Encountering Asbestos

ENCOUNTERING ASBESTOS

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What is Asbestos?

Natural mineral that occurs in rocks Has varied uses and has been seen in products for

centuries Widespread use of asbestos beginning in the late

1800s By the 1970s, asbestos was used in:

— Insulation— Fireproofing— Pipe wrap


What is Asbestos?ACMs

Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are any materials containing more than one percent asbestos

Presumed ACMs include thermal system insulation and surfacing material found in buildings constructed before 1981

ACMs are divided into two basic groups:— Friable— Non-friable


What is Asbestos?Friable ACMs

Greater than one percent asbestos When dry, it can be crumbled, pulverized or

reduced to powder by hand pressure Releases fibers more readily Friable ACM is found in:

— SM— Thermal insulation

The WTC contained 400 tons of a friable asbestos/cement mixture


What is Asbestos?Non-Friable ACMs

Cannot be reduced to powder, when dry, by hand pressure

Is safer than friable ACMs Can release asbestos fibers when cut, sanded or

drilled Non-friable ACM is found in:

— Roofing material— Gaskets— Floor tile— Exterior siding— Table tops— Transite pipes


What is Asbestos?Categories of ACMs

Category I ACMs: Asbestos-containing resilient floor covering, asphalt roofing products, packings, gaskets and mastic

Category II ACMs: All remaining types of non-friable ACM not included in Category I that, when dry, cannot be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure— Non-friable asbestos cement products (transite)


What is Asbestos?Properties

Characterized by its soft, pliant properties Nearly indestructible Resists heat, chemical corrosion and friction Does not conduct electricity Has high thermal and tensile strength Insulates well against condensation, heat and noise


What is Asbestos?Health Effects

A known carcinogen in humans When inhaled, asbestos fibers become lodged in

the lung tissue or alveoli, clogging and scarring the tissues

Can cause disabling or fatal diseases, including:— Asbestosis (scarring of the lung)— Lung cancer— Mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the chest

or lining of the abdominal wall)


Where Can Asbestos Be Found?

SM— Sprayed on the structural members of high-rise

buildings to prevent warping or collapsing in a fire

— May have been painted or encapsulated with a sealant

— May be concealed behind suspended ceilings or wall systems

— May collect as dust on top of ceiling panels— May be sprayed on nearby walls and ceilings


Where Can Asbestos Be Found? (cont)

Thermal system insulation— Used on boilers, pipes and ducts for thermal

insulation and condensation control Asbestos cement products

— Generally made of Portland cement, aggregate and chrysotile fibers

— Common products include:WallboardSiding and roofingCladding and partitionsPipes


Asbestos vinyl and asphalt— Floor tile and covering— Roofing felts and shingles— Exterior siding— Joint compounds and adhesives— Asphalt additive

Acoustical materials Decorative materials Friction products



It is estimated that one-half of all multi-story buildings in the United States, built between 1950 and 1970, have some form of asbestos

Approximately 66% of asbestos materials used today are in asbestos-cement products— Corrugated roofing and panels— Drain pipes and gutters— Flat sheets and siding— Pressure pipes



How Did Asbestos Get There?

By 1936, asbestos had become the single most common construction material in the United States and can be found in a variety of building and other materials

The U.S. did not accept asbestos as a disease-producing agent until 1960, and bans on asbestos didn’t begin until more than 10 years later

The known health hazards of asbestos ultimately resulted in bans on several products

Most bans were mandatory, but some were voluntary


How Did Asbestos Get There?Mandatory Bans

1973: Dry spray-applied friable material banned by EPA

1975: Molded or wet-applied thermal system insulation banned by EPA

1977: Asbestos-containing compounds and emberizing materials banned by Consumer Products Safety Commission

1978: All spray-applied materials banned by EPA


How Can You Get Rid of Asbestos?

Asbestos in buildings is not always a hazard If asbestos is in good condition, the EPA

recommends that it be left alone and periodic surveillance be performed to monitor its condition

If asbestos is damaged, disturbed or has deteriorated, it becomes a health hazard and must be addressed



Causes of Damage Asbestos-containing materials can be damaged by:— Age— Water— Air erosion— Vibration— Touching or gouging



Identifying Hazards Asbestos can be released into the air by:— Fallout (results from the aging and

deterioration of bonding agents that hold the asbestos product together)

— Impact (results from striking, cutting and penetration)

— Re-entrainment (results from the disturbance of settled fibers)

All can be minimized by proper work practices



Regulated ACMs EPA defines regulated ACMs as:— Friable asbestos material— Category I non-friable ACM that has become

friable— Category I non-friable ACM that will be or has

been subjected to sanding, grinding, cutting or abrading


EPA defines regulated ACMs as:— Category II non-friable ACM that has a high

probability of becoming or has become crumbled, pulverized, or reduce to powder by the forces expected to act on the material in the course of demolition or renovation


Regulated ACMs (cont)



Requirements All friable and non-friable materials should be removed prior to demolition

Mastics and adhesives can be left in the facility during demolition if they are Category I non-friable ACMs and the probability is low that the materials will become crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder during demolition


During demolition, if a facility component contains, is covered with or is coated with RACM is being taken out of the facility as a unit or in a section, the demolition contractor should adequately wet all RACM exposed during cutting or disjoining operation


Requirements (cont)


• Interpretation and compliance with the OSHA “multi-employer” construction work site standard often varies depending on the jurisdiction.

• The presence of asbestos containing building materials (ACBM) dictates communication of the hazard to all employers and their employees by the party who will or may be disturbing the ACBM in conjunction with their work site activities.

• OSHA requires that all hazards associated with the presence and disturbance of asbestos is performed by competent personnel who have received the appropriate training are equipped with proper personal protective equipment.

Multi Employer Worksites


When citations will be given.Employers normally shall be cited, whether or not their own employees are exposed: The employer who actually creates the hazard (the creating

employer) The employer who is responsible, by contract or through actual

practice, for safety and health conditions on the worksite; the employer who has the authority for ensuring that the hazardous condition is corrected (the controlling employer)

The employer who has the responsibility for actually correcting the hazard (the correcting employer).

Multi Employer Worksites Cont.


How to avoid being cited.Prior to issuing citations to an exposing employer, it must first be determined whether the available facts indicate that employer has a legitimate defense to the citation as set forth below: The employer did not create the hazard. The employer did not have the responsibility or the authority to

have the hazard corrected. The employer did not have the ability to correct or remove the

hazard.



The employer can demonstrate that the creating, the controlling and/or the correcting employers have been specifically notified of the hazards to which his/her employees are exposed to.

The employer has instructed his/her employees to recognize the hazard and, where necessary, informed them how to avoid the dangers associated with it.

- Where feasible, an exposing employer must have taken appropriate alternative means of protecting employees from the hazard .

- When extreme circumstances justify it, the exposing employer shall have removed his/her employees from the job to avoid citation.

How to Avoid Being Cited Cont.


What happens if a company met OSHA’s requirements?• If an employer meets all the criteria, the employer shall not be cited. • If all employers on a worksite with employees exposed to a hazard meet

these conditions, then the citation shall be issued only to the employers who are responsible for creating the hazard.

• A citation would also go to the employer who is in the best position to correct the hazard or to ensure its correction.

• The controlling employer and the hazard-creating employer shall be cited even though no employees of those employers are exposed to the dangerous condition.

• Penalties for such citations shall be appropriately calculated, using the exposed employees of all employers as the number of employees for probability assessment.



• There are four different classes of work for removing or performing maintenance on asbestos.

• Many people get confused on the differences between the classes and what type of work can be done.

• The classes of work range from class I to class IV. • Class I is the most dangerous of the classes and needs the most

amount training to do. • Where class IV is not as dangerous and will not require the

same amount of training. • All the classes will need over site by a competent person and follow

OSHA guidelines. However, if asbestos removal work is not done properly in any class it can have adverse effects on a person’s health.

Classes of Work


Class I work• Class I work is the most potentially dangerous class of asbestos jobs. • Class I work involves the removing of thermal insulation systems and sprayed-

on/toweled-on surfacing materials that contain asbestos. Whenever a job is going to be started the employer must presume that they are dealing with construction pre-1981 construction that it is ACM.

• All Class I work needs to have a competent person, which is someone who can identify asbestos hazards on the job site and will have the authority to correct them.

• In order to be considered a competent person, they will need comprehensive training course for contractors and supervisors certified by the EPA or a state approved training provider.

Classes of Work


Class II work• Class II work is very similar to class I work with the exception

that the removal of thermal system insulation such as resilient flooring and roofing materials is not allowed.

• Class II work does include the removal of asbestos-containing flooring and ceiling tiles, siding, roofing and transit panels.

• For class II work there must still be a competent person present who will be able to make any corrections. The same amount of training is needed just as class I would have.

Classes of Work


Class III work• Employers must use wet methods and local exhaust ventilation, to the

extent feasible, for Class III work. • Drilling, cutting, sanding, chipping, breaking, abrading, or sawing ACM,

employers must use impermeable drop cloths as well as mini- enclosures, glove bag systems and any other effective isolation methods.

• Employers must ensure that all employees are wearing the proper respirators and they are correctly working at all times. A competent person must inspect frequently and asses changing conditions and upon employee request.

Classes of Work


Class IV work• Employees who are conducting Class IV work must have to attend an

asbestos awareness training program. • They must also use wet methods and HEPA vacuums to properly clean

ACM or PACM. • When cleaning debris and trash in regulated areas, employees must

wear respirators. • Class IV is mainly for janitorial duties but should still use precaution for

any debris could be an asbestos containing material. • Just like in the rest of the classes a competent person will need to

oversee the process and make any corrections based up on the conditions or upon the employee’s request.

Classes of Work


What are NESHAP regulations?• Under the CAA federal regulations were created to form NESHAP that

applies to facility owners and contractors who perform work in public and commercial buildings.

• NESHAP regulations address common small business activities such as milling, manufacturing and fabricating operations.

• They also address demolition and renovation activities, waste disposal issues, active and inactive waste disposal sites, and asbestos conversion processes.


Frequently Asked Questions


When is an asbestos inspection required? An inspection is required under the NESHAP Standard prior to any renovation and/or demolition activities of a building or structure. Why is an inspection required? In accordance with the NESHAP Standard, written notification must be made to the EPA 10 days prior to any site work if asbestos containing materials were identified during the survey in quantities greater than 160 lineal and 260 square feet. What are the chances that I would find asbestos present in a facility? If the structures were constructed prior to 1981 the presence of asbestos containing building materials is likely. Are there any special requirements that a building owner is responsible for? Yes there are a number including hazard communication, work practices and procedures, and cradle to grave liability exposure to name a few.

Frequently Asked Questions


Do the same rules apply to friable and non-friable? There are some variations based on the type of building material, proposed work practices and/or anticipated disposition of the asbestos, and local jurisdiction. What should be done with the asbestos after it has been properly removed? The NESHAP Standard also regulates the transportation and disposal of asbestos waste. All materials must be labeled and disposed in a designated landfill. If the latency period for contracting a disease from asbestos exposure is so long (30 to 50) years why don’t they save money on the personal protective equipment and just use death row inmates for abatement workers instead?What do I do if asbestos is present and will be disturbed in conjunction with site work activities? All work associated with asbestos containing building materials in public or commercial facilities must be performed by workers trained in accordance with the USEPA ASHREA Standard. What if I am not sure if a building material contains asbestos? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) dictates that all suspect materials are to be presumed asbestos containing materials until determined otherwise.

Encountering Asbestos

Education

Transcript of Encountering Asbestos