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Department of Health/Private Lab Tests Asbestos,etc

NYC Rent Regulation: Rent Control/Rent Stabilized, DHCR Practice/Procedures

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Department of Health/Private Lab Tests Asbestos,etc

Postby Retaliation » Sat Apr 14, 2018 2:57 pm

What is the proper way to contact Department of Health or private testing Lab to take samples of asbestos,mold,etc to prove the issue of uninhabitability and danger to health?
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Re: Department of Health/Private Lab Tests Asbestos,etc

Postby TenantNet » Sat Apr 14, 2018 3:44 pm

Perhaps you could combine your questions?

But I don't have an answer for that.
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Re: Department of Health/Private Lab Tests Asbestos,etc

Postby Sky » Thu Apr 19, 2018 2:42 pm

Re: Dept. of Health, I've seen them respond to dust complaints and issue violations, for both public spaces like hallways and also inside individual apartments undergoing construction where living quarters were not sufficiently protected from dust contamination when contractors didn't safely manage their dust and debris. They can also test for asbestos.

As an aside, I've personally witnessed a well reputed asbestos testing firm violate the testing procedures by sending a trainee (solo) to take the samples: he had neither the paperwork nor the certification to qualify him, nor was a certified tester present to supervise him (the latter would have been permissible under the regulations) all of which would invalidate any test results. The location and volume of the samples taken were from areas that are specifically prohibited for determining the presence of asbestos, like for example an area around light switches. Nonetheless, the defective samples were used to obtain a 'no asbestos' result after being tested by a licensed lab. The firm's accompanying affidavit was clearly falsified as no licensed tester obtained the samples.

DOH came in and tested the area independently.

Just a head's up on various potential shenanigans. For testing of this sort the handling of materials is like any other evidence, there has to be an unbroken chain of custody by reputable people and institutions with the requisite qualifications & certifications.
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