ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS
1. PURPOSE
Company name has developed guidelines to protect employees working with and around asbestos-containing materials and to comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1001 and OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101, Asbestos.
2. SCOPE
RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervisors
It is the supervisor’s responsibility to comply with and ensure that this procedure is followed, that employees are familiar with the requirements, and operations are conducted in a safe manner and within applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
Employees
Employees are responsible for complying with this procedure.
3. DEFINITIONS
Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM) – Any material containing more than one percent asbestos. Asbestos includes Chrysotile, Amosite, Crocidolite, Tremolite, Anthophyllite, Actinolite, and any of these minerals that have been chemically treated and/or altered.
Class I Asbestos Work – Activities involving the removal of Thermal System Insulation (TSI) and surfacing ACM and Presumed Asbestos-containing Material (PACM).
Class II Asbestos Work – Activities involving the removal of ACM which is not thermal system insulation or surfacing material with the intention to dispose. This includes, but is not limited to, the removal of asbestos-containing wallboard, floor time and sheeting, roofing and siding shingles, and construction mastics.
Class III Asbestos Work – Repair and maintenance operations, where “ACM”, including TSI and surfacing ACM and PACM, is likely to be disturbed.
Class IV Asbestos Work – Maintenance and custodial activities during which employees contact but do not disturb ACM or PACM activities to clean up dust, waste, and debris resulting from Class I, II, and III activities.
Competent Person- In addition to the definition in 29 CFR 1926.32 (f), competent person for asbestos activities is defined as one who is capable of identifying existing asbestos hazards in the workplace and selecting the appropriate control strategy for asbestos exposure , who has the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them, as specified in 29 CFR 1926.32(f): in addition, for Class I and Class II work who is specially trained in a training course which meets the criteria of EPA’s Model Accreditation Plan (40 CFR 763) for supervisor, or its equivalent and, for Class III and Class IV work, who is trained in a manner consistent with EPA requirements for training of local education agency maintenance and custodial staff as set forth at 40 CFR 763.92 (a)(2).
Decontamination Area – An enclosed area adjacent and connected to the regulated area and consisting of an equipment room, shower area, and clean room, which is used for the decontamination of workers, materials, and equipment that are contaminated with asbestos.
Disturbances - Activities that disrupt the matrix of ACM or PACM, crumble or pulverize ACM or PACM, or generate visible debris from ACM or PACM. Disturbance includes cutting away small amounts of ACM and PACM, no greater than the amount which can be contained in one standard sized glove bag or waste bag in order to access a building component. In no event shall the amount of ACM or PACM so disturbed exceed that which can be contained in one glove bag or waste bag which shall not exceed 60 inches in length and width.
Equipment Room (Change Room) -A contaminated room located within the decontamination
area that is supplied with impermeable bags or containers for the disposal of contaminated protective clothing and equipment.
Excursion Limit - Employee exposure to an airborne concentration of 1.0 fiber per cubic centimeter of air (flee) as averaged over a sampling period of thirty minutes.
Presumed Asbestos-Containing Material (PACM) – Thermal system insulation and surfacing material found in buildings constructed no later than 1980.
Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) - Employee exposure to an airborne concentration of 0.1
fibers per cubic centimeter of air as an eight hour time-weighted average (TWA) .
Regulated Area - An area established by the employer to demarcate areas where Class I, II, and III asbestos work is conducted, and any adjoining area where debris and waste from such asbestos work accumulate ; and a work area within which airborne concentrations of asbestos exceed, or there is a reasonable possibility they may exceed, the permissible exposure limit.
4. REQUIREMENTS
All project scopes of work will be evaluated and a determination made if employees have the potential to contact or disturb ACM. This information will be considered during the development of the work plan. Also, the specific State requirements will be determined. The State organization such as the Department of Labor of Health can be contacted in order to evaluate requirements such as licensing not included in the OSHA regulations.
Qualified company employees may conduct Class III or Class IV asbestos work. All Class II and Class I asbestos work will be performed by a qualified subcontractor in accordance with OSHA and State or other specific organizations.
AIR MONITORING
Initial Exposure Assessment
For work performed by company employees, our company will designate a competent person to assess exposures before or as work begins to determine expected employee exposures to airborne fibers.
Negative Exposure Assessment
When possible, our company will evaluate potential employee exposures and show that exposure will be below the PEL by performing a negative exposure assessment and confirming it by the following:
- "Historical data" from prior air monitoring for similar jobs performed within 12 months of the current job and obtained during work operations performed under similar conditions
- "Objective data" demonstrating an ACM or activities involving it cannot release airborne fibers in excess of the permissible exposure limit or excursion limit.
- Employees ' training and experience were no more extensive for previous jobs than training for current employees.
- Data that shows a high degree of certainty that employee exposure will not exceed the permissible exposure limit and excursion limit under current conditions.
- Current initial exposure monitoring using breathing zone air samples representing the 8-hour TWA and 30 minute short term exposures for each employee in those operations most likely result in exposures for each employee in those operations most likely to result in exposures over the PEL for the entire asbestos job.
Exposure Monitoring
Our company will assess employee exposures from breathing zone air samples representing the 8-hour TWA and 30-minute short-term exposures. Exposure monitoring will be representative of similar projects and/or operations.
Additional Monitoring
Our company will conduct additional monitoring when changes in process, control equipment, level of personnel experience, or work practices could result in exposures above the PEL or EL (regardless of a previous negative exposure assessment for a specific job).
5. MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
Employees engaged in Class III asbestos work more than 30 days each year will be medically evaluated in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1001 or 29 CFR 1926.1101. Employees engaged
in Class III work less than 30 days per year but required to wear a respirator or engaged in Class
IV asbestos work and required to wear respirators will be medically evaluated in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134 Respiratory Protection and our company’s Respiratory Protection procedure.
Training
Class III Asbestos Work
A competent person will evaluate the proposed scope of work activities and determine the training requirements. A competent person will conduct training that may range from 4 to 16 hours in duration, including a hands-on portion, which covers the planned work practices. The training will be equivalent in curriculum and method to the 16-hour “Operations and Maintenance” course developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for maintenance and custodial workers whose work disturbs ACM. Training will be conducted before work begins, and annually thereafter.
Training will include:
- Methods of recognizing asbestos
- The health effects associated with asbestos exposure
- The nature of operations that could result in exposure to asbestos and the importance of controls and proper work practices to minimize exposure
- Waste disposal procedures
6. CLASS IV ASBESTOS WORK
A competent person will conduct a minimum 2 hour training session for employees engaged in Class IV work. Training will be equivalent in curriculum and method to the USEPA awareness training and will focus on the locations of ACM or PACM and the ways to recognize damage and deterioration and how to avoid exposure. Training will be conducted before work begins, and annually thereafter.
General Asbestos Awareness
All employees performing work in areas where ACM is located will be trained on the general hazards of asbestos, its location, and planned work practices to eliminate the chance for contact or disturbance of the ACM. This training will be conducted for every project involving ACM.
General Work Practices and Control Measures
For all Class III and IV work, employees will use the following work practices and control measures to reduce the potential for release of asbestos fibers:
- Vacuum cleaners equipped with HEPA filters to collect all asbestos-containing or presumed asbestos-containing debris and dust
- Wet methods or wetting agents to control employee exposures
- Prompt clean-up and disposal (by others) in leak-tight containers of asbestos-contaminated wastes and debris
- Establishment of regulated areas
- Local ventilation when feasible
- Impermeable dropcloths and mini-enclosures, glove bag systems, or other isolation methods for drilling, cutting, abrading, sanding, chipping, breaking, or sawing thermal system insulation or surfacing materials
- Respiratory protection unless a negative exposure assessment or air monitoring in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.1101 indicates employee exposures are expected to be below the PEL
Asbestos Cement Pipe
- The purchase and installation of asbestos cement pipe (AC) for our company has been discontinued. Company employees are required periodically to perform work functions for AC still in the ground , such as cutting, machining, hole cutting, tapping , removing couplings and disposing of pieces of the pipe. Qualified contractors who work for our company are also required to perform the same work functions. Contract documents specifically identify the presence of AC pipe and indicate that the contractor is responsible for associated worker safety, regulatory compliance, handling and disposal measures.
- Historical and objective data collected by our operating companies indicate that employee exposure to airborne asbestos fibers is minimal when engaged in work activities with the asbestos cement pipe. Field measurements of the work place environment show that exposures are below the Federal OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.1 fibers/cubic centimeter of air measured as an eight (8) hour time-weighted average (TWA), Federal OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1001 – asbestos, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite.
- To ensure that state and federal OSHA standards are met, the company has compiled employee exposure data from work place air monitoring.
- If a negative exposure assessment cannot be provided or developed, then the work procedures are to be in accordance with the directives of the appropriate State or Federal OSHA agency. They generally are those required by the Federal OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1001 or 29 CFR 1910.1001 – asbestos, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite.
7. CONTROL METHODS
Our company will use the following work procedures to control employee exposure to asbestos fibers while employees are working with asbestos cement pipes. Work includes cutting, machining, tapping, repairs and removal of the pipe.
- Use of water spray suppression system when working with asbestos cement pipe or any other manufacturer’s approved method for keeping the pipe wet
- Use of carbide blade cutters
- Use of snap cutters
- Use of pressure or “wet” tapping machines
- Follow prescribed procedures specific to the work
- Prompt disposal of asbestos wastes
Note: Power driven saws with abrasive discs (masonry blades) must not be used for cutting or beveling asbestos cement pipe. Use of power-driven abrasive disc sanders for shaping or beveling asbestos cement pipe is also prohibited.
8. DISPOSAL
Achieve disposal of asbestos materials in one of the following ways:
- Retire in place long lengths of asbestos cement pipe
- When repairs or tapping are performed, bury the asbestos material (chips, cuttings, broken pieces of pipe and up to one joint of pipe) with the pipeline or place them in impervious sealed bags or containers and dispose of them at an approved landfill. Containers are to be labeled in accordance with the regulations.
- Place asbestos materials (resulting from work performed, for example) at the company’s stockyard in impervious sealed bags or containers and dispose of them at an approved landfill. Containers are to be properly labeled.
Respiratory Protection and Protective Clothing
Respirators and protective clothing will be used during:
- All Class III and IV work without a negative exposure assessment
- All Class III work not using wet methods
- All Class III work where ACM or PACM is cut, abraded, or broken
- All Class IV work within a regulated area where respirators are required
- All work where employees are exposed above the PEL or EL
- Emergencies
A minimum half-face air-purifying respirator and Tyvek-type clothing (whole body clothing, head coverings, gloves, and foot coverings) will be used for the above work.
Hygiene Facilities
When applicable, an equipment area will be established adjacent to the regulated area for the decontamination of employees and their equipment when possible. The area will be covered by an impermeable dropcloth on the floor or horizontal work surface and will be large enough to accommodate equipment cleaning and personal protective equipment removal without spreading contamination beyond the area. Before removing work clothing, employees will clean it with a HEPA vacuum. All equipment and the surfaces of containers filled with ACM will be cleaned before removal from the area. All employees will enter and exit the regulated area through the equipment room.
Recordkeeping
Our company keeps records of the following:
- All measurements taken to monitor employee exposure to asbestos (retain for at least 30 years)
- All objective data used to support a decision that asbestos is not capable of being released at levels at or above the Federal OSHA Action Level under the expected conditions of use or handling (retain permanently)
- All training records (retain permanently with the employee’s personnel file)
1. PURPOSE
Company name has developed guidelines to protect employees working with and around asbestos-containing materials and to comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1001 and OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101, Asbestos.
2. SCOPE
RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervisors
It is the supervisor’s responsibility to comply with and ensure that this procedure is followed, that employees are familiar with the requirements, and operations are conducted in a safe manner and within applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
Employees
Employees are responsible for complying with this procedure.
3. DEFINITIONS
Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM) – Any material containing more than one percent asbestos. Asbestos includes Chrysotile, Amosite, Crocidolite, Tremolite, Anthophyllite, Actinolite, and any of these minerals that have been chemically treated and/or altered.
Class I Asbestos Work – Activities involving the removal of Thermal System Insulation (TSI) and surfacing ACM and Presumed Asbestos-containing Material (PACM).
Class II Asbestos Work – Activities involving the removal of ACM which is not thermal system insulation or surfacing material with the intention to dispose. This includes, but is not limited to, the removal of asbestos-containing wallboard, floor time and sheeting, roofing and siding shingles, and construction mastics.
Class III Asbestos Work – Repair and maintenance operations, where “ACM”, including TSI and surfacing ACM and PACM, is likely to be disturbed.
Class IV Asbestos Work – Maintenance and custodial activities during which employees contact but do not disturb ACM or PACM activities to clean up dust, waste, and debris resulting from Class I, II, and III activities.
Competent Person- In addition to the definition in 29 CFR 1926.32 (f), competent person for asbestos activities is defined as one who is capable of identifying existing asbestos hazards in the workplace and selecting the appropriate control strategy for asbestos exposure , who has the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them, as specified in 29 CFR 1926.32(f): in addition, for Class I and Class II work who is specially trained in a training course which meets the criteria of EPA’s Model Accreditation Plan (40 CFR 763) for supervisor, or its equivalent and, for Class III and Class IV work, who is trained in a manner consistent with EPA requirements for training of local education agency maintenance and custodial staff as set forth at 40 CFR 763.92 (a)(2).
Decontamination Area – An enclosed area adjacent and connected to the regulated area and consisting of an equipment room, shower area, and clean room, which is used for the decontamination of workers, materials, and equipment that are contaminated with asbestos.
Disturbances - Activities that disrupt the matrix of ACM or PACM, crumble or pulverize ACM or PACM, or generate visible debris from ACM or PACM. Disturbance includes cutting away small amounts of ACM and PACM, no greater than the amount which can be contained in one standard sized glove bag or waste bag in order to access a building component. In no event shall the amount of ACM or PACM so disturbed exceed that which can be contained in one glove bag or waste bag which shall not exceed 60 inches in length and width.
Equipment Room (Change Room) -A contaminated room located within the decontamination
area that is supplied with impermeable bags or containers for the disposal of contaminated protective clothing and equipment.
Excursion Limit - Employee exposure to an airborne concentration of 1.0 fiber per cubic centimeter of air (flee) as averaged over a sampling period of thirty minutes.
Presumed Asbestos-Containing Material (PACM) – Thermal system insulation and surfacing material found in buildings constructed no later than 1980.
Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) - Employee exposure to an airborne concentration of 0.1
fibers per cubic centimeter of air as an eight hour time-weighted average (TWA) .
Regulated Area - An area established by the employer to demarcate areas where Class I, II, and III asbestos work is conducted, and any adjoining area where debris and waste from such asbestos work accumulate ; and a work area within which airborne concentrations of asbestos exceed, or there is a reasonable possibility they may exceed, the permissible exposure limit.
4. REQUIREMENTS
All project scopes of work will be evaluated and a determination made if employees have the potential to contact or disturb ACM. This information will be considered during the development of the work plan. Also, the specific State requirements will be determined. The State organization such as the Department of Labor of Health can be contacted in order to evaluate requirements such as licensing not included in the OSHA regulations.
Qualified company employees may conduct Class III or Class IV asbestos work. All Class II and Class I asbestos work will be performed by a qualified subcontractor in accordance with OSHA and State or other specific organizations.
AIR MONITORING
Initial Exposure Assessment
For work performed by company employees, our company will designate a competent person to assess exposures before or as work begins to determine expected employee exposures to airborne fibers.
Negative Exposure Assessment
When possible, our company will evaluate potential employee exposures and show that exposure will be below the PEL by performing a negative exposure assessment and confirming it by the following:
- "Historical data" from prior air monitoring for similar jobs performed within 12 months of the current job and obtained during work operations performed under similar conditions
- "Objective data" demonstrating an ACM or activities involving it cannot release airborne fibers in excess of the permissible exposure limit or excursion limit.
- Employees ' training and experience were no more extensive for previous jobs than training for current employees.
- Data that shows a high degree of certainty that employee exposure will not exceed the permissible exposure limit and excursion limit under current conditions.
- Current initial exposure monitoring using breathing zone air samples representing the 8-hour TWA and 30 minute short term exposures for each employee in those operations most likely result in exposures for each employee in those operations most likely to result in exposures over the PEL for the entire asbestos job.
Exposure Monitoring
Our company will assess employee exposures from breathing zone air samples representing the 8-hour TWA and 30-minute short-term exposures. Exposure monitoring will be representative of similar projects and/or operations.
Additional Monitoring
Our company will conduct additional monitoring when changes in process, control equipment, level of personnel experience, or work practices could result in exposures above the PEL or EL (regardless of a previous negative exposure assessment for a specific job).
5. MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
Employees engaged in Class III asbestos work more than 30 days each year will be medically evaluated in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1001 or 29 CFR 1926.1101. Employees engaged
in Class III work less than 30 days per year but required to wear a respirator or engaged in Class
IV asbestos work and required to wear respirators will be medically evaluated in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134 Respiratory Protection and our company’s Respiratory Protection procedure.
Training
Class III Asbestos Work
A competent person will evaluate the proposed scope of work activities and determine the training requirements. A competent person will conduct training that may range from 4 to 16 hours in duration, including a hands-on portion, which covers the planned work practices. The training will be equivalent in curriculum and method to the 16-hour “Operations and Maintenance” course developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for maintenance and custodial workers whose work disturbs ACM. Training will be conducted before work begins, and annually thereafter.
Training will include:
- Methods of recognizing asbestos
- The health effects associated with asbestos exposure
- The nature of operations that could result in exposure to asbestos and the importance of controls and proper work practices to minimize exposure
- Waste disposal procedures
6. CLASS IV ASBESTOS WORK
A competent person will conduct a minimum 2 hour training session for employees engaged in Class IV work. Training will be equivalent in curriculum and method to the USEPA awareness training and will focus on the locations of ACM or PACM and the ways to recognize damage and deterioration and how to avoid exposure. Training will be conducted before work begins, and annually thereafter.
General Asbestos Awareness
All employees performing work in areas where ACM is located will be trained on the general hazards of asbestos, its location, and planned work practices to eliminate the chance for contact or disturbance of the ACM. This training will be conducted for every project involving ACM.
General Work Practices and Control Measures
For all Class III and IV work, employees will use the following work practices and control measures to reduce the potential for release of asbestos fibers:
- Vacuum cleaners equipped with HEPA filters to collect all asbestos-containing or presumed asbestos-containing debris and dust
- Wet methods or wetting agents to control employee exposures
- Prompt clean-up and disposal (by others) in leak-tight containers of asbestos-contaminated wastes and debris
- Establishment of regulated areas
- Local ventilation when feasible
- Impermeable dropcloths and mini-enclosures, glove bag systems, or other isolation methods for drilling, cutting, abrading, sanding, chipping, breaking, or sawing thermal system insulation or surfacing materials
- Respiratory protection unless a negative exposure assessment or air monitoring in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.1101 indicates employee exposures are expected to be below the PEL
Asbestos Cement Pipe
- The purchase and installation of asbestos cement pipe (AC) for our company has been discontinued. Company employees are required periodically to perform work functions for AC still in the ground , such as cutting, machining, hole cutting, tapping , removing couplings and disposing of pieces of the pipe. Qualified contractors who work for our company are also required to perform the same work functions. Contract documents specifically identify the presence of AC pipe and indicate that the contractor is responsible for associated worker safety, regulatory compliance, handling and disposal measures.
- Historical and objective data collected by our operating companies indicate that employee exposure to airborne asbestos fibers is minimal when engaged in work activities with the asbestos cement pipe. Field measurements of the work place environment show that exposures are below the Federal OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.1 fibers/cubic centimeter of air measured as an eight (8) hour time-weighted average (TWA), Federal OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1001 – asbestos, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite.
- To ensure that state and federal OSHA standards are met, the company has compiled employee exposure data from work place air monitoring.
- If a negative exposure assessment cannot be provided or developed, then the work procedures are to be in accordance with the directives of the appropriate State or Federal OSHA agency. They generally are those required by the Federal OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1001 or 29 CFR 1910.1001 – asbestos, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite.
7. CONTROL METHODS
Our company will use the following work procedures to control employee exposure to asbestos fibers while employees are working with asbestos cement pipes. Work includes cutting, machining, tapping, repairs and removal of the pipe.
- Use of water spray suppression system when working with asbestos cement pipe or any other manufacturer’s approved method for keeping the pipe wet
- Use of carbide blade cutters
- Use of snap cutters
- Use of pressure or “wet” tapping machines
- Follow prescribed procedures specific to the work
- Prompt disposal of asbestos wastes
Note: Power driven saws with abrasive discs (masonry blades) must not be used for cutting or beveling asbestos cement pipe. Use of power-driven abrasive disc sanders for shaping or beveling asbestos cement pipe is also prohibited.
8. DISPOSAL
Achieve disposal of asbestos materials in one of the following ways:
- Retire in place long lengths of asbestos cement pipe
- When repairs or tapping are performed, bury the asbestos material (chips, cuttings, broken pieces of pipe and up to one joint of pipe) with the pipeline or place them in impervious sealed bags or containers and dispose of them at an approved landfill. Containers are to be labeled in accordance with the regulations.
- Place asbestos materials (resulting from work performed, for example) at the company’s stockyard in impervious sealed bags or containers and dispose of them at an approved landfill. Containers are to be properly labeled.
Respiratory Protection and Protective Clothing
Respirators and protective clothing will be used during:
- All Class III and IV work without a negative exposure assessment
- All Class III work not using wet methods
- All Class III work where ACM or PACM is cut, abraded, or broken
- All Class IV work within a regulated area where respirators are required
- All work where employees are exposed above the PEL or EL
- Emergencies
A minimum half-face air-purifying respirator and Tyvek-type clothing (whole body clothing, head coverings, gloves, and foot coverings) will be used for the above work.
Hygiene Facilities
When applicable, an equipment area will be established adjacent to the regulated area for the decontamination of employees and their equipment when possible. The area will be covered by an impermeable dropcloth on the floor or horizontal work surface and will be large enough to accommodate equipment cleaning and personal protective equipment removal without spreading contamination beyond the area. Before removing work clothing, employees will clean it with a HEPA vacuum. All equipment and the surfaces of containers filled with ACM will be cleaned before removal from the area. All employees will enter and exit the regulated area through the equipment room.
Recordkeeping
Our company keeps records of the following:
- All measurements taken to monitor employee exposure to asbestos (retain for at least 30 years)
- All objective data used to support a decision that asbestos is not capable of being released at levels at or above the Federal OSHA Action Level under the expected conditions of use or handling (retain permanently)
- All training records (retain permanently with the employee’s personnel file)
