MD Asbestos Abatement study guide
MD Asbestos Abatement · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Maryland Asbestos Abatement Certification Examination is the written assessment that accompanies accredited asbestos abatement training for workers and supervisors in Maryland. It is intended for people who will remove, encapsulate, enclose, or otherwise disturb asbestos-containing building materials, and for supervisors who direct those activities. The MD Asbestos Abatement study guide has 8 sections and about 2,615 words.
01Physical Characteristics of Asbestos and Health Effects
Asbestos is a commercial term for fibrous hydrated silicate minerals. Chrysotile is the serpentine form, with curly, flexible bundles; amphiboles include amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite, with straighter, stiffer fibers.
312 words, about 2 min02Regulatory Framework: NESHAP, OSHA, AHERA/MAP, and Maryland Rules
NESHAP, 40 CFR Part 61 Subpart M, controls asbestos emissions during renovation and demolition. It defines regulated asbestos-containing material and sets thresholds of 260 linear feet on pipes, 160 square feet on other components, or 35 cubic feet off components.
339 words, about 2 min03PPE, Respirator Selection, Fit Testing, and Use
Respirator selection starts with the exposure estimate, not with what is on the truck. OSHA's assigned protection factor must bring the workplace exposure below the PEL.
351 words, about 2 min04Abatement Work Practices, Containment, and Engineering Controls
Containment isolates the work area and keeps airborne fibers from migrating. Critical barriers seal doors, windows, vents, and other openings.
333 words, about 2 min05Decontamination, Worker Protection, and Personal Hygiene
A three-stage decontamination unit separates dirty, shower, and clean rooms. Workers leave the work area through the dirty room, remove and bag contaminated outer clothing, and proceed to the shower.
314 words, about 2 min06Air Monitoring, Sampling Methods, and Clearance Criteria
Phase contrast microscopy, NIOSH Method 7400, counts respirable fibers but cannot identify whether they are asbestos. It is used for personal exposure monitoring against the OSHA permissible exposure limit.
344 words, about 2 min07Waste Handling, Packaging, Transport, and Disposal
Asbestos waste must be wetted and placed in leak-tight containers, commonly 6-mil bags or drums, while still inside the work area. Bags are sealed, cleaned, and labeled with the OSHA caution label and generator information.
311 words, about 2 min08Medical Surveillance, Exposure Records, and Training Documentation
OSHA requires medical surveillance for employees exposed at or above the permissible exposure limit or excursion limit and for employees required to wear negative-pressure respirators. The program includes a medical questionnaire, physical examination, exposure and smoking history, and work-related medical tests as required.
311 words, about 2 min