Asbestos Operations and Maintenance
The purpose of these procedures is to provide safe methods
for employees of California State University, Fullerton to
work with and around the asbestos containing building materials(ACBM)
identified on our campus. It is the intent of these procedures
to comply with the Asbestos Standard revised in 1995.
Definitions
Class I Asbestos Work
Removal/abatement of thermal insulation and on surface
material. All Class I work on campus is contracted to a licensed
asbestos abatement contractor.
Class II Asbestos Work
Removal of floor or ceiling tiles, siding, roofing or transite
panels or piping.
Class III Asbestos Work
Repair and maintenance operations where employees may disturb
ACBM. An example of this work is the removal or moving of
asbestos ceiling tiles while servicing above-the-ceiling utilities
or running electrical or telecommunications cable. No more
than a glovebag of material when ACBM should be disturbed
when performing maintenance procedures.
Class IV Asbestos Work
Cleanup of ACBM waste and debris. At Fullerton, this work
is done by Class II or III workers.
Initial Exposure Assessment
Assessment of a job by an asbestos contractor/supervisor
or building inspector to ensure all precautions are taken
prior to the start of work. The assessment is based on previous
exposure and area monitoring, observations and information
relevant to the job.
Negative Exposure Assessments
An assessment of an asbestos job that shows exposure will
be below the Permissible Exposure Level(PEL). This assessment
is confirmed by historical, objective past job data(exposure
monitoring) that shows airborne fibers are not released in
excess of the PEL. Data should show a high degree of certainty
that there was no employee exposure under similar conditions.
Permissible Exposure Level (PEL)
The new PEL is 0.1 fibers/cc.
Work Control Center Procedures for Asbestos Work Orders
- When asbestos is identified to exist in an area where
Physical Plant work is to be accomplished, an Initial Exposure
Assessment will be conducted by EH&IS or a Physical
Plant 40 hour competent person.
- When work will involve contact with ACBM, the Physical
Plant Work Order will be marked "ASBESTOS" and
all required safety procedures will be implemented.
- The Work Control Center will retain asbestos records as
required.
Class I Work
California State University, Fullerton does not conduct Class
I work. All abatement jobs are contracted.
Class II Work
The procedures listed below can be altered by an asbestos
certified supervisor if a negative exposure assessment has
been completed.
All Class II work must have the following:
- An asbestos certified supervisor on the job.
- All employees should have 40 hour AHERA training or 32
hour worker training.
- Removal area barricaded with caution tape and signed.
- All non-asbestos trained personnel removed from the area.
- HVAC turned off to the removal location.
- Wear respiratory protection with HEPA filtration.
- At least one worker should wear an air monitor.
- Bag or wrap and label the material and place in the designated
asbestos dumpster.
- Wear personal protective clothing unless a negative exposure
assessment has been developed.
Vinyl asbestos flooring
- Remove no more than 10 square feet.
- Assume all flooring is asbestos containing unless proven
otherwise by testing.
- Use wet methods for removal of flooring and adhesive backing
- Omit wetting when tiles are heated and removed intact.
- Use vacuums equipped with HEPA filters for cleanup.
- Do not sand flooring or the backing.
- Do not rip up resilient sheeting; wet and cut.
- Do not use mechanical chipping unless in negative pressure
containment.
Asbestos ceiling tile removal/replacement
- Remove no more than 10 square feet.
- Place impermeable dropcloths below the removal site.
- Lightly spray the ceiling tile with water to reduce friability.
- Do not cut or break the material unless not feasible.
- Use vacuums equipped with HEPA filters for cleanup.
Roofing repairs
- Isolate HVAC air intakes.
- Remove no more that 10 square feet.
- Use wet methods when possible.
- Continuously mist when possible.
- Immediately HEPA vac all loose dust along the cut.
- Encapsulate remaining cut areas.
Transite siding, panels and piping
- Do not cut, abrade, or break unless methods less likely
to result in asbestos fiber release cannot be used.
- Spray material with amended water.
- Use vacuums equipped with HEPA filters for cleanup.
Asbestos gaskets
- Use glovebag techniques when feasible.
- Thoroughly wet with amended water.
- Scrape residue using wet method.
Class III Work
All Class III work must have the following:
- 16 Hour training.
- An asbestos certified supervisor available.
- Barricade removal area with caution tape and sign.
- All non-asbestos trained personnel removed from the area.
- HVAC turned off to the removal location.
- Wear respiratory protection with HEPA filtration.
- If a spill occurs, notify an asbestos certified supervisor.
- Bag or wrap and label the material and place in the designated
asbestos dumpster.
Removal of thermal insulation for maintenance/repair purposes
- Forty hour AHERA training
- Do not drill, cut, abrade, sand or chip thermal insulation.
- Use glove bags whenever possible
- Use impermeable dropcloth.
- Use amended water.
Maintenance work above McCarthy Hall ceiling tile
- Whenever possible, notify room occupants prior to work.
- Location of work must be posted and occupants relocated
during ceiling tile removal and replacement.
- Room occupants may re-enter the room during maintenance
operations not involving ceiling tile movement.
- Avoid breaking or cutting ceiling tile.
- If modifications to the tiles are required, notify a 40
hour trained asbestos employee or supervisor.
Class IV Work
All employees involved in Class II and III work are responsible
for cleanup of asbestos containing debris and do the following:
- Use wet methods for cleanup.
- Use HEPA vacuum.
- Wear respirators.
- Bag or wrap and label the material and place in the designated
asbestos dumpster.
Training
- All Class II work and some portions of Class III (glove
bag maintenance) require 40 hour worker certification as
a minimum. Annual certification is required.
- Class III workers requires 16 hours Operations and Maintenance
course with an annual refresher.
Medical Surveillance
- Class II workers must receive annual asbestos physical.
- Class III and IV workers must receive annual respiratory
physicals.
Exposure Monitoring
- Exposure monitoring must be conducted during Class II
and Class III glove bag operations.
- Exposure monitoring can be conducted by any Physical Plant
or EH&IS 40 hour trained asbestos person or asbestos
building inspector.
- Testing and analysis will be conducted by a State
Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) certified
lab.
- Funding for sample testing of department work order requests
will be charged to the requesting department whenever possible.
- EH&IS will maintain exposure monitoring records for
development of Negative Exposure Assessments.
Reviewed/Revised: 12/2005 SB; 8/19/2008