MEDIA RELEASE

HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) has issued a Notice of Violation and Order against Professional Training Hawai‘i, LLC for multiple violations of the state’s asbestos training and certification regulations.

Professional Training Hawai‘i, LLC was cited for three counts of issuing course completion certificates to students who failed the certification examination, and failing to properly ensure and document that each person receiving a course completion certificate has achieved a passing score on the examination. Other violations include failure to provide the DOH notices of training, as well as prior notification for their new training site. The violations were discovered during an audit and inspection of records on April 29 and May 12, 2011. The DOH has imposed a penalty of $21,000. Professional Training Hawai‘i, LLC may request a hearing to contest the allegations or order.

DOH has collected the affected training certificates and the individuals will need to retake the course from an accredited training provider and pass the exam prior to conducting regulated asbestos activities. Professional Training Hawai‘i is currently not operating as an asbestos training provider.

To perform tasks related to asbestos, all individuals must be certified each year in their particular areas. Asbestos professionals are required to attend annual training classes to keep up to date with the knowledge they need to keep themselves, others and the environment safe from exposure. State regulations govern the certification and training of asbestos professionals and any asbestos-related activity (such as demolition, renovation or repair) for commercial, public, institutional, schools, most multi-family housing, and industrial buildings in Hawai‘i. However, even private single-family homeowners are recommended to hire certified asbestos professionals when they suspect asbestos may create a problem.

DOH and its various divisions work to protect and improve the health and environment for all people in Hawai‘i. The DOH Indoor and Radiological Health Branch regulates asbestos abatement activities including the accreditation of asbestos training providers which ensures properly trained and qualified asbestos abatement workers, supervisors, inspectors, project designers, project monitors and management planners.

For more information on asbestos regulations go to: http://hawaii.gov/health/environmental/noise/pdf/asbestos.pdf http://hawaii.gov/health/environmental/noise/asbestoslead/asbestos.html