ME Asbestos Abatement flashcards

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

Six regulated asbestos types

Chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite are the six regulated asbestos minerals; chrysotile is serpentine while the others are amphiboles.

Asbestosis

Diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis caused by cumulative high-dose asbestos exposure, typically with a 15-30 year latency; it is dose-related and not a threshold-free disease.

Mesothelioma latency

Malignant tumor of the pleural or peritoneal lining associated with asbestos exposure, commonly appearing 20-50 years after first exposure and linked even to low-level exposure.

RACM definition

Regulated asbestos-containing material: friable asbestos material, or Category I or II nonfriable material that will be or has been crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder.

RACM threshold

Full NESHAP and Chapter 425 work practice and notification requirements trigger at 260 linear feet on pipes, 160 square feet on other components, or 35 cubic feet off facility components.

ACM percent threshold

Asbestos-containing material is material containing more than 1 percent asbestos by weight, as determined by polarized light microscopy analysis.

Annual refresher requirement

Maine asbestos certificates remain valid only with annual refresher training in the correct discipline; a lapsed certificate cannot be renewed by paying a fee without the refresher.

Discipline-specific certificates

Worker, supervisor, inspector, management planner, project designer, and air monitoring certificates are separate; a worker certificate does not authorize supervising or designing a project.

Notification content

The DEP notification must identify the facility, owner or operator, contractor, scheduled start and completion dates, estimated RACM amounts, and the waste disposal site.

Revised notification

A revised notification is required when the start date, project scope, or contractor changes; starting work without a valid notification is a violation.

Negative air pressure

HEPA-filtered negative air machines maintain a pressure differential so air flows into the containment, with exhaust ducted outside and units monitored during the project.

Decontamination sequence

One-way flow from dirty room to shower to clean room, with no cross-traffic back into the work area, prevents fibers from leaving the containment.

Wet methods rule

RACM must be wetted, kept wet, and handled with minimal breakage; dry sweeping, dry shoveling, and compressed air are prohibited during abatement.

Clearance air sampling

Independent air sampling after visual inspection confirms the work area meets the clearance criterion, typically 0.01 f/cc by PCM or a comparable TEM result.

Waste labeling

Asbestos waste must be wetted, sealed in leak-tight containers, and labeled with the asbestos warning and generator information before it leaves the work area.

Waste shipment record

Documentation accompanying asbestos waste that identifies the generator, transporter, quantity, and destination landfill, with a signed receipt returned to the generator.

Respirator fit testing

Respirators require fit testing, medical evaluation, and a written respiratory protection program; facial hair at the sealing surface prevents a proper seal.

Category I nonfriable

Nonfriable material such as packing, gaskets, resilient floor covering, and asphalt roofing products; it becomes RACM if crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder.

Category II nonfriable

All nonfriable asbestos material other than Category I; if in poor condition or disturbed, it must be treated as RACM and removed under full containment.

Small-scale exemption

NESHAP work practice standards exempt small-scale, short-duration operations such as removing a few square feet, but waste handling and notification duties may still apply.

Cumulative exposure

Risk increases with concentration multiplied by duration; a short high-concentration task can equal or exceed a long low-concentration task.

Take-home exposure

Fibers carried on clothing or hair can expose family members; workers must shower and change before leaving the site and must not take work clothing home.

Pleural plaques

Benign thickening of the pleural lining that marks asbestos exposure; plaques do not by themselves indicate impairment or cancer but warrant medical follow-up.

Nondelegable duty

The owner or operator remains responsible for inspection, notification, and compliance even when a licensed abatement contractor is hired for the project.

Demolition versus renovation

Demolition requires notification and removal of all RACM before demolition; renovation requires removal of RACM that will be disturbed by the work.

Inspector role

The accredited inspector identifies and samples suspect material; if material is not sampled, it must be presumed to contain asbestos for project planning.

Supervisor role

The certified supervisor directs the crew, enforces work practices, documents daily activities, and signs off before independent clearance sampling begins.

Critical barriers

Sealed barriers at HVAC openings and other pathways that could carry fibers out of the work area, installed before removal begins and maintained throughout.

Removal sequence

Wet the material, cut manageable sections, wrap or bag immediately, and lower to the floor rather than dropping, proceeding from most contaminated area outward.

OSHA exposure limits

The permissible exposure limit is 0.1 f/cc as an 8-hour time-weighted average, with a 1.0 f/cc excursion limit over 30 minutes.

Crocidolite potency

Crocidolite is the most hazardous amphibole and is associated with the highest mesothelioma risk per unit dose; amosite is also strongly associated with disease.

Landfill receipt

The permitted landfill returns a signed receipt for asbestos waste; the generator retains it with shipment records as proof of proper disposal.