OH Asbestos Abatement cheat sheet

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Asbestos Program administers abatement licensure under Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-34; Ohio EPA separately regulates air emissions and waste handling.

A regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM) under Ohio/NAAQS-aligned rules includes material with more than 1 percent asbestos that is friable, or will be crumbled/dry or pulverized during handling or demolition.

Ohio licensing categories include asbestos hazard abatement contractor, asbestos hazard abatement specialist (worker), project supervisor, air quality technician (air sampler), and asbestos hazard evaluation specialist (inspector).

Abatement notification must be submitted to ODH before work begins; the standard advance notice is 10 working days, with emergency abatement notifications due within 24 hours of the emergency.

A single-family private residence that the owner occupies is generally exempt from contractor licensing and notification requirements, but not from NESHAP emission and waste-disposal rules.

Non-friable material that will be mechanically crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder is treated as RACM regardless of its original asbestos percentage.

A project is a demolition or renovation of a facility; a facility is any institutional, commercial, public, industrial, or residential structure, installation, or building.

Ohio requires the licensed contractor to keep project records, including notification copies, waste shipment records, and air monitoring results, available for ODH inspection.

Regulated areas must be isolated with critical barriers, negative pressure enclosures, and HEPA filtration; workers enter and exit through a decontamination unit with clean, shower, and equipment rooms.

Air monitoring: personal samples are compared to the OSHA 8-hour TWA PEL of 0.1 f/cm3 and the 30-minute excursion limit of 1.0 f/cm3; clearance air must meet 0.01 f/cm3 by PCM or 70 structures/mm2 by TEM.

Required PPE includes a full-face or half-mask respirator with HEPA filters, disposable coveralls, head and foot coverings, and eye protection; respirators require fit testing and medical evaluation.

Wet methods are mandatory: material must be wetted before and during removal, and HEPA vacuums, not compressed air or dry sweeping, are used for cleanup.

Debris must be bagged or wrapped in leak-tight containers labeled with the OSHA warning statement and the identity of the material, then transported and disposed of at an approved landfill.

Removal of a regulated area must be preceded by a visual inspection by the project supervisor and, where required, clearance air sampling by an air quality technician.

The project supervisor is responsible for daily on-site supervision of abatement, worker training verification, and ensuring containment integrity is maintained throughout the project.

A thorough inspection requires sampling each homogeneous area; a homogeneous area is material of uniform color, texture, and date of application.

Bulk samples must be collected in a wet or wetted condition, placed in sealed containers, and analyzed by an accredited laboratory using PLM (NIOSH 7400 or equivalent) or TEM.

Bulk sample analysis reports must include sample location, material description, laboratory accreditation, and the percentage and type of asbestos detected.

A project design or abatement work plan must identify the scope, methods, containment, worker protection, and waste handling procedures before work begins.

Clearance criteria are met when the regulated area is visually clean and air samples collected by an accredited air quality technician meet the applicable PCM or TEM limit.

Project records must be maintained for at least three years and include notification, inspection report, abatement plan, monitoring data, and waste manifests.

Any material that will be disturbed and is presumed or confirmed to contain more than 1 percent asbestos must be handled as RACM unless a negative inspection establishes otherwise.

Abatement worker training requires a minimum of 32 hours of initial training, including hands-on exercises, followed by a refresher course every year.

Project supervisor and contractor training require a minimum of 40 hours of initial training, with annual refresher training to maintain certification.

Air quality technician training requires a minimum of 24 hours of initial training, with annual refresher training.

Asbestos hazard evaluation specialist (inspector) training requires a minimum of 24 hours of initial training, with annual refresher training.

Certification requires passing an accredited course, submitting an application to ODH with the required fee, and maintaining the certification through timely renewal.

Ohio may suspend, revoke, or deny a license for violations including working without a license, falsifying records, or failing to follow work practice standards.

The contractor must ensure that only currently certified workers and supervisors perform abatement activities and that certifications are on file and available for inspection.