HI Asbestos Abatement flashcards
HI Asbestos Abatement · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- RACM definition
- Regulated asbestos-containing material: material with more than 1% asbestos that is friable, will be crumbled or pulverized by handling, or has been sanded, ground, cut, or abraded.
- OSHA PEL for asbestos
- The permissible exposure limit is 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter as an 8-hour time-weighted average, with an excursion limit of 1.0 f/cc averaged over 30 minutes.
- Class I asbestos work
- Removal of thermal system insulation or surfacing ACM, the highest-risk class of abatement work, requiring the most stringent controls and training.
- Mesothelioma latency
- Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining caused by asbestos, typically develops 10 to 40 years after exposure, which is why historical exposures still cause disease today.
- Friable ACM
- Asbestos-containing material that can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry, making it more likely to release fibers.
- Homogeneous area
- Material of uniform color and texture applied at the same time; sampling requires at least three samples per homogeneous area for surfacing and thermal system insulation.
- PLM analysis
- Polarized light microscopy with dispersion staining is the standard bulk-sample method for identifying asbestos type and estimating percentage in building materials.
- Presumed ACM
- Material assumed to contain asbestos until bulk sampling and laboratory analysis show 1% or less, used when sampling is impractical or the material is inaccessible.
- NESHAP notification
- Written notice to the state at least 10 working days before demolition or a renovation that will disturb regulated asbestos-containing material, including project details and quantities.
- Half-mask APR limit
- A half-mask air-purifying respirator with HEPA filters may be used only up to 10 times the permissible exposure limit; full-face and PAPR units allow higher protection factors.
- Fit test requirement
- Tight-fitting respirators require an annual fit test, a medical evaluation, and a user seal check each time the respirator is donned.
- Class I training hours
- Workers performing Class I or Class II abatement need 32 hours of initial training plus an 8-hour annual refresher; Class III and IV need 16 hours initial.
- Medical surveillance trigger
- Medical surveillance is required for employees exposed above the permissible exposure limit for 30 or more days per year, including chest X-ray and spirometry.
- Amended water
- Water mixed with a surfactant that wets asbestos fibers more effectively, used to suppress fiber release during removal and handling.
- Removal sequence
- Remove ACM from the top down in wetted sections, wrap thermal insulation before cutting, and bag debris as generated rather than dropping or throwing it.
- Floor tile removal
- Remove resilient floor tile using wet methods or heat or chemical softening; never dry-cut, dry-chip, or grind tile or mastic.
- Negative air machine
- A HEPA-filtered exhaust unit that keeps containment under negative pressure relative to adjacent spaces, typically providing at least four air changes per hour.
- Critical barrier
- A seal over openings such as windows, doors, and vents, usually two layers of 6-mil plastic, that prevents fiber migration out of the work area.
- Three-stage decon
- A clean room, shower, and dirty room arranged so workers move clean-to-dirty on entry and dirty-to-clean on exit, showering before leaving.
- HEPA filter efficiency
- A high-efficiency particulate air filter removes 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and larger, and is required on vacuums and negative air units used in abatement.
- Waste labeling
- Asbestos waste containers must be sealed, leak-tight, and labeled with the required asbestos warning and the generator's name and location.
- Waste manifest
- The shipping document that tracks asbestos waste from generator to permitted landfill; copies must be retained as project records.
- Landfill daily cover
- Asbestos waste at a disposal site must be covered with soil or other cover at the end of each operating day and recorded in the site record.
- No visible emissions
- NESHAP requires that regulated asbestos waste be kept wet and handled so that no visible dust emissions occur during handling, transport, or disposal.
- PCM fiber counting
- Phase contrast microscopy counts fibers in air samples but cannot identify asbestos type; transmission electron microscopy is used for confirmation.
- Clearance criterion
- After final cleaning and before containment removal, airborne fiber levels must fall below the project or state threshold, commonly 0.01 f/cc, with visual inspection passing first.
- Aggressive sampling
- A clearance method using fans or blowers to disturb air and dislodge settled fibers, ensuring samples represent worst-case conditions before containment is removed.
- Pump calibration
- Air sampling pumps must be calibrated before and after use with a primary standard, and calibration records kept with sample logs and chain-of-custody forms.
- Supervisor daily log
- A record of daily activities, worker names and hours, air monitoring results, containment inspections, waste shipments, and incidents kept by the on-site supervisor.
- Training record contents
- Records must show employee name, training dates, and type of training, retained per OSHA and Hawaii requirements for the specified period.
- Containment inspection
- The supervisor checks containment for tears and breaches daily, verifies negative pressure, and documents repairs in the project log.
- Project closeout report
- Final documentation including clearance results, waste manifests, inspection logs, and training records, retained by the contractor after abatement is complete.