This section establishes minimum work practice requirements for asbestos abatement activities. All asbestos abatement activities are subject to these work practice requirements. All projects must be performed in accordance with an applicable project design, as set forth in these rules.
A.General Work Practice Requirements. Asbestos abatement activities, exclusive of asbestos associated activities, must comply with the following work practice requirements: (1) A certified Asbestos Abatement Project Supervisor must be designated as the lead supervisor for the project and must be present at the work site at all times personnel are within the regulated area.(2) Establishing the Regulated Area. Prior to starting an asbestos abatement activity, the Asbestos Abatement Contractor must establish the regulated area. For activities where containment is not required, the regulated area shall be demarcated with barrier tape marked "ASBESTOS HAZARD" (or equivalent wording) and OSHA warning signs, and located such that it protects persons from exposure to asbestos and minimizes the number of persons in the area. In facilities where plastic barrier tape may cause a safety hazard, red cloth tape may be used. ________________________________________________________________________
Note: If establishing an exclusion zone, the exclusion zone should be demarcated with barrier tape that is different from the tape used to demarcate the regulated area.
________________________________________________________________________
The regulated area must include the following:
(a) Except as allowed under the provisions of sections 7(B) and 7(D) of this rule, a work area containment meeting the following requirements: (i) A polyethylene-enclosed structure formed by partitions or framing or by covering walls and ceilings with a minimum of 2 layers of 4-mil polyethylene sheeting or 1 layer of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting, and by covering the floor with a minimum of 2 layers of (six) 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. The surface to be abated does not need to be covered with polyethylene sheeting. For suspended ceiling tile system removals, containment above the ceiling also is required for interior walls that do not extend from floor to ceiling; that is, a gap exists above the ceiling system where asbestos fibers could migrate to areas not being abated. Perimeter areas along interior walls therefore must be accessed and/or removed first and 2 layers of 4-mil polyethylene sheeting or 1 layer of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting established as containment prior to removing interior portions of the ceiling system. Exterior walls must have critical barriers established in section 7(A)(2)(d) of this rule;(ii) Fiber-tight seams in the polyethylene coverings; and(iii) An access into the polyethylene-enclosed containment provided through the decontamination unit. ________________________________________________________________________
Note: When containment is not required, all other work practice requirements, including all other requirements for the regulated area, still apply.
________________________________________________________________________
(b) A decontamination facility consisting of aluminum, tin, fiberglass, preformed plastic, or other impervious surface, or two layers of (six) 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. Decontamination facilities must have (six) 6-mil polyethylene sheeting flaps or air-locks between each chamber. Remote decontamination facilities are exempt from the ventilation system required below. Where construction of a decontamination unit meeting minimum size requirements is not possible due to room size and configuration, HVAC system component locations, life safety code requirements or restriction of safe egress for residents, a smaller than standard decontamination facility may be constructed.(c) A ventilation system meeting the following requirements: (i) The exchange of at least 4 volumes of air per hour at a volume sufficient to establish and maintain a pressure differential within the ambient environment of negative 0.02 inches of water column;(ii) The ventilation units must be operated in accordance with US EPA recommendations set forth in Appendix J of US EPA Guidance Document EPA 560/5-85-024 (effective June, 1985) or in Appendix F to 29 CFR Part 1926.1101 (effective August 10, 1994);(iii) The make-up air entering the containment must pass through the decontamination system whenever possible, or through waste load-out and/or make-up air intakes specified by the project design; and(iv) The exhaust air must be HEPA filtered before being discharged outside of the work area and must be discharged outside the facility to a location that is not near any intake for building ventilation. The HEPA-filtered exhaust air may be discharged inside the facility if access to the outside is not feasible because the distance from the regulated area to the outside of the building is too great (such as in large industrial building or warehouses), or when health and safety concerns, such as blocking egress from an area with limited access.. If the exhaust air is discharged inside the facility, the contractor shall demonstrate that the unit(s) is operating effectively by evidencing that air samples collected from the exhaust stream are less than 0.01 f/cc or that the audio alarm filter and/or filter change lamps and the unit(s) pressure differential filter monitoring meter is operational. Ventilation units may be shut down overnight when the only source of electrical power for the project is a portable generator that must be removed at night for site safety and security reasons. The entry into the work area must be sealed (fiber-tight) whenever ventilation units are shut down.
(v) The exhaust air tubes or ducts associated with the work area ventilation system must be fiber-tight and must be securely attached to the HEPA unit exhaust port.(d) Critical barriers. Critical barriers are required for all projects. (i) Prior to suspended ceiling tile removals, the perimeter area above the ceiling must be accessed first, under negative pressure with properly protected employees to allow the sealing, as critical barriers, of penetrations and openings along the perimeter. ________________________________________________________________________
Note: Removal of perimeter ceiling tiles must be conducted as an abatement activity subject to all applicable work practice requirements.
________________________________________________________________________
(e) A waste load out, if applicable.(3) Exclusion of Persons from the Regulated Area and Posting Signs. (a) Individuals not directly involved in the asbestos abatement activity must be excluded from the regulated area.(b) Warning signs, meeting the requirements set forth in 29 CFR 1926.1101 (effective August 10, 1994), shall be posted at all approaches to the regulated area, and at the decontamination and waste load out unit's outermost boundaries.(4) Regulated Area Control. An Asbestos Abatement Project Supervisor must be present at the work site at all times during active abatement activities. The Supervisor must have the authority to initiate and implement corrective action should problems or deficiencies arise at the asbestos worksite.(5) Physical Barriers. Physical barriers must be established if indicated in the project design.(6) Personal Protective Equipment. An individual involved in an asbestos abatement activity or an individual who enters the regulated area, excluding the clean room, must be provided with and wear appropriate respiratory protection and personal protective clothing. Minimum respiratory protection shall be 1/2-faced negative pressure respirator equipped with HEPA filters. Minimum protective clothing shall be disposable full body suits, including head and foot coverings. Wearing a nylon brief type bathing suit underneath disposable full body suits is allowed. Gym shorts, "cut-offs" or underwear are not considered to be bathing suits. ________________________________________________________________________
Note: OSHA also regulates asbestos activities involving respirators and personal protective equipment. OSHA regulations may require a higher degree of respiratory protection and/or protective clothing.
________________________________________________________________________
(7) Isolation of HVAC Systems. All intake openings, exhaust openings, and any holes in the building HVAC system and its components located within the regulated area must be fiber-tight and covered with two-layers of (six) 6-mil fiber-tight sheeting, and all seams in the system must be taped to be fiber tight.(8) Covering of Movable and Immovable Objects. (a) Movable objects within the regulated area must be removed or, if not feasible, treated as an immovable object below.(b) Immovable or fixed objects within the regulated area must be wrapped with two layers of six (6) mil thick (minimum) polyethylene sheeting that is fiber-tight prior to the commencement of abatement activity.(9) Air and Project Monitoring. All asbestos abatement activities are subject to the following air and project monitoring requirements: (a) An air monitoring program that is developed by an Asbestos Air Monitor must be in place and be consistent with these rules; and(b) A project monitoring program, if applicable, that is developed by an Asbestos Air Monitor must be in place and be consistent with these rules. ________________________________________________________________________
Note: An air monitoring program consists of air clearance sampling at a minimum, and may include background and area samples. See "Monitoring". OSHA requires personal sampling for most activities.
________________________________________________________________________
(10) Wetting of ACM. Prior to removal of ACM, including removal of components covered with thermal system insulation, all ACM must be adequately wetted with water, except as provided below. Throughout the removal, storage, transport, and disposal processes, ACM must be kept adequately wet. (a) Wetting ACM not required under the following conditions: (i) When the temperature inside the regulated area is below 32[DEGREE]F and heating the area is neither feasible nor practical (e.g., abandoned warehouse or roof);(ii) When electrical conditions exist that are noted in the design plan and demarcated in the specific work area, and that would render that specified area hazardous to shock and/or electrocution hazards; or(iii) When operational high-pressure steam lines are being abated or repaired.(iv) Wetting metal jacketed piping during wrap and cut operations. ACM exposed during glove-bagging associated with the wrap and cut process must be wetted in accordance with standard glove-bag procedures. ________________________________________________________________________
Note: When not wetting ACM during removal is allowed, the ACM must still be adequately wet during storage, transport, and disposal.
________________________________________________________________________
(11) Containerization of Waste at Elevations Exceeding 10 Feet. Excluding removal of acoustical, sprayed-on, troweled-on, or fireproofing ceiling materials, ACM must be containerized at the height of removal if the elevation of the material is 10 feet or greater from the ground or floor. Roofing waste may be lowered to ground level in a closed cluster in a pan scale or similar equipment prior to packaging.(12) Containerization of Asbestos Waste. Prior to removal from the regulated area, asbestos waste must be containerized in fiber-tight leak-proof packaging and properly labeled, in accordance with OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926.1101 (effective August 10, 1994). (a) Friable asbestos waste andasbestos-containing cementitious materials removed from inside of occupied facilities. Friable asbestos waste that does not contain components with sharp edges must be adequately wetted and then containerized in two (2) polyethylene bags with a six (6) mil minimum thickness for each bag. Bags shall be then individually sealed in a fiber-tight manner by first removing air from the bag, and then twirling the open end of the bag sufficiently enough to permit the twirled end to be folded over and wrapped securely with duct tape. Fiber-tight drums may be used in lieu of bags to package waste. Liners inside dumpsters and roll-offs can not be used to meet this containerization requirement. If, however, the configuration or shape of the asbestos waste is such that the containerization of the asbestos waste in bags is not feasible, then it shall be adequately wetted and thoroughly wrapped in a minimum of two (2) layers of six (6) mil polyethylene sheeting with all joints, seams and overlaps sealed in a fiber-tight manner. Asbestos-containing cementitious materials removed from inside of occupied facilities must be containerized in accordance with this section All friable asbestos shall be disposed of in a landfill licensed to accept friable asbestos waste.(b) Non-friable asbestos waste. Non-friable waste may be packaged as set forth in section 7(A)(12)(a) of this rule. At a minimum, non-friable waste shall be wetted and containerized in leak proof containers for delivery to a landfill that is licensed to accept non-friable asbestos waste. Shredding, crushing, or any other form of volume reduction prior to placement in the landfill will render non-friable asbestos waste subject to the containerization requirements set forth in section 7(A)(12)(a) of this rule.(c) Work area polyethylene waste. Once visually clean, work area polyethylene sheeting must be removed and disposed of, either as asbestos or non-asbestos waste.(13) Asbestos Waste Storage Requirements. On-site storage of asbestos waste, defined to be storage at the street address of the abatement site, is subject to the following requirements: (a) Waste must be stored in a secure container or area accessible to authorized persons only;(b) Waste packaging must be free of visible debris prior to placement in the storage area or storage container;(c) Waste must not remain on-site longer than five (5) days following completion of asbestos abatement activities; and(d) Waste must be tracked by written documents, such as bill of lading or manifest, evidencing the current location of the waste at any time prior to final disposal.(14) Personal Decontamination Requirements (a) An individual must decontaminate prior to exiting the regulated area. Personal decontamination shall be achieved by removing all clothing and footwear except a bathing suit, if worn, and thoroughly showering with soap and water at a contiguous or remote decontamination facility. Respirators must be worn into the shower unit, and washed and cleaned as part of the decontamination procedure.(b) Clothing or footwear used or worn in the regulated area must not leave the equipment room unless containerized for reuse inside a regulated area, cleaned, or disposed of. Clothing worn under protective suits and footwear must be designated for asbestos use only, be easily identifiable by sight and be permanently marked or labeled (minimum 3/4 inch lettering) as "Asbestos Clothing" on the outside of the clothing or footwear. Containerized clothing or footwear must be opened only inside a regulated area, excluding the clean room.(c) Only impervious materials such as rubber, polyethylene, etc., may be cleaned in the decontamination facility. Clothing and other pervious materials, such as leather boots, must be cleaned according to OSHA requirements.(d) Personal decontamination requirements for use with a remote decontamination unit. (i) Each worker/supervisor shall be provided with appropriate personal protective and respiratory equipment as required by OSHA 1926.1101 effective August 10, 1994, including but not limited to, a half-face respirator (at a minimum) and a protective suit (e.g., tyvek) or designated "Asbestos Clothing". Wearing a bathing suit underneath disposable full body suits is allowed.(ii) Each worker/supervisor shall don their appropriate personal protective equipment in a manner such that the protective suit (e.g. tyvek) can be removed while the respirator is still being worn.(iii) Before proceeding to and entering into a regulated area, each worker/supervisor shall remove all street clothes and footwear in the clean room of the remote decontamination facility.(iv) Workers/supervisors wearing "Asbestos Clothing" as provided in section 7(A)(14)(b) of this rule shall change into their Asbestos Clothing in the equipment room, first donning their respirator in the clean room, before proceeding to the equipment room. In the equipment room they shall place a clean protective suit and booties over their Asbestos Clothing and shoes before proceeding to the regulated area. The protective suit and booties can then be removed once inside the regulated area.(v) Each worker/supervisor shall be provided with a clean, unused suit to carry to the regulated area. This suit shall be left at the designated egress point into the regulated area to be used when exiting from the regulated area.(vi) Exiting the regulated area. Each worker/supervisor shall first remove all visible debris from the protective suit and then shall put the new clean unused suit that was left at the designated egress point to the regulated area entryway over their contaminated suit before proceeding to either another work area or the decontamination facility equipment room where both suits shall be removed in unison. Respirators shall not be removed during this procedure and shall be worn at all times until they are removed in the shower room, during showering, as part of the decontamination process that must be performed at the conclusion of the day's shift or at any scheduled break period during the shift, including but not limited to, the lunch break.(15) Equipment and Waste Decontamination Requirements(a) All equipment, supplies, and materials, including properly containerized waste material, work area ventilation units, HEPA vacuums, vacuum hoses, water hoses, extension cords, ladders, etc., must be completely decontaminated and free of visible debris before removal from containment.(b) Where the size and/or shape of the equipment, supplies, and materials is such that decontamination is neither possible nor feasible (e.g., wood), then the object shall be properly containerized or wrapped in a minimum of two (2) layers of fiber-tight 6-mil polyethylene sheeting for disposal or reuse in an active containment, and cleaned of visible debris prior to removal from the regulated area.(16) Decontamination of Work Area Ventilation Units(a) A work area ventilation unit must have the exterior filter(s) removed, immediately wetted, and disposed of as asbestos waste before the unit is taken out of containment.(b) When the internal filter(s), including HEPA, of a work area ventilation unit are not changed upon project completion, the unit intake(s) and exhaust(s) must be wrapped fiber-tight with a minimum of two (2) layers of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting before removal from containment.(c) Internal filters must be removed inside an active containment, adequately wetted immediately upon removal from the unit, and disposed of as friable asbestos waste.(17) Emptying of Vacuums. HEPA vacuums must be emptied in an active containment that includes an operating work area ventilation system and decontamination facility.(18) Project Housekeeping (a) Sweeping of dry ACM is prohibited; and(b) All removed ACM must be containerized by the end of each workday.(19) Existing Asbestos-Containing Debris in the Regulated Area. Visible asbestos-containing debris that is present on surfaces upon which the contractor will place polyethylene sheeting to establish the regulated area shall be cleaned up prior to conducting set-up, removal, or repair activities. The Asbestos Design Consultant must demarcate the regulated area, incorporate into the design any existing debris within the regulated area, and consider debris part of the abatement activity. The Asbestos Abatement Contractor must remove existing asbestos-containing debris on all surfaces and components within the regulated area as part of abatement activity.(20) Clean Up Requirements. All visible dust and debris must be removed from the regulated area. The regulated area must be cleaned and dry, and surface coatings must not be applied to any surface within the regulated area, prior to conducting the first visual evaluation and subsequent air clearance sampling.(21) Teardown. Following the initial visual evaluation and receipt of acceptable air clearance sampling results, the contractor shall remove the containment, critical barriers, and the decontamination unit from the work site. The contractor shall clean up any visible dust or debris resulting from teardown activities prior to the final inspection after removal of containment in accordance with section 8(B)(3) of this rule.(22) Project Completion. An asbestos abatement activity is not considered complete and acceptable for regulated area release until initial visual evaluation standard(s), standard(s) for visual evaluation at the final inspection, and final air clearance standards(s), (if applicable) have been met as set forth in these rules. All applicable work practice requirements set forth in this rule must continue to be implemented until the project is complete.F.Non-standard Work Practice Requirements. Non-standard work practices may be permitted when the standard procedure is not practicable, not feasible, not safe, or when a cost saving alternative exists and the proposed non-standard work practice adequately protects both human health and safety, as well as the environment, from exposure to asbestos hazards. Non-standard work practices must be developed by a certified Design Consultant and must be sent in writing to the Department with the original notification form unless unforeseeable conditions occur during a project that warrant a request at that time. The non-standard work practice must present clear and convincing evidence that the asbestos project is distinctive in some way and the proposed alternative(s) to required work practices will comply with the intent of State law and these rules. Where applicable, the design consultant submitting the non-standard work practice must notify the Asbestos Design Consultant who prepared the original project design for the project of the non-standard work practice(s) submission to theDepartment. This notification must be concurrent with the non-standard work practice submission to the Department.
Non-standard work practices require written authorization from the Department prior to implementation. The Department will respond to non-standard work practice requests within 5 working days of receipt and will indicate whether the proposal is authorized or not, and if not, why not.
The Department can revoke a non-standard work practice approval whenever additional information is obtained or a change in project conditions occurs.
________________________________________________________________________
Note: When given a non-standard work practice authorization, the abatement contractor still must comply with all other applicable provisions of this rule and other state and federal rules and regulations.
________________________________________________________________________