NORTH ATTLEBORO - The state has ordered the owners of the former Balfour building on East Street to hire a licensed asbestos remover to decontaminate the site.

Signs went up around the former factory building Wednesday warning people to stay away because of asbestos hazards.

The warning also states violations were found at the site.

"Not properly licensed as an asbestos contractor," the notice states as the violation.

The owners also must submit a cleanup plan to the state for approval. The town assessor's Web site lists the owners as North Attleboro Commerce Center LLC.

State officials said they were limited in what they could say because the matter is still under investigation. They would not say what, if any, work was being done at the building at the time of the inspection.

"We're looking into all of the issues," said Linnea Walsh, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Labor. "All of this is being investigated as quickly as possible."

The department's Division of Occupational Safety conducted an inspection of the site, along with the Department of Environmental Protection.

Walsh said a cease-and-desist order has been issued for all work at the site.

DEP spokeswoman Theresa Barao said materials taken from the site are being tested. She also said she could not comment further.

Town Health Agent Bob Davis said he was called to the site while the inspections were under way.

He said asbestos had apparently crumbled onto the floor from pipes in the building.

"The owners need to take care and clean up the asbestos completely," he said.

Asked if the asbestos could be a danger to neighbors, Davis said, "Asbestos is not good stuff to play with, that's for sure." He said the site is fenced off.

Two years ago, the town gave approval to a plan by developers Fred Bottomley and Allen Riley to tear down the building and construct condominiums.

At the time of the approval in September 2005, the developers said a section of the site had been cleared of contamination, a second area was being cleared, and work had not yet started on a third area.

The building was originally a Balfour factory.

The site near the Ten Mile River has also been a lumber yard.