Asbestos

The next Steps cover Cal/OSHA safety regulations for Asbestos. Where appropriate, we have referenced the code from Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations.

The topics we will cover are:

-What is Asbestos?
-Where You Could Encounter Asbestos
-Regulations
-Construction Projects
-Cal/OSHA Administrative Requirements
-Training
-Permissible Exposure Limits
-Multi-Employer Work Regulations
-Exposure Assessments and Monitoring
-Respirator Protection
-Methods of Compliance and Work Practices
-Prohibited Work Practices
-HAZCOM Program

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What is Asbestos?

The word asbestos refers to six naturally occurring, fibrous, hydrated mineral silicates that differ in chemical composition.

They are actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite, and tremolite.

Where You Could Encounter Asbestos

You may encounter asbestos at a construction site in the following applications and areas:

-Excavations where asbestos-bearing rock outcroppings are at or near the surface

-Fireproofing for steel-frame high-rise buildings

-Pipe and boiler insulation

-Insulators of electrical conductors

-Plaster, cement, drywall, and taping compounds

-Floor tile and tile adhesives

-Acoustical ceilings (tiles and sprayed on)

-Asbestos-cement piping, shingles, and panels

-Roofing felt and sealing compounds

Regulations

Because asbestos exposure has been linked to serious illnesses, Fed/OSHA and Cal/OSHA have implemented strict regulations to minimize exposures to work site and “take-home” asbestos.

Steps 5 through 14 below are a summary of the Cal/OSHA regulatory requirements.

Construction Projects

Construction projects are subject to regulation if they involve one or more of the following activities, regardless of the percentage of asbestos present:

-Demolition or salvage of structures where asbestos is present

-Removal or encapsulation (including painting of materials that contain asbestos

-Construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, or renovation of structures, substrates, or portions thereof that contain asbestos

-Installation of products that contain asbestos

-Erection of new and the improvement, alteration, and conversion of existing electric transmission and distribution lines and equipment

-Excavation that may involve exposure to naturally occurring asbestos, excluding asbestos mining and milling activities

-Routine facility maintenance

-Transportation, disposal, storage, and containment of and site housekeeping activities involving asbestos or materials containing asbestos

-Asbestos spills and emergency cleanups

Cal/OSHA Administrative Requirements

Cal/OSHA administrative requirements are as follows:

-Registration and district notification if disturbing 100
square feet or more of manufactured construction materials containing more than 1/10 of 1% of asbestos-containing construction material

-Carcinogen notification with exposures in excess of permissible exposure limits (PELs)

-The employer shall notify affected employees of the monitoring results of asbestos within 5 working days following receipt of monitoring results.

-Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) certification is required for all persons performing duties of an asbestos consultant or technician

-“Asbestos consultant” means any person who contracts to provide professional health and safety services relating to asbestos

Training

Training is required for all employees engaged in Class I through IV work and all work in which they are likely to be exposed in excess of the PELs (Permissible Exposure Limits).

The training must be provided:

-At the employer’s expense

-Before or at the time of initial assignment

-Annually after initial training

-In accordance with 1529(k)(9)

Permissible Exposure Limits

The employer must ensure that employee exposures do not exceed:

-Eight-hour time-weighted average of 0.1 fibers/cc

-Thirty-minute excursion limit of 1 fiber/cc

Multi-Employer Work Sites

Multi-employer work sites are regulated under 1529:

-The general contractor on the project must exercise general supervisory authority

-An employer doing work involving asbestos must notify other employers at the site

-All employers on site must ensure that their own employees are not exposed to asbestos fibers because of a breach in containment or control methods used by the creating employer

Exposure Assessments and Monitoring

Exposure assessments and monitoring are required as follows:

-Initial exposure assessment must be made by all employers subject to 1529 before or at the onset of the project

-Daily exposure monitoring of employees must be conducted by all employers disturbing materials that contain more than 1% asbestos in Class I and II work

-All employers must monitor daily representative exposure of employees performing Class I and II work (see page 13 in Pocket Guide for exceptions)

-Periodic exposure monitoring of employees must be conducted when disturbing asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in operations involving other than Class I and II work during which the PELs might be exceeded

Respirator Protection

Respirator protection requirements are specific to asbestos-related activities and exposures as outlined in 1529(h):

-The employer must provide appropriate respirators to employees; however, employers shall not use filtering facepiece respirators for use against asbestos fibers

-The appropriate respirator must be selected from Table 1 of 5144(d)(3)(A)(1) and 1529(h)

-The employer must provide HEPA filters for powered and non-powered air-purifying respirators

-A written respiratory protection program must be implemented in accordance with 5144(c), 1529(h)(2)

Methods of Compliance and Work Practices

Methods of compliance and work practices are noted below:

-The wet method must be used unless the employer can demonstrate that it is not feasible

-Vacuum cleaners with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters must be used to clean up ACM and presumed asbestos-containing material (PACM)

-Prompt cleanup and disposal in labeled leak-tight containers are required except as specified in 1529(g)(8)(B), 1529(g)(1)

-Specific work practices for different activities are also outlined in 1529, 1529(g)(4-11)

-Stripping of finishes shall be conducted using low abrasion pads at speeds lower than 300 rpm and wet methods

Prohibited Work Practices

Prohibited work practices and controls are as follows:

-Spraying of any substance containing any amount of asbestos

-High-speed abrasive disc saw cutting of Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM) or Presumed Asbestos-Containing Material (PACM) without appropriate point of cut ventilator or enclosures with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtered exhaust air

-Using compressed air to remove asbestos or materials containing asbestos

-Dry sweeping, shoveling, or other dry cleaning of dust or ACM or PACM debris

-Rotating employees as a means of reducing exposure to asbestos

HAZCOM Program

Employer needs to include asbestos in the HAZCOM program 5194, regardless of employee airborne exposure levels, and make sure that:

-Employees have access to labels and safety data sheets on containers of asbestos and safety data sheets

-Employees are trained as per 5194 and 1529

-Warning signs shown below are displayed at each regulated area:
'DANGER'
'ASBESTOS'
'MAY CAUSE CANCER'
'CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS'
'AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY'

-Labels on containers for protective clothing and equipment, scrap, waste, and debris with asbestos fibers show following information:
'DANGER'
'CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS'
'MAY CAUSE CANCER'
'CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS'
'DO NOT BREATHE DUST'
'AVOID CREATING DUST'

How much did this Navitent help you to understand the Cal/OSHA safety regulations for Asbestos, including:

-What is Asbestos?
-Where You Could Encounter Asbestos
-Regulations
-Construction Projects
-Cal/OSHA Administrative Requirements
-Training
-Permissible Exposure Limits
-Multi-Employer Work Regulations
-Exposure Assessments and Monitoring
-Respirator Protection
-Methods of Compliance and Work Practices
-Prohibited Work Practices
-HAZCOM Program

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