IA Asbestos Abatement flashcards

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

Asbestos latency period

The time between first asbestos exposure and disease diagnosis. Asbestosis and lung cancer typically appear 15-30 years later, while mesothelioma may take 20-50 years.

Asbestos PEL and excursion limit

OSHA construction standard sets an 8-hour time-weighted average permissible exposure limit of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter and a 30-minute excursion limit of 1.0 f/cc.

Medical surveillance trigger

Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101, medical surveillance is required when a worker is exposed at or above the PEL or excursion limit for 30 or more days per year.

ILO B-reader

A physician specially trained and certified to classify chest radiographs for pneumoconiosis using the International Labour Organization classification system, used in asbestos medical surveillance.

NESHAP notification threshold

Written notice to the delegated agency is required at least 10 working days before renovation or demolition involving 260 linear feet, 160 square feet, or 35 cubic feet of RACM.

RACM definition

Regulated asbestos-containing material includes friable ACM, Category I nonfriable that will be crumbled or pulverized, and Category II nonfriable likely to be crumbled or pulverized.

Class I asbestos work

Removal of thermal system insulation or surfacing ACM/PACM. It is the highest-hazard class and requires critical barriers, negative pressure containment, and a trained supervisor.

Class II asbestos work

Removal of ACM other than thermal system insulation or surfacing material, such as floor tile, roofing, siding, and gaskets; controls vary by material and disturbance potential.

Competent person

An OSHA-designated individual who can identify asbestos hazards, has authority to take prompt corrective action, and is required on site for Class I and Class II work.

Six regulated asbestos minerals

Chrysotile (serpentine) and five amphiboles: amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite. Chrysotile accounts for about 95% of commercial asbestos use.

ACM 1% threshold

Material containing more than 1% asbestos by weight is regulated as asbestos-containing material under EPA and OSHA programs; 1% or less is not regulated ACM.

Homogeneous area

An area of surfacing material, thermal system insulation, or miscellaneous material that is uniform in color and texture; each homogeneous area must be sampled separately.

Friable asbestos material

Material that can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry. Friability increases fiber release potential and regulatory control.

Polarized light microscopy

The standard bulk sample analysis method using PLM with dispersion staining to identify asbestos minerals and estimate percent asbestos; TEM or gravimetric methods may be used when PLM is inconclusive.

Category I nonfriable

Asphalt roofing, shingles, gaskets, and resilient floor coverings that are nonfriable but may become regulated if crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder.

Regulated area signage

Warning signs reading DANGER - ASBESTOS - CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD - AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY must be posted at all entrances to the regulated area.

Decontamination unit sequence

A series of connected rooms: clean room, shower, and equipment/waste room. Workers pass clean-to-dirty on entry and dirty-to-clean on exit, showering before leaving.

Pre-abatement inspection

A survey identifying all ACM in and adjacent to the work area, including hidden materials, to define scope, work classification, and required controls before abatement begins.

Negative pressure target

Containments must maintain at least -0.02 inches of water column (about 5 Pa) relative to adjacent areas, verified with a manometer and recorded at least daily.

Air changes per hour

The number of times containment air is exchanged per hour; HEPA negative air machines are sized to provide at least 4 ACH, calculated as volume in cubic feet times ACH divided by 60.

HEPA filter efficiency

High-efficiency particulate air filters remove at least 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in diameter; all containment exhaust must pass through HEPA filtration.

Critical barriers

Two layers of 6-mil polyethylene installed and sealed over all openings, surfaces, and penetrations to isolate the work area from occupied spaces.

Amended water

Water mixed with a surfactant (wetting agent) used to suppress fiber release during removal; ACM must be kept wet throughout abatement work.

Glove bag use

A sealed bag with built-in gloves used for localized removal of pipe insulation; the worker reaches through gloves to remove ACM while maintaining containment.

Wet methods

Techniques that keep ACM wet with amended water during removal, handling, and disposal to prevent fibers from becoming airborne; dry sweeping and compressed air are prohibited.

Respirator assigned protection factor

The level of protection a respirator class is expected to provide: half-mask APR up to 10× PEL, full-face APR up to 50×, PAPR up to 100×.

Respirator fit testing

A test verifying a tight-fitting respirator seals to the face; required before initial use and annually, with a user seal check each time the respirator is donned.

Respirator donning sequence

In the clean room, put on and check the respirator, then coveralls, hood, boot covers, and gloves; doffing reverses the order in the equipment room before showering.

Waste shipment record

A form tracking asbestos waste from generator to transporter to disposal site; the generator retains a copy for at least 2 years and follows up if not returned within 45 days.

Asbestos waste packaging

ACM waste must be wetted, placed in leak-tight containers such as double 6-mil poly bags or drums, labeled with the asbestos warning, and sealed before transport.

Clearance air criteria

Common clearance limits are 0.01 fibers per cubic centimeter by PCM or 70 structures per square millimeter by TEM; project specifications may set stricter limits.

Aggressive air sampling

A clearance sampling method that uses fans or blowers to disturb settled dust for at least 10 minutes before and during sampling, verifying that cleanup is complete.