RFM Inc.
Asbestos Compliance Basic Facts
For Facility Owners White Paper

Final Remarks

Asbestos has been around for a very long time, probably even since the dawn of time. While it has gone from a mysterious wonder material to a known health hazard, one thing remains true...it is likely to be around for a lot longer and will continue to be studied and debated.

About the Author: William A. Onderick is President of RFM Inc., a consulting firm formed in 1991 specializing in strategic asbestos management compliance for facility owners. Mr. Onderick is the former Corporate Asbestos Issue Manager for the DuPont Company. He spent nearly 10 years leading an internal effort in DuPont to manage the asbestos issue smarter. He is a frequent speaker and author on asbestos management and asbestos replacements offering both a facility owner and consultant's perspective to the issue. For more information, he can be reached by phone at (800) 870-9161, by e-mail at rfmnet2@att.net or through RFM's website at www.RFMnet.com.

Chart 1 - World Production of Asbestos (1995)
Country Metric Tons
Russia 1,000,000
Canada 510,800
China 250,000
Brazil 180,000
Zimbabwe 145,000
South Africa 100,000
Greece 50,000
Swaziland 30,000
India 25,000
United States 9,000
Colombia 5,000
Romania 3,000
Yugoslavia 1,000

Source: The Asbestos Institute, Canada

Chart 2 - Commercial Asbestos Fiber Types
Mineral Name Commercial Name Mineral Group Chemical Formula
Chrysotile Chrysotile Serpentine Mg6(OH)8Si4O10 (± Fe)
Riebeckite Crocidolite Amphibole Na2(Fe3+)2(Fe2+)3(OH)2Si8O22 (±Mg)
Grunerite Amosite Amphibole Fe7(OH)2Si8O22 (± Mg, Mn)
Anthophyllite Anthophyllite Amphibole (Mg, Fe)7(OH)2Si8O22
Actinolite Actinolite Amphibole Ca2Fe5(OH)2Si8O22 (± Mg)
Tremolite Tremolite Amphibole Ca2Mg5(OH)2Si8O22 (± Fe)

Source: Health Effects Institute Asbestos Research Program, United States

Chart 3 - Common Asbestos Containing Materials
Asbestos Types Generic Name Asbestos % Dates of Use
Surfacing Materials Sprayed/Trowelled-On 1-95% 1935-1970
Thermal Insulation Batts, Block and Pipes 10-30% 1926-1971
Textiles Curtains, Gloves 60-65% 1945-Present
Cement Products Extrusion Panels 8-10% 1965-1977
Corrugated 20-45% 1930-Present
Flat 30-50% 1930-Present
Pipe 15-20% 1930-Present
Paper Products Corrugated 35-90% 1935-Present
Millboard 80-85% 1925-Present
Asbestos Compounds Adhesives 5-25% 1945-Present
Joint Compound 3-5% 1945-1975
Flooring Vinyl Asbestos Tiles 10-30% 1960-Present
Sheet Goods 30-40% 1950-Present
Paints and Coatings Roof Coatings 5-10% 1900-Present

Source: Environmental Protection Agency, United States, 1985

Chart 4 - EPA Asbestos Ban & Phase-Out Rule Summary
Background

In the November 5, 1993 Federal Register, EPA announced it's determinations concerning the regulatory status of asbestos containing products originally banned in it's original Ban and Phase Out Rule. EPA has concluded that several asbestos containing product categories were not being manufactured, processed and imported on July 12, 1989 and thus are still subject to the ban.

EPA also concluded that certain asbestos containing product categories were being manufactured on July 12, 1989 and thus are no longer subject to the ban meaning they still could be manufactured and installed in buildings and facilities today. The products in each of the categories are listed below:

Banned Not Banned
Corrugated Paper Asbestos Cement
Specialty Paper Asbestos Clothing
Commercial Paper Pipeline Wrap
Rollboard Roofing Felt
Flooring Felt Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tile
New Uses of Asbestos Asbestos Cement Pipe
Millboard
Automatic Transmission Components
Clutch Facings
Friction Materials
Disc Brake Pads
Brake Blocks
Gaskets
Roof Coatings
Non-Roof Coatings

Source: Federal Register, United States, 1993

Chart 5 - OSHA Asbestos Standard Summary Highlights - 1994
Scope Demolition, maintenance, repair and renovation that may encounter ACM, emergency spill and clean-up.

Effective Date October 1, 1995
Permissible Exposure Limit The PEL decreased from 0.2fibers/cc to 0.1fibers/cc as an 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA). The 30 minute excursion limit remains at 1 fiber/cc.

Multi-Employer Worksites Inform all employees on the site, including tenants and visitors about the asbestos hazard and when work will be done on asbestos containing materials.

Work Classifications Class I asbestos work includes activities involving the removal of asbestos containing materials (ACM) or Presumed Asbestos Containing Materials (PACM) found in thermal system insulation and surfacing materials. Most Class I work requires the use of Negative Pressure Enclosures (NPE's).

Class II asbestos work includes the removal of other types of ACM such as resilient flooring, ceiling tiles, gaskets, roofing and cementi-tious products such as transite.

Class III asbestos work includes those activities involving repair and maintenance where ACM/PACM is disturbed. This work activity must not generate waste greater than one waste or glove bag will hold.

Class IV asbestos work involves custodial activities where employees contact ACM?PACM as a result of a Class I, II or III work activity.

Exposure Assessments Initial exposure assessments are required until a negative exposure assessment (NEA) has been made. Negative exposure assessments must be based on objective data - no older than 12 months.

Methods of Compliance Engineering controls and work practices that must be used regardless of exposure levels are:
  • Vacuum cleaners equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters.
  • Wet methods
  • Prompt clean-up and disposal of waste and debris
Controls to be used if over the PEL:
  • Local exhaust ventilation
  • Enclosure or isolation of area
  • Ventilation of regulated area to pull air away form the breathing zone
Prohibitions:
  • Use of high speed abrasive disc saws not equipped with point source ventilation, compressed air, dry sweeping, shoveling or other dry clean up.
There are specific requirements depending upon which Class (Class I-IV) of asbestos work is being performed.
Respiratory Protection Respirators must be worn in just about all work with asbestos. If respirators are not worn, several criteria must be met, such as valid negative exposure assessment data and approval of the competent person on the job. Respiratory protection also involves annual fit-testing as part of OSHA's respiratory protection standard: 1910.134.

Protective Clothing Employees working with asbestos must wear coveralls, head and foot coverings and gloves. There are separate provisions for laundering contaminated clothing.

Hygiene Facilities and Practices Decontamination areas must be established consisting of equipment room, shower area and a clean change room. This is mandatory. Smoking or eating of food or drink is not permitted in these asbestos control areas.

Communication of Hazards Requires building owner to inform occupants of asbestos in a building as well as when asbestos work will take place. It also specifies the language on asbestos warning signs and labels. Lists the required time, frequency and topics for employee training.

Housekeeping Permits only HEPA vacuuming.

Specifies care of asbestos floor tiles:

  • No sanding of floor
  • Stripping of finishes using wet methods and low abrasion pads are to be used at speeds less than 300 rpm.
  • Burnishing and dry buffing only when the floor has a sufficient finish of 3 layers of wax.
Janitorial workforce must be trained about asbestos hazards - 2 hours of asbestos awareness training is required.

Medical Surveillance Specifies requirements for medical exams and frequency.

Recordkeeping Lists information that must be kept and for what duration.

Competent Person Required for every asbestos job.

Source: Adapted from the August 10, 1994 US Federal Register

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