Policy declaration

2. The Legislature declares it to be its purpose and policy to reduce asbestos-related hazards by: a. Encouraging contracting parties, citizens and insurance companies in their efforts to reduce disabling asbestos hazards and to stimulate initiation of new and to perfect existing programs for controlling the application, use and removal of asbestos, an extremely dangerous substance; b. Creating a climate for developing innovative methods, techniques and approaches for dealing with life-destroying asbestos materials; c. Encouraging competence and knowledge in the field of asbestos application, enclosure, repair, removal, and encapsulation by the licensing of employers, including contractors, and the permitting of employees in an effort to ensure that incompetent work will not pose a health and safety threat to the public-at-large through subsequent exposure to asbestos; d. Providing for the adoption of standards for the application, enclosure, removal, encapsulation, storage, sale, disposal and use of asbestos and asbestos-containing material; and e. Establishing an enforcement program for these standards, which shall include reporting procedures.