are valid one year from course completion, individuals must not perform asbestos project work before the certificate is issued, and the current certificate must be available, electronically or physically, at all times at the project location.

Notifying L&I#

WAC 296-65-020 requires notification to the department before any asbestos project involving more than 48 square feet or 10 linear feet of asbestos-containing material, unless the pipe surface area is greater than 48 square feet. The rule uses an initial notification when the project begins five or more days out, and has a separate process for projects starting sooner. Emergency projects must be reported within three working days after they start, with a notice describing the emergency posted next to the work area.

Construction is covered#

WAC 296-62-07701 applies the Washington asbestos standard to construction work as defined in WAC 296-155-012, except for work involving asbestos-containing asphalt roof coatings, cements, and mastics.

Washington versus federal#

The federal construction standard, 29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(2)(i), requires building and facility owners to determine the presence, location, and quantity of asbestos-containing and presumed asbestos-containing material before work begins, and requires training for asbestos work. Washington goes further: an accredited good faith inspection written up and handed to contractors before they bid, posted for employees, a bar on contractors starting without it, a mandatory fine on owners, and state-issued certificates for contractors, supervisors, and workers.

Where the duty sits#

RCW 49.26.013 and WAC 296-62-07721 set the good faith inspection, the accredited inspector, the report to contractors before bidding, posting, no start without the report, the exceptions, and the owner fine. WAC 296-62-07701 applies the standard to construction. Chapter 296-65 WAC sets contractor, supervisor, and worker certification (-010, -012, -030) and project notification (-020). For contrast, federal 29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(2).

What can go wrong?#

• A remodel starts in a 1960s building with no survey report on site.
• The owner says "there's no asbestos here" without an inspection.
• An electrician drills through a ceiling marked as asbestos-containing in the report nobody read.
• A general laborer is sent to "help the abatement crew" without a certificate.

How do we manage this properly?#

• Ask for the report before you start — no report, no start.
• Read it — know which materials in your work area contain asbestos.
• Find it posted — where the crew reports each day.
• Stop if you find suspect material — that the report doesn't cover.
• Abatement only by the certified — contractor, supervisor on site, workers with current cards.

Before you start#

Look at the asbestos survey report for this building. Know which materials in today's work area are listed, and what to do if you find something that isn't. If the report is missing, tell the foreman before any demolition, drilling, or cutting starts.

Talk it over#

• Where is the asbestos report for this job posted?
• What materials in our work area does it list?
• What do we do if we uncover something suspect that isn't in it?

The bottom line#

In Washington, the owner must get an accredited good faith asbestos inspection before any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition that could disturb asbestos, unless they assume asbestos and handle it under the full rules. The written report goes to contractors before they bid and is posted where employees report, and no contractor may start without it. Removal and encapsulation are done only by a certified contractor, under a certified supervisor on site, by certified workers.

Frequently asked questions about Washington asbestos surveys#

Does Washington require an asbestos survey before remodeling?

Yes. Under RCW 49.26.013 and WAC 296-62-07721, before any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition project with a reasonable possibility of disturbing asbestos, the owner or owner's agent must have an accredited inspector perform a good faith inspection, unless they are reasonably certain asbestos won't be disturbed or assume it is present and follow the full asbestos rules.

Download the Washington asbestos survey and certification toolbox talk PDF#

Download this Washington Asbestos Survey & Certification Toolbox Talk as a printable PDF in English and Spanish, and review it before work begins in any older building.

Related toolbox talks#

• Asbestos Awareness
• Demolition Safety
• Respiratory Protection
• Lead Paint Awareness

Sources#

• Washington State Legislature, RCW 49.26.013 — Inspection of construction projects required ((1) good faith inspection by persons meeting TSCA section 206(a) accreditation; exceptions; (2) written report to contractors before they apply or bid; copy on request; posting): https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=49.26.013
• Washington State Legislature, WAC 296-62-07721 — Communication of hazards ((1)(c)(ii) good faith inspection by accredited inspector; written report; exceptions; report to contractors before bid; posted where employees report; no contractor may commence without it; mandatory fine not less than $250 per violation): https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-62-07721
• Washington State Legislature, WAC 296-62-07701 — Scope and application (applies to construction work, except asbestos-containing asphalt roof coatings, cements, and mastics): https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-62-07701
• Washington State Legislature, WAC 296-65-010, -012, -020, -030 (worker: 32-hour course, 50-question exam, one-year certificate, 8-hour refresher, certificate at the project; supervisor: 1,600 hours experience, 40-hour course, 100-question exam; notification over 48 sq ft or 10 linear ft; emergency within three working days; only certified contractors, supervisors on site, certified workers): https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-65
• OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(2)(i) (owners determine presence, location, and quantity of ACM/PACM before work): https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1101

Written by FieldSafetyTalk's safety professional — a CSP, ASP, CHST and OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer with 14+ years of international construction safety experience across federal, heavy civil, and industrial projects.

Hazards covered