What is asbestos?
Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally
occurring minerals used in certain products, such as
building materials and vehicle brakes, to resist heat
and corrosion. Asbestos includes chrysotile, amosite,
crocidolite, tremolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos,
actinolite asbestos, and any of these materials that
have been chemically treated and/or altered.
What are the dangers of asbestos
exposure to workers?
The inhalation of asbestos fibers by workers can
cause serious diseases of the lungs and other organs
that may not appear until years after the exposure has
occurred. For instance, asbestosis can cause a buildup
of scar-like tissue in the lungs and result in loss of lung
function that often progresses to disability and death.
Asbestos fibers associated with these health risks are
too small to be seen with the naked eye, and smokers
are at higher risk of developing some asbestos-related
diseases.
Are you being exposed to asbestos?
General industry employees may be exposed to
asbestos during the manufacture of asbestos-containing
products or when performing brake and clutch
repairs. In the construction industry, exposure occurs
when workers disturb asbestos-containing materials
during the renovation or demolition of buildings.
Employees in the maritime environment also may be
exposed when renovating or demolishing ships
constructed with asbestos-containing materials. In
addition, custodial workers may be exposed through
contact with deteriorating asbestos-containing
materials in buildings.
Are there any OSHA standards that cover
workers exposed to asbestos?
Yes. The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has the following three
standards to protect workers from exposure to
asbestos in the workplace:
¦ 29 CFR 1926.1101 covers construction work,
including alteration, repair, renovation, and
demolition of structures containing asbestos.
¦ 29 CFR 1915.1001 covers asbestos exposure
during work in shipyards.
¦ 29 CFR 1910.1001 applies to asbestos exposure
in general industry, such as exposure during
brake and clutch repair, custodial work, and
manufacture of asbestos-containing products.
The standards for the construction and shipyard
industries classify the hazards of asbestos work
activities and prescribe particular requirements for
each classification:
¦ Class I is the most potentially hazardous class of
asbestos jobs and involves the removal of thermal
system insulation and sprayed-on or troweled-on
surfacing asbestos-containing materials or presumed
asbestos-containing materials.
¦ Class II includes the removal of other types of
asbestos-containing materials that are not thermal
system insulation, such as resilient flooring and
roofing materials containing asbestos.
¦ Class III focuses on repair and maintenance
operations where asbestos-containing or presumed
asbestos-containing materials are disturbed.
¦ Class IV pertains to custodial activities where
employees clean up asbestos-containing waste and
debris.
There are equivalent regulations in states with
OSHA-approved state plans.
What are the permissible exposure limits
for asbestos?
Employee exposure to asbestos must not exceed
0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter (f/cc) of air, averaged
over an 8-hour work shift. Short-term exposure must
also be limited to not more than 1 f/cc, averaged over
30 minutes. Rotation of employees to achieve
compliance with either permissible exposure limit
(PEL) is prohibited.
Are employers required to conduct
exposure monitoring?
In construction and shipyard work, unless you are
able to demonstrate that employee exposures will be
below the PELs (a “negative exposure assessment”),
you are generally required to conduct daily monitoring
for workers in Class I and II regulated areas. For
workers in other operations where exposures are
expected to exceed one of the PELs, you must conduct
periodic monitoring. In general industry, you must
perform initial monitoring for workers who may be
exposed above a PEL or above the excursion limit.
You must conduct subsequent monitoring at reasonable
intervals, and in no case at intervals greater than
6 months for employees exposed above a PEL.
Must employers create regulated areas?
You must create controlled zones known as regulated
areas that are designed to protect employees where
certain work with asbestos is performed. You must limit
access to regulated areas to authorized persons who
are wearing appropriate respiratory protection. You
must also prohibit eating, smoking, drinking, chewing
tobacco or gum, and applying cosmetics in these areas.
You must display warning signs at each regulated area.
In construction and shipyards, workers must perform
Class I, II, and III asbestos work (and all other
operations where asbestos concentrations may exceed a
PEL) within regulated areas. In general industry, you
must establish regulated areas wherever asbestos
concentrations may exceed a PEL.
What compliance methods must employers
use to control exposures?
You must control exposures to or below the PELs
using engineering controls and work practices to the
extent feasible. Where feasible engineering controls and
work practices do not ensure worker protection at the
exposure limits, you must reduce employee exposures to
the lowest levels achievable and then supplement them
with respiratory protection to meet the PELs. In
construction and shipyards, each work classification has
specific control method requirements. In general industry,
specific controls are prescribed for brake and clutch
repair work. For example, you must prohibit certain
practices, such as the use of compressed air, to remove
asbestos.
When are employers required to provide
respiratory protection for workers?
You must provide and ensure the use of respirators
when a PEL is exceeded. In construction and shipyards,
you must require workers to use respirators when
performing certain work. Generally, the level of exposure
determines the type of respirator needed. In addition,
the standards specify the type of respirator to be used for
certain asbestos work. (See CFR 1910.134.) Employees
must get respirator training and medical clearance to use
respirators.
Are employers required to provide
protective clothing for workers?
Yes. For any employee exposed to airborne
concentrations of asbestos that exceed a PEL, you must
provide and require the use of protective clothing such as
coveralls or similar full-body clothing, head coverings,
gloves, and foot coverings. You must provide face shields,
vented goggles, or other appropriate protective
equipment wherever the possibility of eye irritation exists
and require workers to wear them.
Must employers provide hygiene facilities?
Yes. You must establish decontamination areas and
hygiene practices for employees exposed above a PEL.
In addition, employees may not smoke in work areas that
might expose them to asbestos.
Do OSHA standards require employers to
provide training?
Yes. In construction and shipyards, you must provide
training for employees exposed above a PEL and for
employees involved in each identified work classification.
The specific training requirements depend upon the
particular class of work being performed. In general
industry, you must provide training to all employees exposed
above a PEL. You must also provide asbestos awareness
training to employees who perform housekeeping operations
covered by the standard. You must place warning labels on
all asbestos products, containers, and installed construction
materials when feasible.
What are employers required to provide
concerning medical examinations?
In construction and shipyards, you must provide medical
examinations for workers who, for 30 or more days per
year, engage in Class I, II, or III work or experience
exposure above a PEL. In general industry, you must
provide medical examinations for workers who are exposed
above a PEL.
What are the recordkeeping requirements
for asbestos exposures?
You must keep accurate records of the following:
¦ All measurements taken to monitor employee exposure
to asbestos—30 years;
¦ Medical records, including physician’s written
opinions—
duration of the employee’s employment plus 30 years;
and
¦ Training records—1 year beyond the last date
of
employment.
How can you get more information on safety
and health?
OSHA has various publications, standards, technical
assistance, and compliance tools to help you, and offers
extensive assistance through workplace consultation,
voluntary protection programs, grants, strategic
partnerships, state plans, training, and education. OSHA’s
Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines
( Federal Register 54:3904-3916, January 26, 1989)
detail elements critical to the development of a successful
safety and health management system. This and other
information are available on OSHA’s website.
¦ For one free copy of OSHA publications, send a selfaddressed
mailing label to OSHA Publications Office,
P.O. Box 37535, Washington, DC 20013-7535; or
send a request to our fax at (202) 693-2498, or call us
at (202) 693-1888.
¦ To order OSHA publications online at www.osha.gov,
go
to Publications and follow the instructions for ordering.
¦ To file a complaint by phone, report an emergency,
or
get OSHA advice, assistance, or products, contact your
nearest OSHA office under the “U.S. Department of
Labor” listing in your phone book, or call toll-free at
(800) 321-OSHA (6742). The teletypewriter (TTY)
number is (877) 889-5627.
¦ To file a complaint online or obtain more information
on
OSHA federal and state programs, visit OSHA’s website.
U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
2002
This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting
OSHA programs and standards. It does not impose any new compliance
requirements
or carry the force of legal opinion. For compliance requirements
of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code
of Federal Regulations.
This information will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone is (202) 693-1999. See
also OSHA’s website at
www.osha.gov.
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