People who handle asbestos - including contractors working on buildings built before 2000 -need to take early steps to eliminate or reduce their exposure to asbestos.

Many experts suggest that homeowners not handle asbestos.

But Mr. Dundulis said the state's action was meant less to encourage amateurs than to acquaint them with the costs and dangers of handling asbestos.

First, the works procedure for handling asbestos should be reviewed and additional emphasis placed on procedures to be followed in the event of an accidental release.

During one trip, they heard a radio commercial about a law office that handled asbestos and lead cases.

A highly regarded judge, he has handled asbestos and other complex cases and is supported by lawyers for both plaintiffs and defendants.

That principle underlies Federal policy for handling asbestos in schools.

Mary Mears, a spokeswoman for the cleanup agency's regional office, said that the agency would generally require cleanup by a company certified to handle asbestos.

He added that the hotel, which is owned by the Unification Church, had trained three workers to handle asbestos properly.

In the past, I too handled asbestos when making and connecting pipes and tubing.