Asbestos control program - standard operating procedures

If in doubt about the possibility of disturbing ACM during maintenance activities, adequate precautions should be taken to minimize fiber release; these will protect workers as well as the building environment. Most often, protective clothing is disposable and consists of coveralls, a head cover, and foot covers made of a synthetic fabric which does not allow asbestos fibers to pass through.

This type of clothing can prevent workers' regular clothing from becoming contaminated with asbestos fibers. Contaminated clothing should not be taken home to avoid creating a possible risk to the worker's family members. It is important that workers be properly trained in the use, removal, and disposal of protective clothing after use.

OSHA regulations require workers to wear protective clothing whenever they are exposed, or likely to be exposed, to fiber levels above OSHA's permissible levels. The selection of approved respirators, suitable for the hazards to which the worker is exposed, is only one aspect of a complete respiratory protection program. Other elements include written operating procedures for respirator use; outlining personnel responsibilities for respirator cleaning, storage, and repair; medical examination of workers for respirator use; training in proper respirator use and limitations; respirator fit testing; and work-site supervision.

As with protective clothing, OSHA regulations require the use of respirators whenever workers are exposed, or likely to be exposed, to fiber levels above OSHA's permissible levels. For additional information on respirator programs, respirator types, and respirator use, the building owner or APM can consult the following references:.

Dry sweeping or dusting can result in asbestos fibers being re-suspended into the building's air and therefore should not be used. Once wet cloths, rags, or mops have been used to pick up asbestos fibers, they should be properly discarded as asbestos waste while still wet.

They should not be allowed to dry out, because the collected fibers might be released at some later time when disturbed. The use of special vacuum cleaners, commonly referred to as HEPA high efficiency particulate air vacuums, may be preferable to wet cleaning in certain situations.

These vacuums are equipped with filters designed to remove very small particles or fibers—such as asbestos—by filtering those particles from the air passing through the vacuum. Because the exhaust air from an ordinary vacuum cleaner is not filtered sufficiently, it is possible for tiny asbestos fibers to pass through the filter and back into the building air. Special procedures are generally needed to minimize the spread of fibers in the building after asbestos fiber release occurs.

Before emptying the HEPA vacuums, workers should move the HEPA vacuum to a physically isolated area of the facility and put on proper personal protective equipment before emptying the dust and debris into properly labeled, sealed, and leak-tight containers for disposal as asbestos-containing waste. When custodial workers are not trained to work with ACM, trained maintenance workers can be used to empty the HEPA vacuums and change their filters. If ACM has been released onto a carpeted area of a building, it may not always be possible to adequately clean the carpeted area.

The APM should consider the need for workers engaged in cleaning asbestos-fiber-contaminated carpets to wear proper respiratory protection. It may also be prudent to arrange for this type of cleaning to be done after normal working hours or when the facility is less occupied. Additionally, it may be more cost effective to properly dispose of contaminated carpets and other fabrics as asbestos-containing waste if a permanent asbestos control option is being undertaken in the building.

Where the ACM is damaged and located in an "air plenum" — where fibers can be transported by the heating, ventilation, or air conditioning HVAC system throughout the building — cleaning practices described above may be extended to the entire building, including the HVAC system itself.

Special procedures are generally followed to minimize the spread of fibers throughout the building after asbestos fiber releases occur, such as the partial collapse of an ACM ceiling or wall. The procedures to be followed will vary according to the site of the major release episode, the amount of ACM affected, the extent of fiber release from the ACM, the relationship of the release area to the air handling systems, and whether the release site is accessible to building occupants.

Small asbestos fibres can be released from asbestos-containing materials into the air when: Disturbing or removing insulation including insulation around hot water pipes and tanks. Removing or disturbing roofing shingles and felt or siding. Sanding, breaking apart or scraping vinyl asbestos floor tiles. Breaking apart soundproofing ceiling tiles. Sanding or disturbing plaster, including acoustical plaster.

Sawing, drilling or smoothing rough edges of materials. Sanding or scraping older surface treatments, such as roofing compounds including tar paper , spackling, sealants, paint, putty, caulking or drywall. Replacing some car parts such as brakes or transmission clutches.

Check with your parts supplier to find out if any replacement parts contain asbestos. Type 1 low risk involves: Installing or removing ceiling tiles covering an area less than 7. Breaking, cutting, drilling, abrading, grinding, sanding or vibrating non-friable ACM if the material is wetted to control the spread of dust or fibres, and the work is done only with non-powered hand-held tools.

Type 2 medium risk involves: Removing all or part of a false ceiling to get access to a work area, if ACM is likely to be lying on the surface of the false ceiling. Enclosing friable ACM. Applying tape, sealant, etc. Installing or removing ceiling tiles that are ACM if the tiles cover an area of greater than or equal to 7. Breaking, cutting, drilling, abrading, grinding, sanding or vibrating non-friable ACM if the material is not wetted to control the spread of dust or fibres, and the work is done only with non-powered hand-held tools.

Breaking, cutting, drilling, abrading, grinding, sanding or vibrating non-friable asbestos-containing material if the work is done with power tools attached to dust-collecting devices equipped with high efficiency particulate air HEPA filters.

Removing insulation that is ACM from a pipe, duct, etc. Cleaning or removing filters used in air handling equipment in a building that has sprayed fireproofing that is ACM. An operation that is not mentioned above but may expose a worker to asbestos and is not classified as a Type 1 or Type 3 operation. The spray application of a sealant to friable ACM.

Cleaning or removing air handling equipment, including rigid ducting excluding filters , in a building that has sprayed fireproofing that is ACM. Repairing, altering or demolishing all or part of a kiln, metallurgical furnace or similar structure that is made in part of refractory materials that are ACMs. Breaking, cutting, drilling, abrading, grinding, sanding or vibrating non-friable ACM, if the work is done with power tools not attached to dust-collecting devices equipped with HEPA filters.

Repairing, altering or demolishing all or part of any building in which asbestos is or was used in the manufacture of products. In general, anyone working with asbestos must be educated and trained on: The hazards of asbestos exposure. How to identify asbestos-containing material. Personal hygiene and work practices, including the specific work procedures to be followed.

The operation of the required engineering controls. The use, cleaning, maintenance and disposal of protective equipment and clothing. Disposal procedures for asbestos-contaminated materials. The purpose and significance of any required health monitoring. Respirators must be: Properly fitted to the worker. Used and maintained according to written procedures established by the employer and are consistent with the manufacturer's specifications. Cleaned, disinfected and inspected after use on a regular basis.

Inspected and repaired before being used by a worker. Stored in a convenient, clean and sanitary location when not in use. Protective clothing must be provided by the employer and should: Be made of a material that does not readily retain nor permit penetration of asbestos fibres. Cover the head and body fully, fitting snugly at the ankles, wrists and neck in order to prevent asbestos fibres from reaching the garments and skin under the protective clothing.

Include suitable footwear. Be repaired or replaced if torn. Before working with asbestos-containing material ACM , employers should: Identify and mark the boundary of the designated work area by barricades, fences, or similar means. Ensure that the immediate work area is cleared of objects, materials and equipment other than what is needed to do the work. Ensure that windows, doorways and all other openings are adequately sealed or secured to prevent the release of asbestos fibre into other work areas.

Post signs at the boundaries of the designated work area indicating asbestos work is in progress, the hazards, and the precautions required for entering the work area. These signs must be posted in a conspicuous location at the entrances to and on the periphery of each restricted area, as appropriate, and must remain posted until the area is no longer a restricted area.

Restrict entry into the designated work area to authorized persons who are adequately protected against the level of risk within the designated work area. Workers should not eat, drink, chew or smoke within any work area containing asbestos.

Drop sheets and barriers used in the work area should be wet-wiped or vacuumed with a HEPA-filtered vacuum. Drop cloths should not be re-used. Barriers and portable enclosures should not be reused unless they are rigid and can be thoroughly cleaned.

Compressed air must not be used to clean up and remove dust from any surface. Clean the work area frequently and at regular intervals during the work and immediately on completion of the work. Dust and waste should be cleaned up and removed using a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter, or by damp mopping or wet sweeping, and placed in a container.

The container must be: dust tight and suitable for the type of waste, impervious to asbestos, labelled as containing asbestos waste with a warning that the dust from the contents should not be inhaled, cleaned with a damp cloth or a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter immediately before being removed from the work area, and removed from the workplace frequently and at regular intervals.

Before leaving the work area, workers must decontaminate their protective clothing by using a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter, or by damp wiping, before removing the protective clothing. If the protective clothing will not be reused, the clothing should be placed in a container as described above.

Workers must wash their hands and face before leaving the work area. The employer must provide adequate wash facilities. A double locker facility is often used to assist workers with cleaning up after working with asbestos, particularly after medium- to high-risk operations.