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Asbestos Awareness –

OSHA Class IV

Stacy Kahatapitiya, CHMM, LEED GA

&

Peter Nketia-Akonnor

Characteristics

Naturally occurring mineral found in rock formations

Most ACM mined/produced in Canada

Comes from the Greek origin - “inextinguishable, unquenchable”

Fire resistant

Best known insulator

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Characteristics

Good friction and wear characteristics

Cannot be easily destroyed or degraded

Typically appears as a whitish, fibrous material

Usually mixed with other materials to form the product

Types of Asbestos

Chrysotile - Serpentine Group

Amosite - Amphibole Group

Crocidolite - Amphibole Group

Actinolite - Amphibole Group

Anthophylite - Amphibole Group

Tremolite - Amphibole Group

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Chrysotile - “White Asbestos”

Chrysotile - Natural State

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Amosite - “Brown Asbestos”

Crocidolite - “Blue Asbestos”

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Mining and Production of Asbestos

Asbestos Thread Making

Machine

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Interesting Advertisements

Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACM)

Any Material containing greater than one

percent asbestos.

>1%

Note: To OSHA any asbestos is a concern…

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Where ACM May Be Found

Steel beams

Boiler/tank insulation

Pipes (contained in cement matrix)

Pipe coverings

Pipe elbows

Laboratory structures such as fume hoods and benches

Floor tiles

Adhesives for floor tiles and roofing materials

Roofing felts

Roofing shingles

Asphalt

Exterior building shingles

Gaskets in heating and air-

conditioning equipment

Ceiling panels and ceiling tiles

Wallboard (Transite®)

Old fire doors

Asbestos cement

Believe It or Not

Kent micronite filter was made

with (blue, or crocidolite)

asbestos from 1952 to 1956

Was introduced as a way to

reduce the risk of cancer

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Categories of Asbestos-Containing

Materials (ACM)

Surfacing Materials

Thermal System Insulation

Miscellaneous Materials

Surfacing Materials

Sprayed on, trawled on, or otherwise applied to surfaces

For acoustical, decorative and fireproofing purposes

Includes acoustical plaster, wall or ceiling plasters, fireproofing

insulation, sprayed on or manually applied thermal material

Typically higher friability

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Spray-Applied Fireproofing

Applying Fireproofing

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Plaster

Decorative Applications

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Thermal System Insulation

Used to control heat transfer or

prevent condensation

Used on pipes, pipe fittings, boilers,

breaching, tanks, and ducts

Includes pipe lagging, pipe wrap,

duct insulation, cements and muds

TSI – Pipe & Fitting Insulation

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Tank Insulation

Damaged Thermal System

Insulation

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Miscellaneous Materials

All other ACM

Mostly non-friable products

Floor tile, ceiling tile, construction mastics for floor and

ceiling materials, glue dots, fire doors, asbestos cement pipe and board, Transite®, wallboard, acoustical wall tile

Miscellaneous Materials

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Miscellaneous Materials - Transite

How is Asbestos

Identified?

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Asbestos Sampling - Bulk

Polarized Light

Microscopy – PLM

Transmission Electron

Microscopy – TEM

Polarized Light Microscopy – PLM

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PLM - Chrysotile

PLM - Amosite

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PLM - Crocidolite

Transmission Electron Microscopy - TEM

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TEM - AMOSITE

Asbestos Sampling - Air

Phase Contract Microscopy – PCM

Transmission Electron Microscopy – TEM

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Phase Contrast Microscopy -

PCM Can be done on site by a trained person

(-) Only identifies and counts fibers that

meet the counting criteria

Does not specifically identify asbestos

Re-occupancy Standard: 0.01 fibers/cc

PCM – Fibers

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Health Effects of

Asbestos Exposure

Hazards of Asbestos Exposure

Depends on friability, amount of exposure

and duration of exposure

Sprayed-on and trawled-on materials are

highly friable

Jacketed materials are friable only if they

are deteriorated, water damaged or

disturbed by mechanical means

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Hazards of Asbestos Exposure

Miscellaneous materials are usually firmly bound in the

matrix

A certain amount of asbestos can be found in the air at

any given time

Highest exposures found in mining and manufacturing

operations

Hazards of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos breaks in long, thin fibers

The size and shape of asbestos fibers allows them to remain airborne for long periods of time

The size and shape of the fiber allows it to penetrate deep into the lungs to the gas exchange region

Keep exposures as low as possible

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Lungs Defenses Against Asbestos

Nose hair

Mucus

Cilia

White Blood Cells –

Macrophages

Asbestos Exposure Can Cause:

Asbestosis

Mesothelioma

Lung Cancer

Other Types of Cancer

Other Health Effects

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Asbestosis

Serious, chronic, non-cancerous

respiratory disease

Lung tissue scarring

Symptoms - shortness of breath, dry crackling lung sounds

Can be fatal

Lung Cancer

Causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure.

Symptoms - coughing, change in breathing, shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, hoarseness, and anemia.

Risk can be 90 times higher if you smoke and have asbestos exposure.

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Mesothelioma

Rare form of cancer which affects the membrane lining of the

lungs, chest & abdomen

200 cases diagnosed/year in the U.S.

Almost all cases are linked to asbestos

Latency Period

Length of time from initial exposure to the onset of an asbestos

related disease

Asbestosis: 10 – 25 years

Lung Cancer: 20 – 40 Years

Mesothelioma: 30 – 40 Year (maybe longer)

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Smoking and working with asbestos can

increase your chances of a lung cancer

Up to 90 times greater risk than the normal

population

Synergistic Effect

Smoking and Asbestos

Exposure

Asbestos Exposure – Risk Factors

1. Fiber size

2. Length of exposure

3. Density of the dust

4. Smoking

5. Personal susceptibility

6. Fiber type

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No Known Safe Level

of Asbestos Exposure

Permissible Does Not Mean Safe

Friable Asbestos

ACM that may be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry

The more friable, the more fibers can be released into the air

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Non-Friable ACM

Can only become friable or damaged by

mechanical means

Cutting

Drilling

Pounding

Grinding

Sanding

Machining

Friable Floor Tile

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Recognizing ACM

Visual determination

Microscopic analysis

Assume ACM if not sure

Ask for a copy of the building’s asbestos

management plan

Keys for Identification

Age of building

Type of construction

Application of material

The appearance of the material

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Age of Building

Asbestos pipe and boiler insulation was

used until the 1970s

Sprayed on fireproofing was banned in

1975

Type of Construction

Low-rise residential construction Unusually limited to pipe and boiler insulation

Structural steel frame buildings Fireproofing

Reinforced concrete structures Do not normally require additional fireproofing

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Nature of the Equipment

Equipment exposed to extreme conditions

High pressure steam lines

“Hot” process piping

Refractory linings in furnaces and kilns

Appearance of Material

Pipe insulation - corrugated type of material (“air-cell

insulation”) was made with a significant amount of asbestos

Floor tiles - 9” x 9”

Fibrous

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How to Identify Surfacing Material

Look for fireproofing sprayed onto steel

beams or decking

Look for fibrous, fluffy surface material on

ceilings, pillars and walls

Assume that plaster is ACM if installed before

1981

How to Identify Thermal System

Insulation

Steam pipes, elbows, valves, boilers, hot water tanks and hot

water lines

Insulation will be wrapped with an external covering such as

paint, paper, metal, plastic or fabric

Hot water tanks

If installed before 1981, presume the covering to be ACM

HVAC and cold water systems

Thin layer of insulation

May be covered with a non-ACM material

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How to Identify Resilient Flooring

Can’t tell by looking at it

Before 1981, about half the 12” x 12” and nearly all 9” x 9” tiles

contained asbestos

Asbestos was also used in the backing material

Don’t overlook floor tile under floor tile or under carpeting

Asbestos Operations

and Maintenance

Plan O&M Plan

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Asbestos Operations and

Management Plan

Must be kept by building owner

Identifies where ACM is and the

condition of the ACM

May overlook abandoned ACM

behind walls and under floors

Asbestos Management Issues

Prevent disturbance of ACM

Minimize contact with ACM

Inform appropriate parties of disturbance/disturbed ACM

Inspection and proper removal prior to renovations

Observe all notices and signs with regard to asbestos

Follow appropriate procedures – Don’t disturb or handle

asbestos if properly trained

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Asbestos Management Issues

Project Notification Requirements – OSHA

Sign posted at entrance to all asbestos removal areas

Notify all employees on multi-employer work site of the

establishment of an asbestos removal work area

Notify all prospective contractors and tenants of quantity

and location of ACM or Presumed Asbestos Containing

Materials (PACM) in areas where they work (or will work)

Employers who will work in areas associated with asbestos

shall notify building owner and employees in adjacent

areas of location, quantity, and measure to control

asbestos.

Asbestos Management Issues

Project Notification Requirements – EPA Building shall provided a 10 working day notification on any

job subject to NESHAP

Project Notification Requirements – State Specific

Permit required prior to projects subject to EPA NESHAP regulations

30-day notification to building occupants prior to projects subject to EPA NESHAP regulations

Sign posted on building entrances and exits three-days prior to removal of all asbestos projects subject to NESHAP regulations.

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Regulations

Regulation Overview

EPA

AHERA

ASHARA

NESHAP

DOT

OSHA

State

COMAR

Virginia Code

D.C.

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NESHAP National Emissions Standards

for Hazardous Air Pollutants

40 CFR Part 61,

Subpart M

Pre RENO/DEMO Inspections Required

Remove RACM If Disturbed (some exceptions)

Competent Person Supervises Removal

Wet Methods/No Visible Emissions

10-Day EPA Abatement Notification

“Generator Label” on Waste Containers

Storage, Transport, Disposal Requirements

NESHAP OVERVIEW

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Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act

40 CFR 763

Schools, Public & Private (K-12)

Training/Accreditation (Model Plan)

Awareness, 16-Hour O&M Training

Inspections/Re-inspection

Management Plans

Inspection Protocol

AHERA Overview

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OSHA

29 CFR 1910.1001 - General Industry

29 CFR 1926.1101 - Construction Industry

29 CFR 1915.1001- Shipyard Employment

29 CFR 1910.134 - Respiratory (general)

29 CFR 1926.59 - HAZCOM Standard

Asbestos Regulations - OSHA

General Industry, Construction and Maritime Standards

Class I, II, III, and IV Worker

PACM and Floor Tiles

Notifications

Labels and Signs

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OSHA

Classifies work based on type of material and activities

Specific training, work practices and precautions for each

class

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit

The amount of asbestos that can be

inhaled over an eight hour workday

PEL = 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter of air

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OSHA Excursion Limit

The amount of asbestos that

can be inhaled in a 30

minute period

Equals 1.0 fiber per cubic centimeter of air

Class I

Removal of thermal system insulation

and/or surfacing ACM

Includes sprayed-on fire proofing,

boiler/tank jacketing, pipe covering,

and acoustical plaster

Requires all OSHA precautions

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Class II

Removal of ACM containing wallboard, floor tile, sheeting, roofing

shingles and mastics

Requirements depend on exposure data

If no existing exposure data, all OSHA requirements must be initially

implemented

Class III

Repair and maintenance operations where ACM is likely to be disturbed

Requirements depend on exposure data

If no existing exposure data, all OSHA requirements must be initially implemented

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Class IV

Maintenance and custodial activities where employees may

contact ACM

Cleaning up of asbestos-contaminated debris

Training equivalent to AHERA awareness training

This is where you are classified!

Asbestos Notifications &

Permits

U.S. EPA Region III

District Department of Columbia

Maryland Department of the Environment

Virginia Department of Labor and Industry

GSA National Capital Region

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District of Columbia

Asbestos Abatement Permits & Raze Permits

> 18 SF of resilient flooring and NESHAP

10 working days

30 day tenant notification

3 days prior to abatement – post notice signs

Maryland

Asbestos Project Notification

NESHAP

Courtesy notification if less than NESHAP

10 working days

3 days prior to abatement – post notice signs

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Commonwealth of Virginia

Permit Application & Notification

> 10 LF or >10 SF and all demolition projects

20 calendar days (removal); 10 working days (demo)

Not required for non-friable roofing, flooring, or siding

Are New Buildings Free of

Asbestos?

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EPA Asbestos Ban

Many incorrectly believe that all asbestos-containing products are banned for sale or use in the U.S.

The 1989 EPA ban Most sprayed-applied surfacing ACM

Wet applied and pre-formed pipe insulation

Pre-formed ACM for boilers and hot water heaters

EPA Asbestos Ban

Asbestos products not banned Roofing felt

Vinyl floor tile

Asbestos corrugated sheeting

Shingles

Cement pipe

Gaskets

Mastics

Ceiling Tile

Drywall

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EPA Asbestos Ban

How do you know? Can’t rely on MSDS/SDS

Can’t rely on Spec Sheets

Can’t rely on word of mouth

Have to test

Components of Asbestos

Abatement Projects

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Decon Chamber

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Negative Air Pressure Isolation

Types of Containment

Glovebags

Full containment

Negative Pressure

Mini-enclosures

Negative Pressure

“Magic tape”

Approved variances

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Exposure Monitoring

Air Sampling After Final

Cleanup

Area air sampling is conducted at the conclusion of an

asbestos abatement project to estimate the airborne

concentration of residual fibers

The area must pass a thorough visual inspection before final

clearance sampling

The visual will be done in two phases typically. First an

inspector/project monitor determines completeness of the

removal and if needed re-clean, once deemed clean, it is

re-inspected and final sampling can begin

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Final Clearance Samples

Final clearance samples are typically

collected with high volume pumps to draw a

predetermined volume of air

The number of samples depends on the

amount of ACM affected by the response action, where it is taking place, and the

analytical method being used (PCM)/(TEM

0.01 f/cc (PCM)

70 S/mm2 (TEM)

Asbestos in the Recent News

World Trade Center

Libby Montana (vermiculite mine)

Texas Abatement Contractor – Latino workforce. No training, respiratory protection or decon procedures.

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Active Canadian Asbestos

Mine

Questions?