Document 6bqrk1j9axZpnvz8MVe8GkK1g

Industrial Hygiene Technical Bulletin No. 83-4 Date: 1983 November 16 RE: EMERGENCY TEMPORARY STANDARD FOR ASBESTOS - 0.5 FIBERS/CC OSHA has enacted an emergency temporary standard (ETS) for asbestos effective 1983 November 4, with a final rule to follow within six months. Attached please find a copy of the amend ment to the standard. Alcoa set an internal limit of 0.5 fibers/cc in June of this year, as well as instituting training requirements, medical surveillance criteria, etc. (refer to IH Technical Bulletin 83-3). Therefore, the ETS should have minimal impact on our operations. Please note, however, that more stringent respirator selection requirements exist under the ETS and will most likely appear also in the revised final rule. Reusable or single use air purifying respirators are acceptable for concentrations not to exceed 5 fibers/cc. Full facepiece air purifying respirators or powered air purifying respirators are acceptable for concen trations up to 50 fibers/cc. Posting of warning signs and training of all employees exposed above the PEL of 0.5 fibers/cc are required by OSHA through the ETS. Please contact me at extension 2597 if you need assistance acquiring training material or appropriate warning signs. JOAN E. SANDER JES:bep Attachment cc: H. D. Belk, M.D., Pittsburgh G. J. Crouth, Pittsburgh - 7 P. A. Haas, Pittsburgh - 20 R. B. Reeves, Pittsburgh - 6 F. A. Schelhamer, Pittsburgh 6 2 WPH Distribution: IH Plant Contacts Industrial Hygiene Division (Pgh. and EHL) Industrial Hygiene Technicians Qalcoa APC 004368 Federal Register / Vol M. No. 21S / Friday. November 4. 1883 / Rules and Regulations SI139 re(pinion, and to imuis that all auch employees participate In the program and arc informed of specified categoriea of information. OSHA considers this provision to be "necessary" within the meaning of section 6(c) of the Act to reduce the grave danger faced by asbestos exposed employees. The absence of a training program requirement in the asbestoe standard has been pointed out as one of the serious deficiencies of the current standard. OSHA believes that participation in an adequate training program is essential for the protection of employees because moat protective provisions snllst the employee as an active participant For example, many employees handling asbestos depend on effective work practices. Without training in applying these work practices, employee protection would be Inadequate. Where the employee plays a more passive role in his protection such as whim engineering controls are relied on. training is also essential because the employee must know the sources of workplace asbestos contamination, and the health hazards of asbestoe exposure. In order to assess his own exposure situation and to help recognise when engineering controls are not operating properly. Certainly where housekeeping plays an Important tola in control instruction about housekeeping . . methods, for example, frequ' vacuuming, is essential. Perhaps most ImportanJy, where employee protection depends upon respirator use. OSHA's experience shows that training employees in the uie. fitting and limitations of respirators is critical to tha effectiveness of respirator protection. Accordingly this requirement applies where airborne concentrations era reasonably expected to exceed Mf/ cc. even if employees use respirators to reduce breathing sons concentrations end thereby Comply with the STS. Aa set forth in paragraph (k)(4) the employer must inform dm employee of the health effects of aabeetoa exposure: the relationship between asbestoe and smoking in producing hmg cancan tha asbestos flban and necessary protective steps to mtnlmics exposure: the purpose, proper use. fitting Instructions and limitations of respirators, end tha contents of all the provisions of tha Asbestod Standard at 1610.1001. 1 Paragraph (k)(S) Respiratory protection during the STS The RTS adds a new paragraph (k){S) which includes a table which ties respirator selection to the 03 f/cc PEL Under the ETS. the concentration cut-offs for various kinds of respirators are multiples of the reduced PEL of 03 f/cc. rather than multiples of the previous 2 tf cc permissible limit For example, approved air purifying respirator* may be used only where asbestos concentrations sre not expected to exceed S f/cc (10 x the PEL). Before the ETS, because the PEL was 2 f/cc. such respirators could be used where asbestos concentrations would not have exceeded 20 f/cc (10 x tha PEL of 2 f/cc). Similarly, powered air purifying respirators may be used where asbestoe concentration* do not exceed 100 times the PEL which at the new level of 03 f/ cc is SO f/cc. Previously, employers could have used such respirators at concentrations up to 200 f/cc. It is likely that the main imped of the reduced PEL on respirator choice will be in operations and industries when exposure levels an between S f/cc and 20 f/cc. Formerly, employees exposed In this range could use half-mask air purifyingrespirator*; now they must be protected by powered air purifying respirator or a mil facepiece respirator, or they may us* a supplied air respirator. 6. Paragraph (h)(8). Warning sign* during the STS. lire ETS raouires foal legible si^u wanting of the health hazards of asbestos be diaplayed at locations when airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers exceed the reduced xpotura limit of 03 f/cc. No specific legend it required sign* for hourly potted during the ETS. OSHA wishes to make as practicable as possible tha rapid poeting of signs, especially in workpieces where there has been previous noo-compUanco and in area* when asbestos concentration* worn formerly below the 23 f/cc PEL Interested persons an invited to submit written data, views and arguments with respect to the ravtsions to the ssbeeto* standard made by tha ETS. Umoo comments must be postmarked on or before January 3. 19M and sent to the Docket Officer, Docket No. H-03ftC, Occupational Safety ft Health Administration. U3. Deporimat of Labor. 200 Constitution Avenue. NW. Room S-6212. Washington. D.C 20210. The data, views and arguments that re submitted will be avaUabfe for public inspection and copying st the above address. All timely written submissions will bo made a port of the record of the proceeding. (Jot of Subjects in JiCFR Part 161ft - Occupational safety end health. Asbestos. Health. Emergency temporary standard. Cancer. Authority and Signature This document was prepared under the direction of Thome C. Auchter. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety end Health. U3. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue. NW. Washington. DC 20210. Pursuant to Sections 6(b), 6(e). 8(c) and 8(g) of the Act 20 CFR 1610.1001 is amended by adding a new paragraph (k) aa sat forth below. (Secs. 6(b). 6(c). 6(c) and 6(g). Pub. L 61-606 M SUL 1U6.1966 IMS. ]Ktt 3 U3X. MS. 667: Sec 107. Pub. L 61-64.61 SUL W (40 U3.C 333); a CFR Ptrt 1811: Secretary of Labor s Order No. 6-63 (41FR 36736)) Signed at Washington, D.C. this tod day of November 1M3. Tboma C. AucbSac Assistant SecretaryofLabor. a_____ PART 1910--{AMENDED) Section 1810.1001 of Part 1610 of Title 29 of the Cod* of Federal Regulation* is hereby emended by adding e new paragraph (k) reeding as follows: (1610.1061 amsmea (k) Emergency temporary standard effective November 4.1961--{1) Scope. This emergency temporary standard la issued pursuant to section 6(c) of the Act end applies to ell workplace* where employees may be exposed to asbestos in all Induetrie* coveted by the Act including, general industry, construction and maritime. Except to the extent modified by this emergency temporary standard ell provisions of 11610.1001 remain in effect (2) Permissible levels of exposure. The 6-hour time-weighted avenge airborne concentration of asbestos fibers to which any employe* may be exposed shall not exceed one-half (03) fiber, longer than 6 micrometer*. per cubic centimeter of sir. as determined by the method prescribed in paragraph (l) of HCtiOf*- (3) Methods ofcompliance with the emergency temporary standard. Notwithstanding any other requirement* of this section, compliance with the reduced exposure limit of 03 f/cc (hail be achieved by any feasible combination of engineering cootrol*. work practices, and persona] protective equipment and device*. (4) Employee information and training.--(I) Ae soon ss possible, but net Utter than thirty (30) days from the effective dote of this emergency temporary standard, the employer ehall institute a treating program for all employees exposed to airborne concentrations of asbestos in excess of APC 004370 11140 Federal Register / Vol. 48, No. 215 / Friday. November 4. 1963 / Rules and Regulation* OS f/ce. without regard to the use of respirators and shall aatura their participation in the program during tho affective period of thii emergency temporary standard. (ii) The employer shall assure that each such employee is informed of the following: (A) The health effects associated with asbestos exposure: (B) The relationship between asbestos snd smoking in producing lung cancer; (C) The nature of operations which could result in exposure to asbestos and necessary protective steps to minimise exposure Including, as applicable, engineering controls, work practices, respirators, housekeeping and protective clothing: (D) The purpose, proper use. fitting Instructions and limitations of respirators permitted by the standard: and (E) A review of ell the provisions contained in 1410.1001. (5) Respiratoryprotection during (As STS. Notwithstanding any other requirement of this section, where respirators are used to achieve the permissible exposure limit of 04 f/cc they shall be selected according to Table 1. (0) Warning tigna during th* STS. In addition to the requirements of paragraph (g)(1) of this section, legible signs warning of the health hazards of asbestos shall be provided and displayed et each location where airborne concentrations ofasbestos fibers may exceed 04 f/cc. TASU 1 Respiratory frotactloo for Airborne Concentrations of Asbestos. . Airborne Concentration of Asbestos (THAI Met in excess of f/cc 001 fa) bet in excess of SO f/cc \UM A fa) treater then SO f/cc anoutrse Respirator*7 Reusable or single use air purifying respirator full facepiece air purifying respirator, or s powered air purifying res* pirator A type *C* continuous fleu or pressure dented, supplied air respirator. 1 Respirators specified for bt0i concantratlons nay be used at lower concentrations of asbestos. (Sacs. afbL tfc). *c) and Its). Pub. LOl-ast at sut tses. m use. iaoa a U4.C. ass, U7; Sec. 10?. Pttb.Lfl-S4.SS States (40 U&CSBJc S CPU Put MIL Secretary of Labor's CMar Ne-O-OS (4a Fit 3S7M)) ApO 004371 S. A. KRAFT .LAFAYETTE WORKS r MEMORANDUM 1983 NovemLb. er 22 RE: OSHA'S RECENT EMERGENCY TEMPORARY STANDARD ON ASBESTOS Effective 1983-11-04 OSHA issued an emergency temporary standard" on asbestos. Although this is called "temporary," it will be come part of the existing standard following all the necessary legal happenings. OSHA feels that the seriousness of the pro gram required issuance of the ETS immediately. The major changes that went into effect are: 1. Lowering the permissible exposure limit to 0.5 fibers per cubic centimeter from 2.0 fibers per cubic centimeter and lowering the action level to 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter. 2. Changing the emphasis on the methods of compliance permitted to achieve the new level 3. Requiring the establishment of a training program within 30 days. As we emphasized at the recent Industrial Hygiene Managers Conference in Pittsburgh, asbestos will continue to be an issue and a potential health concern for some time to come. Because of this, documentation of exposure levels is increasingly im portant. The new level of 0.5 fiber/cc is much more difficult to accurately measure. Sampling and analytical methods will need to be improved. Currently, the only wav available to'Improve our sampling method is to increase the frequency of sampling and to increase the amount or volume of air sampled. The laboratory at ATC will be working to improve the analytical method which may involve the purchase of some very expensive equipment such as an electron1 microscope. The new emergency standard also places increased importance on the use of correct respiratory protection. For this reason and the fact that the limit was lowered by a factor of four, we will nftfld to monitor additional job classifications (such as truck repair) to Assure that these Individuals are not being over ex posed and should be wearing respiratory protection. We need to continue to monitor others such as Carpenters, Brlckmasons, Laborers and Electricians to assure that they are wearing_proper respiratory protection for the particular tasks that they are performing. We also need to consider area monitoring around ALCOA (at. " ) AFC 004372 *A memorandum 1983 November 22 Page 2 places that have duct work or pipes covered with friable asbestos to determine where we should begin removing this oid asbestos in sulation (ie: basement of main office building and between preheaters in-ingot) . Training will need increased emphasis. We have until the 4th of December to complete the training which must include the following: 1. The health effects associated with asbestos exposure. 2. The relationship between asbestos and smoking in producing lung cancer. 3. The nature of operations which could result in asbestos exposure and necessary prc ctive steps to minimize exposure. 4. The purpose, proper use, fitting instructions and limitations of respirators. 5. A review of the original standard and the temporary standard. Although the Mechanical Maintenance Department has covered the first _ three areas, they must still go over the final two. Electrical Maintenance has not covered any of these aspects. Some type of formal training program should begin in both departments as soon as possible. Written handling procedures, material safety data sheets, and training booklets are available. Copies of both standards are also available from the industrial hygiene department as well as assistance in developing an effective training program for use in safety meetings. S. A. Kraft Industrial Hygienist SAK:cfr cc: All Superintendents & Managers eft. E. Rumbarger/J. Sander - Pgh. 6 APC 004373