CT Asbestos Abatement flashcards

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

Primary asbestos exposure route

Inhalation of airborne respirable fibers is the dominant exposure route and the main cause of asbestos disease; ingestion is a secondary route of much lower concern for most occupational settings.

Mesothelioma latency period

Mesothelioma typically develops 20 to 50 years after first asbestos exposure and can occur after relatively low cumulative doses; risk is not strongly increased by smoking.

Asbestos-smoking synergy

Asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking interact multiplicatively for lung cancer, producing combined risks far greater than additive, roughly 50 to 90 times that of unexposed nonsmokers in heavy exposures.

Asbestosis definition

Asbestosis is diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis caused by inhaled asbestos fibers, usually appearing 10 to 20 or more years after sustained high exposure and associated with reduced lung function.

Respirable fiber criteria

Fibers most likely to reach the deep lung and cause disease are longer than about 5 micrometers, thinner than about 3 micrometers, and have a length-to-diameter ratio greater than 3 to 1.

Pleural plaques

Pleural plaques are localized areas of fibrous thickening of the pleura, a common marker of past asbestos exposure; they are not the same as asbestosis and often cause no symptoms.

OSHA PEL and excursion limit

Under OSHA, the permissible exposure limit is 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter as an 8-hour time-weighted average, with a 30-minute excursion limit of 1.0 fiber per cubic centimeter.

OSHA work classes

OSHA construction rules define Class I (thermal insulation and surfacing), Class II (flooring, roofing, siding), Class III (repair and maintenance), and Class IV (cleanup of debris and dust).

NESHAP RACM definition

Regulated asbestos-containing material is material containing more than 1 percent asbestos that is friable or will be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder during handling, demolition, or renovation.

NESHAP 10-day notification

Written notification must reach the delegated agency at least 10 working days before demolition or renovation disturbing threshold RACM quantities: 260 linear feet, 160 square feet, or 35 cubic feet.

State licensing requirement

Most states require individual certification for asbestos workers, supervisors, inspectors, and project designers plus company licensure; specific requirements vary by state and must be verified locally.

OSHA record retention

Exposure monitoring records and medical surveillance records must be kept for 30 years; training records must be retained for the duration of employment plus 30 years.

Competent person role

A competent person, designated by the employer, is authorized to identify asbestos hazards, select controls, and stop work when conditions are unsafe; required on asbestos projects.

Ahera overview

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act requires local education agencies to inspect schools for asbestos, prepare management plans, and use accredited personnel for inspection and abatement.

Containment construction

Containment uses 6-mil or thicker polyethylene on floors, walls, and openings, critical barriers to seal HVAC and penetrations, and HEPA negative air machines to prevent fiber escape.

Negative pressure target

Containment should maintain negative pressure relative to outside areas, commonly at least 4 air changes per hour with HEPA filtration, verified by a pressure differential or inward flap.

Amended water use

Amended water is water mixed with a surfactant that improves wetting of asbestos material; it is applied to keep ACM wet and suppress fiber release during disturbance and removal.

Glove bag method

A glove bag is a sealed enclosure with built-in gloves used to remove small sections of pipe insulation; after removal the bag is collapsed, sealed, and handled as asbestos waste.

Prohibited abatement practices

Dry sweeping, compressed air, and high-speed grinding of asbestos-containing material are prohibited because they generate airborne fibers; HEPA vacuums and wet methods are required instead.

Clearance criteria

Before reoccupancy, a visual inspection must show no visible debris, and where required, aggressive air sampling must meet the project clearance criterion for fiber concentration.

Mini-enclosure use

A mini-enclosure is a small negative-pressure containment used for localized Class I work where full containment is impractical, still requiring HEPA exhaust and sealed boundaries.

Removal work sequence

Work proceeds from top down in small sections with material kept wet; debris is lowered carefully and packaged immediately rather than dropped, thrown, or allowed to dry.

Respirator selection rule

A half-mask APR with P100 filters is allowed up to 10 times the PEL, a full-face APR up to 50 times the PEL; higher exposures or specified Class I work require supplied air or PAPR.

Fit testing requirement

Respirator users must pass a fit test before use and annually thereafter, receive a medical evaluation, and perform a user seal check each time the respirator is donned.

Protective clothing ensemble

Disposable full-body coveralls, head cover, foot coverings, and gloves are worn in the regulated area; cuffs are taped and contaminated clothing is removed in the dirty room before showering.

Decontamination sequence

Workers move from the dirty room, removing and bagging outer clothing, through a shower, to a clean room to dress in street clothes, preventing fiber carry-out.

Medical surveillance trigger

Medical surveillance is required for employees exposed at or above the PEL for 30 or more days per year, or who wear a respirator, and includes history, exam, and possibly X-ray and pulmonary tests.

Asbestos waste packaging

Asbestos waste is kept wet, double-bagged in 6-mil leak-tight bags or wrapped in 6-mil sheeting, labeled with the required asbestos warning, sealed, and placed in rigid containers if sharp.

Waste shipment manifest

A waste shipment record or manifest tracks asbestos waste from generation to disposal; waste may only go to a permitted landfill and transport is subject to DOT hazmat labeling rules.

Hygiene in regulated area

Eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing are prohibited in regulated areas; workers wash hands and face before eating and shower before leaving to prevent take-home fiber exposure.

Exposure monitoring requirement

Initial exposure monitoring is required; results at or above the PEL trigger periodic monitoring, a written compliance program, and notification of results to affected employees.