Asbestos – Overview of

Hazards and Regulations

A summary of the properties and health hazards of
asbestos and the DOSH regulations on asbestos

Developed by Division of Occupational Safety & health (DOSH)

October, 2009
 Topics Covered
 Properties of asbestos

 Uses of asbestos

 Health hazards of asbestos

 Activities resulting in potential asbestos exposure

 Asbestos regulations

 Where to get more information and help

Asbestos Exposure - General Overview

1.3 million workers are exposed in the U.S.

– primarily in the construction industry.
Asbestos removal and building
renovation & demolition have the greatest
exposures.

Exposure in general industry:

- manufacture of asbestos products
- automotive brake and clutch repair
- Housekeeping and custodial work
 Properties of Asbestos
 Naturally occurring fibrous
minerals

 Good tensile strength

 Flexible

 Heat resistant
Asbestos ore

 Electrical resistance

 Good insulation

 Chemical resistant
Asbestos fibers

Because of these unique properties, asbestos

was used extensively in variety of products.
 Types of Asbestos

- Chrysotile - “White
asbestos”
Most
commonly - Amosite - “Brown
used: asbestos”
- Crocidolite - “Blue
asbestos”
Asbestos fibers,
“Blue Asbestos”- high magnification

Tremolite
(sometimes found in vermiculite)
Others:
Actinolite
Anthophyllite
Vermiculite – some products contained asbestos

Vermiculite insulation in attics

 Uses of Asbestos
Asbestos has been used for centuries, but
greatly increased during and after World War II
in ship insulation and the following:

 Pipe insulation

 Surfacing insulating materials

Asbestos insulated pipe
 Reinforcement of materials

 Fireproofing

 Acoustic and decorative plaster

 Textiles

Use has greatly declined since the late 1970’s

Asbestos insulated boiler
 Examples of Uses of Asbestos

Sheet vinyl containing asbestos

Sprayed-on fireproofing material

These products may be found in

homes and buildings constructed
before 1981.
Vinyl asbestos flooring
 Damaged asbestos pipe insulation

This damaged pipe insulation is a health hazard to persons working around it,
handling it or removing it. Asbestos fibers are visible on the torn edges.
 Asbestos Mill Board

Asbestos millboard was used in the construction of walls and ceilings, especially
around furnaces and wood-burning stoves, where insulation and fire protection was
required. Most varieties of asbestos millboard typically contained between 80% and
85% asbestos.
Asbestos in gaskets
and fabric

Asbestos gaskets– may be round, flat or

impregnated with waterproof sealant

Asbestos fabric in HVAC system

Damaged asbestos gasket
Asbestos Roofing Material – used from 1920’s to 1970’s
 Cement-asbestos pipe (Transite)

Cement-asbestos pipe, sometimes called Transite, was used

underground and above ground in years past and may show up in
pipe replacement jobs, building demolition jobs or excavations.
Asbestos Ceiling Tile - used until about 1980

Tile close-up

Usually white and in 1’ by 1’ or 2’ by 4’ sizes

 Asbestos shingles and siding

Found in older houses – not to be confused with

newer asbestos-free cement siding. There is little
hazard unless disturbed. The top right hand picture
shows a siding replacement job with broken green
asbestos shingles which would have released dust
Removal done correctly and fibers into the air if done incorrectly.
 Asbestos “Popcorn” Ceiling Material
Popcorn ceilings (also known as
acoustic ceilings) were popular in
many homes built from the late 1950s
through the early 80s.

Uncontrolled popcorn
ceiling removal job

Not all popcorn ceiling material contained

asbestos, but some did. Many types were
damaged ceiling material more easily dislodged than others.
 Asbestos in joint compound and plaster
Some joint compound contained up to 5% asbestos

Joint compound

Plaster with asbestos

See WRD 23.30 for guidance on employee exposure to joint compounds

 Some Asbestos-Containing Materials*

• Cement Pipes • Spray-Applied Insulation

• Cement Wallboard • Blown-in Insulation
• Cement Siding • Fireproofing Materials
• Asphalt Floor Tile • Taping Compounds (thermal)
• Vinyl Floor Tile • Packing Materials (for wall/floor
penetrations)
• Vinyl Sheet Flooring
• High Temperature Gaskets
• Flooring Backing
• Laboratory Hoods/Table Tops
• Construction Mastics (floor tile,
carpet, ceiling tile, etc.) • Laboratory Gloves
• Acoustical Plaster • Fire Blankets
• Decorative Plaster • Fire Curtains
• Textured Paints/Coatings
• Ceiling Tiles and Lay-in Panels
(This list does not include every product/material that may contain asbestos. It is intended as a
general guide to show which types of materials may contain asbestos.)
* Source: EPA
 Some Asbestos-Containing Materials
(Continued)

• Elevator Equipment Panels • Chalkboards

• Elevator Brake Shoes • Roofing Shingles
• HVAC Duct Insulation • Roofing Felt
• Boiler Insulation • Base Flashing
• Breaching Insulation • Thermal Paper Products
• Ductwork Flexible Fabric • Fire Doors
Connections • Caulking/Putties
• Cooling Towers • Adhesives
• Pipe Insulation (corrugated air- • Wallboard
cell, block, etc.) • Joint Compounds
• Heating and Electrical Ducts • Vinyl Wall Coverings
• Electrical Panel Partitions • Spackling Compounds
• Electrical Cloth
• Electric Wiring Insulation
 Some Terms: “ACM” and “PACM”
Asbestos Containing Material
Any material containing more than 1% asbestos by weight.

Presumed Asbestos Containing Material

- Surfacing materials
Installed prior to - Thermal System Insulation
1981 - Flooring

Must be handled as ACM unless proved otherwise

Many uses of asbestos have been banned under EPA and Consumer Product
Safety Commission regulations. However, some materials where asbestos fibers
are generally well bound in the materials were not banned.
Previously installed products still pose a hazard to workers. Asbestos fibers can be
released during repair work, demolition, and renovation of older buildings and
structures containing ACM.
 Asbestos is an Inhalation Hazard
Airborne asbestos fibers inhaled deep into the lung can
cause damage.

 Tiny breathable asbestos fibers are

deposited in the alveoli, the ending
small air sacs in the lungs. Pleura

 The body’s defense mechanisms

cannot break down the fibers.

 Asbestos fibers cause damage to

the lungs.
 The fibers may also travel to the
pleura, the membrane lining the Alveoli
outside of the lungs.
 Asbestos-related Diseases
.
Asbestosis

Mesothelioma

Lung Cancer

Other cancers
• Usually symptoms take 15 to 30 years or
more to develop.
• Health effects from asbestos exposure
may continue to progress even after
exposure is stopped.
 Asbestosis Example
Photos © RAVANESI@2000

Joe Darabant, 1949, Joe, 1989.

covered with Forced to retire
chrysotile asbestos in 1974 at age 50
fibers. Worked for from poor health;
30+ years at the he died from
Johns-Manville Plant asbestosis in
in New Jersey, cutting 1990 at age 66.
asbestos shingles and
making asbestos
block and pipe-
covering materials.

Asbestosis is a serious chronic, progressive disease that can eventually lead to

disability or death in people exposed to high amounts of asbestos over a long
period. Asbestos fibers cause the lung tissues to scar; when the scarring
spreads, it becomes harder and harder to breathe. Symptoms include shortness
of breath, a dry crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling, coughing, and chest
pain. This condition is permanent and there is no effective treatment.
 Mesothelioma Example Photo © RAVANESI@2000

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer Tumors protruding

through the right
of the pleura, the thin membrane rib cage.
lining the lungs. About 200 cases are
diagnosed each year in the U.S.
Virtually all cases are linked with
asbestos exposure.
The cancer is very invasive and
spreads quickly, eventually crushing
the lungs so that the patient cannot
breathe. It is painful and always fatal. Richard Pankowski, 1986.
Diagnosed in 1985 with pleural
It can be caused by very low mesothelioma; died 5 months later at
exposure and is not directly related to age 36. In college, he worked for less
the amount inhaled. This cancer may than a year at the Manville Plant in
N.J. Father also worked at the plant
take 30-40 years to develop. 30+ years and died from asbestosis.
Richard’s exposure may have begun
when he was a child.
 Lung Cancer
Lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths from asbestos exposure.
The risk greatly increases in workers who smoke.
 Other Cancers
Evidence suggests that ingesting
asbestos can also cause cancers in the:

 esophagus
 larynx
 oral cavity
 stomach
 colon
 kidney

Fibers can enter the mouth and be swallowed. Poor

hygiene, leaving food/drinks out in contaminated
areas, and carelessness can result in the ingestion
of asbestos.
 Asbestos-related diseases

The potential for asbestos

related disease depends on:

 Amount of fibers inhaled

 Length of exposure
 Whether exposed worker
smokes
 Age – because of delayed
effects
Don’t smoke! An asbestos worker is at much greater risk of
developing lung cancer if he/she smokes.
 How do asbestos fibers get in the air?
Physical disturbance of asbestos-containing
materials can suspend fibers in the air.

Asbestos is most hazardous

when it is “FRIABLE”.

 Friable: can be easily

crumbled or crushed by hand,
releasing fibers into the air

 Very small fibers stay in the

Photo of friable asbestos
air for long periods
 Damaged or deteriorated
ACM increases friability Non-friable ACM (floor and ceiling
tiles, house siding, fire doors, etc.)
won’t release fibers unless disturbed
or damaged in some way.
 Evaluating Asbestos Hazards
Type of Material
– What is the asbestos content (greater than
1%)?
– Is it friable or non-friable?
– What is the location – is it isolated or
accessible to workers?
Condition of Material
– Is it intact with no damage?
– Is it in poor condition – damaged, disturbed
or no longer intact?
Activity
- Are employees working in the area where asbestos is found?
- Will the material be cut, sawed, grinded, sanded drilled,
broken, removed, replaced or otherwise disturbed?
 General asbestos safety and health requirements

If workers will be exposed to asbestos on the job, employers

must take measures to minimize their exposure by:

 doing exposure evaluation, air monitoring and

record keeping

 providing training on the hazard of asbestos

 providing a medical surveillance program and

keeping exposure records

 developing an Exposure Control Program

 Asbestos Limits in the Air

Asbestos Permissible
Exposure Limits (PEL)

 0.1 fibers per cubic

centimeter of air (0.1 f/cc)
8-hour time weighted average

 1.0 f/cc 30-minute short-term

exposure limit

Air monitoring equipment Asbestos in the air at these levels

on a worker would be invisible to the naked eye.
 Exposure Evaluation & Monitoring
 You must conduct periodic air monitoring of
workers when:
– levels in the air are likely to be at or above the
PEL
– conducting an “asbestos project”*
– There are change in process, controls, work
practices or workers

 Notify affected employees of results of air

monitoring results.

 Maintain exposure monitoring records for

duration of employment + 30 years.

* “asbestos project” means work on any building, ship, or other facility

that releases or is likely to release asbestos fibers into the air.
 Exposure Control
Asbestos exposure must be controlled by one or more of the
following engineering and work practices:

Local exhaust ventilation

with HEPA filter system
HEPA-filtered vacuums
Enclosure or isolation
Wet methods of handling
Prompt disposal
Regular housekeeping

HEPA filter = high efficiency

particulate air filter
 More Exposure Control Requirements
(depending on the type of asbestos abatement work done)

Worker training
- Provide initially and annually
- Cover hazards, work practices, &
safety procedures
- Program elements of Rule

Worker protection
- PPE: respirator, gloves, head and
foot protection, coveralls
- Hygiene facilities:
decontamination, change room
Decontamination shower
 Communication of Hazards

 Warning Signs
 for regulated areas
 visible before entering

 Warning Labels
 attached to all products and
their containers

AVOID BREATHING
AIRBORNE ASBESTOS
Entrance to regulated area
FIBERS
 Building/Facility Owner Responsibilities
 Determine presence, location, and quantity of asbestos
containing material.
 Inform employers, employees, and others who may be
impacted.
 Have a “Good Faith” inspection done before starting any
bidding or construction/maintenance work.
 Permit only certified individuals to perform work that may
release asbestos fibers into the air.
 Submit “Notice of Asbestos Abatement Project” to
L & I when project involves 48 sq. ft. or 10 linear feet of
pipe.
 Construction/Maintenance Activities
To avoid a situation illustrated in the photo below, the regulations cover any construction or
maintenance activity releasing or likely to release asbestos fibers into the air including:

renovation demolition
remodeling asbestos removal and disposal

Covers work done in:

 buildings
 structures
 mechanical piping equipment
and systems
 ships
 other facilities
Loose asbestos debris from demolition project
 "Good Faith" Inspection/Survey
 Required for all construction and maintenance in
buildings that may contain asbestos:
– Must be done by an EPA-accredited AHERA
building inspector

– documented written report

– not required if assumed

and treated as asbestos

 Possible fines of $250/day if not

done or poorly done
 Both building owner and
contractor can be cited!
 Construction/Maintenance Activities
Asbestos training certification of workers is required when
asbestos levels in the air are above the PELs

Required for removal or

encapsulation of any materials
containing 1% asbestos or
more.

Covers contractors, supervisors,

workers depending on type/size
of work.

Additional training may be

required depending on type/size Asbestos abatement area contained and
enclosed
of work.
 Custodial/Light maintenance work
Housekeeping and building maintenance activities may expose
workers to asbestos fibers if ACM/PACM is disturbed.

Activities of concern:
 sweeping
 vacuuming
 cleaning
 changing lights Damaged asbestos pipe insulation

Materials of concern:
 vinyl asbestos tile
 popcorn ceiling
 exposed piping
 exposed fireproofing

Asbestos debris on floor

 Custodial/Light maintenance work

Dry dust or sweep

surfaces, ceilings,
walls, or floors

Disturb ACM when

replacing light bulbs, etc.
DO NOT:

Pin or hang pictures,

plants, or objects on Sand asbestos floor
walls or from ceilings tiles or backing
covered with asbestos material
materials
 Custodial/Light maintenance work

DO: Dust with a damp cloth

Use only a HEPA-filtered

vacuum to clean up
asbestos debris

Wet mop
floors
 Specific requirements for other work

Automotive brake and clutch

inspection, disassembly, repair, and
assembly operations
(View requirements – WAC 296-62-07745)

Roofing, flooring, siding and gaskets

as found in WAC 296-62-07712(10)

Custodial/Light maintenance
Employees who perform housekeeping activities
during and after construction activities are covered
by asbestos construction work requirements in
WAC 296-62-07723.
 DOSH Asbestos Regulations

RCW 49.26 – Asbestos Safety Act

WAC 296-62-077 Part I-1 Occupational

Health-Asbestos
WAC 296-65 Asbestos Certification &
Training
WAC 296-155-160 Construction
regulations which refer to WAC 296-62-077
 Environmental Regulations (EPA)

 AHERA (Asbestos Hazard

Emergency Response Act )

 NESHAPS (National Emission

Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants)
State environmental agencies:
– Washington State Department of Ecology
– Local Air Pollution Authorities (SCAPCA)
– Washington State Department of Health, County Health
Departments
 Further Information

 DOSH – asbestos webpage

OSHA – asbestos webpage

 Environmental Protection Agency –

asbestos webpage

 Department of Ecology – asbestos waste

webpage
 DOSH Consultation Services
Safety & health program review and
worksite evaluation

• By employer invitation only

• Free
• Confidential
• No citations or penalties
• Letter explains findings
• Follow-up all serious hazards
For assistance, you can call one of our consultants. Click below for local L & I office locations:

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