AL Asbestos Abatement flashcards

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

Negative pressure enclosure

A sealed containment held at about -0.02 inches of water column below surrounding areas so air flows inward, preventing fiber escape; verified continuously with a differential pressure monitor.

Amended water

Water mixed with a wetting agent (surfactant) used to saturate asbestos-containing material during removal, reducing fiber release by improving penetration and keeping material wet.

Three-stage decontamination unit

A series of connected rooms-equipment, shower, and clean-that workers pass through in sequence to remove contamination before leaving the regulated work area.

Glove bag removal

A sealed bag with built-in gloves attached around a pipe for small localized asbestos removal, allowing material to be wetted, removed, and bagged without opening the containment.

Critical barrier

A temporary seal over openings such as HVAC vents, windows, doors, and penetrations in the work area, installed to prevent asbestos fibers from migrating outside the containment.

Encapsulation versus enclosure

Encapsulation coats asbestos material with a sealant; enclosure builds an airtight barrier around it. Both manage rather than remove the material.

Waste packaging rule

Asbestos waste must be placed in leak-tight containers, typically double-bagged or wrapped in 6-mil plastic, labeled with the required warning, and transported covered.

Final visual inspection

A supervisor's examination confirming no visible dust or debris remains in the work area; it must pass before clearance air sampling is performed.

NESHAP 10-day notification

Written notice to EPA or the delegated state at least 10 working days before demolition or renovation that disturbs threshold quantities of regulated asbestos-containing material.

NESHAP threshold quantity

The trigger for notification: 260 linear feet on pipes, 160 square feet on other components, or 35 cubic feet of regulated asbestos-containing material off facility components.

RACM

Regulated asbestos-containing material under NESHAP-material that is friable or will become friable and meets the regulatory asbestos content and category definitions.

AHERA scope

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act requires accredited inspectors, management plans, and periodic reinspection for public and private K-12 school buildings.

ASHARA extension

The Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act extended accreditation and training requirements to workers and supervisors in public and commercial buildings.

OSHA PEL

The permissible exposure limit for asbestos is 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter as an 8-hour time-weighted average under 29 CFR 1926.1101 and 1910.1001.

Excursion limit

The OSHA short-term exposure limit of 1.0 fiber per cubic centimeter averaged over 30 minutes, which must not be exceeded at any time during the shift.

State primacy

Many states enforce their own asbestos programs that may be stricter than federal rules; notification timing, licensing, and clearance criteria can differ by jurisdiction.

Asbestosis

A chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, producing progressive scarring (fibrosis) of lung tissue that impairs breathing and reduces lung function over time.

Mesothelioma

A cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen strongly associated with asbestos exposure, typically appearing 20 to 40 years after first exposure.

Latency period

The interval between first asbestos exposure and disease diagnosis, commonly 20 to 40 years, which explains why health effects appear long after work ends.

Smoking synergy

Cigarette smoking multiplies lung cancer risk in asbestos-exposed workers beyond either risk alone, though smoking is not a cause of mesothelioma.

Assigned protection factor

A number indicating the level of protection a respirator class provides; used to select equipment and estimate the maximum airborne concentration in which it may be used.

Respirator fit testing

A required test-quantitative or qualitative-performed before initial use and annually thereafter to confirm a respirator seals properly on the wearer's face.

Medical surveillance

Baseline and periodic health evaluations for asbestos workers, including respiratory questionnaires and spirometry, triggered by exposure levels or respirator use.

Decontamination sequence

Workers remove outer protective clothing in the equipment room, shower, then dress in the clean room; the flow is never reversed.

Phase contrast microscopy

The standard field method for counting airborne fibers; it counts all fibers meeting size criteria and cannot distinguish asbestos from other fiber types.

Transmission electron microscopy

A laboratory method that identifies fiber type and counts asbestos fibers specifically; commonly used for AHERA final clearance sampling in schools.

Clearance criteria

Conditions for reoccupancy: a thorough visual inspection showing no debris plus air sampling results below the specified fiber limit for the method used.

Pump calibration

Pre- and post-calibration of air sampling pumps against a primary standard such as a bubble burette, establishing accurate flow rate and total sample volume.

Sample volume formula

Volume equals flow rate multiplied by sampling time; concentration is fibers counted divided by fields counted times field area times volume.

Aggressive sampling

Air sampling performed after final cleaning while fans or blowers disturb settled dust, verifying the enclosure is clean before clearance is granted.

Breathing zone sample

A personal air sample collected near the worker's collar area with a calibrated pump to estimate the worker's actual inhalation exposure during the task.

Background area sample

Air samples collected outside the work area to establish baseline fiber levels, which are compared with work-area and decontamination samples to detect migration.