MA Asbestos Abatement flashcards
MA 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.
- OSHA PEL for asbestos
- 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter as an 8-hour time-weighted average, with an excursion limit of 1.0 f/cc over 30 minutes, under 29 CFR 1926.1101.
- NESHAP Subpart M
- Federal rule under 40 CFR Part 61 governing asbestos demolition and renovation, requiring removal of regulated asbestos-containing material before demolition and prior notification.
- Class I asbestos work
- Removal of thermal system insulation and surfacing asbestos-containing or presumed asbestos-containing material, the highest-risk work class under OSHA.
- MassDEP asbestos authority
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection administers asbestos regulations under 310 CMR 7.15, including notification and work practice requirements.
- PACM definition
- Presumed asbestos-containing material: thermal system insulation and surfacing material in buildings constructed before the applicable cutoff that may become crumbly under hand pressure.
- Homogeneous area sampling
- A uniform material area sampled separately; OSHA requires at least three bulk samples for surfacing material and thermal system insulation.
- PLM bulk analysis
- Polarized light microscopy identifies asbestos minerals by optical properties; it is the standard method for bulk samples and reports percent content.
- Regulated asbestos-containing material
- RACM includes friable ACM and non-friable ACM that will be sanded, ground, cut, or abraded, triggering NESHAP removal and notification requirements.
- Amended water
- Water mixed with a surfactant used to wet asbestos-containing material during removal to suppress fiber release and keep fibers bound.
- Negative air machine
- HEPA-filtered unit that maintains the work area under negative pressure relative to surrounding spaces, exhausting air outside the building.
- Decontamination unit sequence
- Dirty room, then shower, then clean room; workers move in that order only, with clean room outermost and equipment room adjacent.
- Critical barrier
- A barrier that isolates the work area from occupied spaces; any breach is a stop-work condition requiring repair before work resumes.
- Glove bag use
- A sealed enclosure with built-in gloves used for small removals such as pipe fittings, allowing work without a full containment.
- Half-mask APR limit
- A half-mask air-purifying respirator with HEPA filters may be used up to 10 times the PEL for asbestos.
- Fit testing frequency
- Annual fit testing is required, plus retesting when a different respirator model or size is used, after medical evaluation clearance.
- Respirator program requirement
- A written respiratory protection program with a named administrator is required whenever respirators are used, covering selection, training, and maintenance.
- Aggressive air sampling
- Clearance sampling performed after disturbing settled dust with fans or air movement to detect fibers that would otherwise remain settled.
- PCM fiber counting
- Phase contrast microscopy counts fibers longer than 5 micrometers, narrower than 3 micrometers, with aspect ratio at least 3:1; it cannot identify asbestos type.
- Clearance criterion
- A common clearance threshold is below 0.01 f/cc by PCM after visual inspection passes; verify the current Massachusetts-specific criterion.
- Pump calibration
- Air sampling pumps must be calibrated before and after each use with a primary standard such as a bubble flow meter, and results recorded.
- DOT asbestos hazard class
- Asbestos is Class 9, UN2212, with proper shipping names such as 'Asbestos, chrysotile' or 'Asbestos, amphibole' for transport.
- Asbestos waste packaging
- Waste must be wetted, placed in leak-tight labeled containers, kept closed, and not compacted or broken during handling and transport.
- Waste record retention
- NESHAP requires generators to retain waste shipment and disposal records for at least two years; longer retention is prudent for liability.
- Medical surveillance trigger
- Medical surveillance is required for employees exposed above the PEL for 30 or more days per year, including history, physical, and spirometry.
- Exposure record retention
- Air monitoring exposure records must be kept for 30 years; medical records for the duration of employment plus 30 years.
- Spill response steps
- Stop work, isolate the area, wet the material, use HEPA vacuum and wet methods, bag waste, and restore containment before resuming.
- Mesothelioma latency
- Mesothelioma typically appears 15 to 40 years after first asbestos exposure and is associated with amphibole fibers at relatively low doses.
- Asbestos and smoking synergy
- Cigarette smoking multiplies lung cancer risk in asbestos-exposed workers; combined risk exceeds the sum of either exposure alone.
- Amphibole versus chrysotile
- Amphibole fibers such as amosite and crocidolite are straighter and more durable, generally more pathogenic per unit dose than curly chrysotile fibers.
- Competent person duties
- A competent person supervises Class I and II work, identifies hazards, conducts daily inspections, and has authority to stop work and correct conditions.
- Containment plastic thickness
- Common practice uses at least 6-mil polyethylene on floors and 4-mil on walls, with seams sealed and overlaps staggered.
- Air changes per hour
- Negative pressure containment should achieve at least four air changes per hour, verified by pressure monitoring and smoke testing.