1.0 PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to provide written guidance for Nitro Construction Services for working around asbestos-containing material and ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations and Institute Site procedures.
2.0 RESPONSIBILITY
It is the responsibility of Project Managers/Site Superintendent to ensure Nitro Construction Services employees are aware of asbestos hazards and protect employees from potential asbestos exposure. The facility owner’s responsibilities are explained in Section 5.0 below.
3.0 REFERENCES
40 CFR 61.150(d)
29 CFR 1910.1001
29 CFR 1926.1101
4.0 DEFINITIONS
4.1 Asbestos – A naturally occurring hydrated magnesium silicate in fibrous form. Forms of asbestos include chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite.
4.1.1 Exposure to asbestos has been shown to cause lung cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma, and cancer of the stomach and colon.
4.2 Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) – Any material that contains more than 1% Asbestos.
4.3 Asbestos Excursion Limit (EL) – The Asbestos EL is 1.0 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc) of air averaged over thirty minutes.
4.4 Authorized Person – any person authorized by the employer and required by work duties to be present in regulated areas.
4.5 Employee Exposure – exposure to airborne asbestos that would occur if the employee were not using respiratory protective equipment.
4.6 Fiber – a particulate form of asbestos 5 micrometers or longer, with a length-to-diameter ratio of at least 3 to 1.
4.4 Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) – The PEL for Asbestos is 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc) of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA8)
4.5 Presumed Asbestos Containing Material (PACM) – Thermal systems insulation, surfacing material, wallboard, floor/ceiling tile, etc., found in enclosed buildings constructed before 1981. Inspection and/or analysis of PACM is required before “disturbance”.
5.0 PROCEDURE
5.1 The following lists the Facility Owner’s responsibility in regards to Asbestos:
5.1.1 Notify occupants, including contractors, either verbally or in writing of the presence, location, and quantity of ACM or PACM. This includes notification of personnel performing housekeeping activities.
5.1.2 Maintain records concerning the presence, location, and quantity of ACM and PACM in the building/facility.
5.1.3 Warning signs shall be posted by the facility owners at entrances to mechanical rooms, i.e., boiler/HVAC rooms, which identify material present, location, and appropriate work practices that ensure ACM or PACM will not be disturbed. The warning signs shall bear the following legend:
DANGER
ASBESTOS
MAY CAUSE CANCER
CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
5.1.4 Provide for the systematic removal or repair of asbestos-containing material so that exposures of personnel to airborne fibers are within applicable limits.
5.1.5 All demolition, removal, disposal, or disturbing of ACM or PACM, e.g., TSI, surfacing material, gaskets, packing, floor tile, ceiling tile, wallboard, etc., will be performed in accordance appropriate regulatory standards so that:
5.1.5.1 Employees are not exposed to airborne asbestos concentrations above the PEL or EL.
5.1.5.2 When employee exposure to airborne asbestos exceed the PEL or EL, air monitoring, medical surveillance, and required employee informing and training will be initiated.
5.1.5.3 Warning signs will be posted at all approaches to areas that may contain excessive concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers.
5.1.5.4 Appropriate barricades shall be erected around the perimeter of asbestos abatement areas to discourage unauthorized entry.
5.1.5.5 The transportation and disposal of ACM material will be conducted in such a manner to ensure that employees handling the materials are protected from exposures to asbestos fibers.
5.2 If Nitro employees are working immediately adjacent to a Class I asbestos jobs and are or could potentially be exposed to asbestos due to the inadequate containment of such job, Nitro Supervision shall remove Nitro employees from the area and notify the Facility Owner in order for the enclosure breach to be repaired.
5.3 Nitro Construction Services employees shall:
5.3.1 Report to their Site Superintendent or Project Manager all asbestos-related concerns involving known asbestos-containing materials or materials that are suspect.
5.3.2 Shall exit area(s) if known or suspected asbestos-containing material has been disturbed and take action to prevent re-entry into the area until the situation can be evaluated and controlled.
5.3.3 Shall not disturb asbestos-containing materials and/or presumed asbestos-containing materials.
5.4 Sampling, removing, modifying, or otherwise disturbing asbestos-containing materials shall be done by a contractor licensed to perform Asbestos work.
6.0 TRAINING
6.1 All employees shall receive training on this procedure before working in an area or jobsite where asbestos-containing materials may be present.
6.2 This training shall be documented and shall include the employee’s name, date of training, and signature of the trainer.