AHERA Project Designer flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

AHERA

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act; federal law (40 CFR 763) requiring schools to inspect for asbestos, develop management plans, and use accredited professionals for response actions.

NESHAP

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (40 CFR 61 Subpart M); regulates asbestos work practices, demolition/renovation notification, and waste handling for all facilities.

OSHA PEL

Permissible Exposure Limit of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter as an 8-hour time-weighted average for asbestos under 29 CFR 1926.1101 and 1910.1001.

Excursion Limit

OSHA excursion limit of 1.0 fiber per cubic centimeter averaged over 30 minutes; short-term ceiling that must not be exceeded.

Class I work

OSHA asbestos work class covering removal of surfacing material (thermal system insulation, sprayed-on) and ACM flooring installed with troweled-on surfacing.

Class II work

OSHA asbestos work class for removal of ACM other than surfacing material, such as flooring, roofing, siding, and cement products.

Class III work

OSHA asbestos work class for repair and maintenance operations where ACM is likely to be disturbed, including small-scale removal.

Class IV work

OSHA asbestos work class for maintenance and custodial activities that clean up ACM waste and debris; requires at least two hours of awareness training.

Accreditation

EPA-required training and certification for asbestos professionals (inspector, management planner, project designer, contractor/supervisor, worker), renewed by annual refresher.

ACM definition

Asbestos-containing material is any material containing more than one percent asbestos by weight, as determined by calibrated polarized light microscopy or another validated method.

Homogeneous area

A group of materials with similar composition, color, texture, and application date that can be represented by a single set of bulk samples.

Friability

The tendency of a material to crumble or be reduced to powder under hand pressure; friable materials present higher fiber-release potential.

Category I nonfriable

Nonfriable ACM such as resilient flooring and asphalt roofing that can become regulated if crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder during work.

PLM

Polarized light microscopy; the standard method for identifying asbestos in bulk samples by examining optical properties of fibers.

Presumed ACM

Material not sampled or not confirmed by analysis is presumed to contain asbestos until proven otherwise, requiring documentation of sampling limits.

Encapsulation

Applying a sealant coating to ACM to bind fibers and prevent release; does not remove the hazard and requires periodic reinspection for coating failure.

Enclosure

Constructing an airtight barrier around ACM to isolate it from occupied space; does not eliminate the hazard and requires future disturbance controls.

Glovebag

A sealed bag with built-in gloves used for small-scale removal of pipe insulation; must be HEPA-vacuumed and sealed before disposal.

Negative pressure

Maintaining containment at lower pressure than surrounding areas using HEPA-filtered exhaust, typically at least four air changes per hour, to prevent fiber escape.

Decontamination unit

Three-stage facility with equipment room, shower, and clean room arranged so workers move from dirty to clean areas without backtracking.

Amended water

Water mixed with a surfactant wetting agent used to suppress fiber release during removal and cleanup operations.

Project design

Written plan prepared by an accredited project designer specifying scope, methods, schedules, worker protection, air monitoring, and waste handling for a response action.

Clearance criteria

Predetermined air and visual standards that must be met before reoccupancy, such as 0.01 f/cc by PCM or 70 structures per square centimeter by TEM.

Performance specification

A specification stating required outcomes (e.g., clearance levels) rather than prescribing every means and method the contractor must use.

Pre-construction conference

Meeting before work begins to review scope, schedule, safety, communication, and responsibilities; attendance and minutes are documented.

Respirator fit test

Annual test verifying a tight seal between respirator and face; required before use and whenever facial conditions change.

Medical surveillance

Required health monitoring for asbestos workers above the PEL for 30 or more days per year or in Class I-III work; includes physical exam and chest X-ray.

Aggressive sampling

Air sampling performed after mechanically disturbing air (e.g., fan or blower) to simulate worst-case conditions, often required for final clearance.

PCM

Phase contrast microscopy; the standard method for counting airborne fibers during abatement and clearance monitoring, with a typical clearance limit of 0.01 f/cc.

Waste manifest

Shipping document tracking ACM waste from generation to disposal at an approved landfill; retained as part of the project record.

Daily log

Project record documenting progress, weather, air monitoring results, and deviations; part of the contract administration record.

Record retention

AHERA and OSHA require retention of management plans, exposure records (30 years), medical records (30 years), and training records (1 year beyond employment).