Also see What’s in Demolition Debris
What to do when you suspect that potentially hazardous activity is at a construction site or materials aren’t being handled properly.
1. Local Immediate Response: Cambridge Public Health
For the fastest local intervention, call the Cambridge Public Health Department. Their Environmental Health division directly investigates local health hazards, including improper indoor and outdoor material exposure.
Phone: 617-665-3838
Email: support@cambridgepublichealth.zendesk.com
Tip: If you are seeing massive clouds of dust or illegal dumping happening actively outside of business hours, you can also notify the Cambridge Inspectional Services Department (ISD) 617-349-6100 or call the non-emergency police line 617-349-3300 to get a local building inspector to issue an immediate stop-work order.
2. State Enforcement: MassDEP
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is the primary state agency that enforces air quality and asbestos handling regulations. They take unpermitted or unsafe removal very seriously and dispatch investigators through their Strike Force.
• MassDEP Northeast Regional Office: 978-694-3200 (This is the regional branch that covers Cambridge)
• Environmental Strike Force Hotline: 888-846-5283 (Or email esf.hotline@mass.gov)
• 24-Hour Emergency Warning Line: 888-304-1133 (Use this if it is a severe release on a weekend or holiday)
3. Worker Safety Violations: Department of Labor Standards (DLS)
If the main issue is that the workers themselves are unprotected (e.g., handling asbestos without respirators, suits, or proper containment), the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards (DLS) handles the safety side of enforcement of the Asbestos Safety Program. Call the hotline: 617-626-6960, or email: DLSfeedback@state.ma.us
4. To file a complaint with OSHA (eg. failure to use safety equipment or follow safety procedures):
File a Complaint
- Online: Fill out and submit the electronic form on the OSHA File a Complaint Page.
- Phone: Call 1-800-321-6742 or reach out directly to your nearest area office. Use this immediately for severe, imminent danger.
- Mail, Fax, or Email: Download and complete the PDF complaint form, or write a detailed letter, then send it to the Boston office.
- In Person: Visit the OSHA Boston office to talk with staff directly
In your email/letter, include the exact business name, address, and contact details of the employer; a clear description of the specific safety or health hazard; the approximate number of workers exposed to the danger; and whether you want your name kept confidential from your employer (non-whistleblower complaints allow you to request anonymity).
5. Construction Equipment Idling
Massachusetts law prohibits idling of any vehicle or equipment for more than 5 minutes. Construction equipment is included in this prohibition. If a contractor idles a vehicle or equipment for more than 5 minutes, call the Cambridge Police Department’s non-emergency line: 617-349-3300. You can also fill out a complaint form at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s website.
What Information to Provide
When you call or email any of the above agencies or departments, try to give the dispatcher as many specifics as possible to help them build a case and act quickly:
- The exact street address of the property.
- Whether the work is happening outdoors (like roofing/siding) or indoors.
- A description of what you see (e.g., “dry dust blowing into the street,” “unlabeled bags,” “workers breaking cement shingles without wetting them down”).
- Any visible company names on the contractors’ trucks or lawn signs.
Safety Warning: Do not approach the workers yourself or get close enough to breathe in the dust to take photos. Keep your distance, close your windows if you live next door, and let the inspectors handle the site containment.