Document 5Lom8ev3zyypgxgXrdG1VXYGe

BEAUMONT REFINERY ASBESTOS HANDLING REQUIREMENTS INTRODUCTION All handling of asoescos bearing material requires special actention. This guide is intended to provide process and mechanical supervisors with a summary of the actions which must be taken when employees are working in an area where asbestos bearing insulation is being removed and handled. COVERAGE As of August 29, 1972, Che Purchasing Department was instructed that all future purchases of insulating material must be asbestos free. It is difficult to differentiate, by appearance, between asbestos bearing and * asbescos free insulation. To establish a guideline, friable insulating materials installed prior to January 1, 1973 will be considered to contain asbescos fibers and will be created according to the following requirements. If the material can be positively identified as being asbestos free, the full requirements which follow need not apply. The following list indicates those items which contain asbestos chat are not considered to present a health hazard. These Items are approved for use in the refinery without special handling precautions: Woven asbestos covered thermocouple lead wires Solid sheet asbescos gaskets Spiral wound asbestos packed gaskets Asbescos gloves Asbestos welding blankets Graphite or teflon impregnated woven asbestos packing Any asbestos bearing materials, presently on hand or contemplated for purchase, that is not in the above list must be reviewed with a representa tive of the Safety Department and the Industrial Hygiene Department to determine if its use would require any special personal protective measures. REQUIREMENTS The following requirements are intended to cover routine jobs where old insulation is removed; large jobs where demolition is involved may require additional precautions: 1. a. The plant representative involved in a job which will require the removal of asbescos bearing thermal insulation should notify a Safety Department foreman to inform him of the nature of the intended work. .(This applies only to larger routine jobs.) Rage- 1 or' 4 05406 447178 BEAUMONT ACFlN*y f b. Where small areas are removed for inspection of base metal, e.g., Sonoray, the method of removal is important. If the method of removal may generate significant airborne fibers, the precautions which follow must be observed. The worker cutting the area for inspection must wear an air purifying respirator regardless of Che method of removal. 2. The plant representative must obtain sufficient respirators, caution signs, caution tags (see Figure 1), heavy plastic bags, and safety tape to comolece the job in accordance with the following requirements. These items are available from the Safety Storeroom. 3. Asbestos bearing material is best handled in a wee condition. It must be wetced to keep moist during the removal and handling period whenever possible. 4. In congested areas and in process units a safety tape barrier shall be installed to isolate the area where insulation is being removed. It is recommended that the safety tape be located 25 feet from the work area. Tape barriers are not required when small groups are working in isolated areas where other personnel are not likely to become involved. 5. All workers inside the area marked by safety tape must wear air purifying respirators as well as those workers actually handling the material. Respirators must be worn regardless of barricade or wetting practice. 6. Caution signs must be posted at all approaches to the area in which asbestos type insulation is being handled. 7. Employees who, according to a medical examination, cannot function normally with a respirator device shall not be assigned to work requiring a respirator. 8. All removed insulation shall be carefully placed in the plastic bags available from the Safety Department. When full, the bags shall be sealed, and the caution tags attached in a readily visible location. 9. Piping and other equipment covered with asbestos insulation must not be dropped or thrown from buildings or structures. It should be carefully lowered to the ground. When jacketing has been removed from piping the insulation must be wetced before lowering. 10. The EPA must be notified at least 20 days before starting "demolition" work on asbestos covered piping and equipment. Routine maintenance and repair work is not to be considered as demolition and does not require notification. Examples of demolition which would require EPA notification are: Demolition 2 cf 4 0540"? 447179 OOjj GJ 3-5 iiaeAUMOMragnsenr -'W 7,. of TCC-1, or major physical changes of a scruccure which bears asbestos insulation. The unit responsible for initiating demoli tion work must contact the Conservation Engineering Section at least 30 days before demolition activities ara initiated so that they may forward the required notification to the EPA. 11. Sealed containers of asbestos scrap cay be taken to the sanitary land fill area where it is buried. A plant representative must notify tha Conservation Engineering Section before having the scrap hauled co the iana fill area. .12 On jobs performed by contractors, it is the contractor's respon sibility to conduct the job in accordance with these rules and regulations. The Mobil Contact or Construction Inspector should ensure that the contractor is aware of his obligations to conform with these ragulations. Tha contractor will provide his own signs, tags, bags, and barricade cape, etc. % Page 3 of 4 05408 447180 SEAUUONTnEFIN*v t s/ . * ci Page 4 of 4 05409 447181