Document 15Mn24XkkpqJp516ge5YDewjE

22700 Federal Register / Vol. 51, No. 119 / Friday, June 20, 1986 / Rules and Regulations at the action level of 0.1 f/cc rather than (1) All new workers hired should be non- rulemaking record including, industry, the proposed 0.2 f/cc. Considerable smokers; labor and government organizations evidence was submitted to the record demonstrating that training and information programs are essential in assuring worker protection to asbestos exposure [Exs. 158-1. 294, 296,84-374, (2) All smoking during work hours should be banned; (3) All sale of tobacco products on plant premises should be banned: and (4) All employers should make smoking cessation programs available to their [Exs. 84-27. 84-346, 90-236, 91-27,123A, 129, 274, 312A, and 328). For example, several industrial hygiene manuals submitted to the record stressed the importance of a conscientious 90-174, 90-177,93-6, Tr. 7/9, p. 189). A employees [Ex. 328). housekeeping program; number of participants supported training at the action level [Exs. 86-4, 123-A, 172-A, 328). Furthermore, both the Asbestos Information. Association of North America and the International Union, UAW. strongly recommended that a 0.1 f/cc action level would be an appropriate level. A few commenters [Exs. 122; Tr. 6/22, p. 52) advocated that the training and information program.be triggered at any airborne level and not be contingent upon the action level being reached or exceeded. These commenters expressed the view that all asbestos workers, not just those at highest risk, be informed of the health hazards of asbestos, the relationship between asbestos and smoking, and ways to minimize exposure. The final standard addresses some of these concerns. Employees are prohibited from smoking under certain conditions. For example, employees who work in the regulated area are prohibited from smoking in that area. The training requirements of the standard mandate that the employee be Informed of the nature of the hazard and the relationship between asbestos and smoking and lung cancer. We expect that such information will encourage workers to stop smoking. However, the Agency has made a determination, based on policy considerations, not to ban the hiring of smokers or require employers to have smoking cessation programs. The employer is free to follow recommendations such as those by the AIA/NA outlined above. However, the Cood housekeeping plays a key role in the control of occupational health hazards. Dust on overhead ledges and on the floor should be removed before it can become airborne by traffic vibration and random air currents. Cood housekeeping is always important, but where there are toxic materials, it is of paramount importance.. . . It is impossible to have an effecitve health hazard control program unless maintenance housekeeping (policing] is good and the worker has been informed of the need for those cleaning measures (Ex. 91-27.22, p. 630|. In particular for asbestos, a number of comments addressed the issue of housekeeping and the methods adopted by OSHA in the final standard. Housekeeping is an important factor in safety to a worker. The cleaner the work area, the less chance there will be of airborne Although the concerns expressed by these commenters are valid, OSHA takes the view that formal training is not required for employees whose exposures are below the action level. employer is not required by OSHA to institute such programs. 11. Paragraph (k). Housekeeping. The final standard imposes the general househeeping requirement to asbestos escaping a jobsite. Once again. It is important to keep asbestos fibers wet and to damp mop or wipe of[f] all surfaces. Regardless of the job. a final cleaning is required (Ex. 274, p. 4]. This is partly due to the lower risk involved, and also to the fact that asbestos is present in some shape or . form in so many workplaces that it would be impractical to provide formal training to everyone who might at some time encounter it, for example, office workers. The spectrum of possible maintain all surfaces free, as is practicable, of accumulations of asbestos containing dust and waste. The standard bans the use of compressed air for cleaning and allows dry cleaning only if the employer shows that wet methods and vacuuming are not feasible. It also requires that vacuuming And, Cood housekeeping is essential to reducing levels of airborne asbestos. Waste materials such as rejects, scrap, shavings, or other debris should be picked up and placed in plastic bags. At the end of a shift, these bags should be taped shut, labeled as to tha hazard contained therein, and disposed of. exposure would range downward from be done with cleaners equipped with Asbestos dust on floors, ledges, equipment, the action level to zero, and some clear HEPA filters [Exs. 240A, 264,92-038, overheads, and other plant surfaces can cut-off is needed to identify those employees who stand to benefit the most from formal training. - In sum, the record evidence with regard to information and training reinforces the importance of informed employees to the successful 312A) to. prevent the dispersal of asbestos into the workplace. These are exceptionally important provisions because they minimize additional sources of exposure that engineering controls generally are not designed to control. become airborne when disturbed by drafts or work activity, and it should be removed. Sweeping is not the way to remove ft, however, because the fine fibers are entrained into the air and deposited on remote ledges, pipes, and other inaccessible surfaces [Ex. 84-27. p. 78J. implementation of an occupational The existing provision requires that Housekeeping was also addressed in health program, and provides strong surfaces be maintained "free of the control of asbestos exposure in support for the inclusion of these accumulations of asbestos fibers if, with shipyards: requirements in the final rule. In its posthearihg brief (Ex. 328), the their dispersion, there would be an excessive concentration." A number of a. Periodic cleaning of work area, especially at the end of each shift AIA/NA urged OSHA to eliminate commenters has suggested and OSHA contributes greatly to dust reduction. The smoking in the workplace when - agrees that the language "an excessive longer materials tie the more widespread they asbestos is present. Citing evidence in concentration" is ambiguous. Thus, become, producing considerable airborne the record and testimony by experts as to the synergistic effects of smoking and ' exposure to asbestos, the AIA/NA made several specific recommendations. Specifically the AIA/NA] recommend[s] that OSHA prescribe the following requirements applicable to any work station or Job classification that is likely to involve OSHA has removed the phrase from.the final standard. OSHA believes that it may be difficult to objectively determine when the condition in the standard would occur. OSHA also believes that a rigorous housekeeping program is absolutely necessary to keep airborne asbestos levels below permissible limits. dust. b. Foot traffic produces considerable dust from fallen asbestos scrap, shavings, or debris. The simple procedure of placing cutting or work stations away from general foot traffic significantly reduces dust [Ex. 9247,6, p. 8]. The AFL-CIO summarized the support asbestos exposures above 0.1 f/cc for more This belief was supported by a for specific housekeeping requirements than 30 days per year. number of submissions to the in its post-hearing brief; GLEASON-000948