Document 7RkoMXdVbM8BVB17VxawLGGnV

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 ALCOA APC 004359 Federal Remitter / Vol. 48. No. 215 / Friday. November 4, 1963 / Rule* and Regulation* 51139 respirator*, and to assure that all such employee* participate in the program and are informed of specified categories of information. OSHA consider* this provision to be "necessary" within the meaning of section 8(c) of the Act, to reduce the grave danger faced by asbestos exposed employee*. The absence of a training program requirement in the asbestos standard ha* been pointed out as one of the serious deficiencies of the current standard. OSHA believes that participation in an adequate training program i* essential for the protection of employees because moat protective provisions enlist 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 where 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 asbestos exposure, in order to assess his own exposure situation and to help recognize when engineering controls are not operating properly. Certainly where housekeeping plays an important role in control, instruction about housekeeping methods, for example, frequent vacuuming, is essential. Perhaps moat importanly. where employee protection depends upon respirator use. OSHA's experience shows that training employees in the use. fitting and limitations of respirators is critical to the effectiveness of respirator protection. Accordingly this requirement applies where airborne concentrations are reasonably expected to exceed 0.5 T/ cc. even if employees use respirators to reduce breathing zone concentrations and thereby comply with the ETS. As set forth in paragraph (k)(4) the employer must inform the employee of the health effects of asbestos exposure: the relationship between asbestos and smoking in producing lung cancer the operations exposing employees to ssbestos fibers and necessary protective step* to minimize exposure: the purpose, proper use. fitting instructions and limitations of respirators, and the contents of all the provisions of the Asbestos Standard at 1910.1001. 5. Paragraph (k)(5) Respiratory protection during the ETS. The ETS adds a new paragraph (k)(5) which includes a table which ties respirator selection to the 0.5 f/cc PEL Under the ETS, the concentration cut-offs for Various kinds of respirator* are multiples of the reduced PEL of 0-5 f/cc. rather than multiples of the previous Z {/ cc permissible limit For example, approved Bir purifying respirator* may be used only where asbestos concentrations are not expected to exceed 5 f/cc (10 x the PEL). Before the ETS. because the PEL was 2 f/cc. such respirator* could be used where asbestos concentrations would not have exceeded 20 f/cc (10 x the PEL of 2 f/cc). Similarly, powered air purifying respirators may be used where asbestos concentrations do not exceed 100 times the PEL which at the new level of QJ f/ cc is 50 f/cc. Previously, employers could have used such respirator* at concentration* up to 200 f/cc. It is Hkely that the main impact of the reduced PEL on respirator choice will be in operations and industries where exposure levels are between 5 f/cc and 20 f/cc. Formerly, employees exposed in this range could use half-mask air purifying'respirators: now they must be protected by a powered air purifying respirator or a full facepiece respirator, or they may use a supplied air respirator. 8. Paragraph (kj(8). Warning signs during the ETS. The ETS requires that legible signs warning of the health hazards of asbestos be displayed at locations where airborne concentrationa of asbestoa fiber* exceed the reduced exposure limit of 0.5 f/cc. No specific legend is required signs for newly posted during the ETS. OSHA wishes to make as practicable as possible the rapid posting of signs, especially in workplaces where there has been previous non-compliance and in areas where asbestos concentrations were formerly below the 2.0 f/cc PEL XL Public Participation Interested persons are invited to submit written data, view* and arguments with respect to the revisions to the asbestos standard made by the ETS. These comment* must be postmarked on or before January 3.1064 and sent to the Docket Officer. Docket No. H-033C Occupational Safety 6 Health Administration. U.S. Department of Labor. 200 Constitution Avenue. NW., Room S-6212, Washington. D.C. 20210. The data, views and arguments that are submitted will be available for public inspection and copying at the above address. All timely written submission* will be made a part of the record of the proceeding. Liat of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 10M Occupational safety and health. Asbestos. Health. Emergency temporary 'standard. Cancer. Authority and Signature This document was prepared under the direction of Thome G. Auchter. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. U.S. Department of Labor. 200 Constitution Avenue. NW, Washington. DC 20210. Pursuant to Sections 6(b). 6(c). 8(c) and 6(g) of the Act. 29 CFR 1910.1001 is amended by adding a new paragraph (V) as set forth below. (Secs. 6(b). 6(c). 6(c) and 8(g). Pub. L 61-606. 64 StsL 1503.1596.1500.1600: 29 UAC 665. 657: Sec. 107. Pub. L 91-64.83 Slat. 96 (40 U.S.G 333): 28 CFR Part 1911: Secretary a/ Labor's Order No. 9-63 (46 FR 36736)) Signed at Washington. D C. thia 2nd day of November 1963. Than* G. Auditat. Astiilent Secretary ofLabor. a PART 1910--(AMENDED) Section 1910.1001 of Part 1910 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations la hereby amended by adding new paragraph (V) reading a* follows: (1110.1001 SsriseSoa. I9* (k) Emergency temporary standard effective November 4.1903.--(1) Scope. This emergency temporary standard is issued pursuant to section 6(c) of the Act and applies to all workplace* where employees may be exposed to asbestos in all industries covered by the Act. including, general industry, construction and maritime. Except to the extent modified by this emergency temporary standard all proviaiona of 11910.1001 remain in effect. (2) Permissible levels of exposure. The 6-hour time-weighted average airborne concentration of atbeatoa fibers to which any employee may be exposed shall not exceed one-half (0.5) fiber, longer than 5 micrometers, per . cubic centimeter of air. as determined . by the method prescribed in paragraph (e) of this section. (3) Methods of compliance with the emergency temporary standard. Notwithstanding any other requirements of this section, compliance with the reduced exposure limit of 0.5 f/cc shall be achieved by any feasible combination of engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment and devices. (4) Employee information and training.--{I) A* soon a* possible, but not later than thirty (30) days from the effective date of this emergency temporary standard, the employer shall institute a training program for all employee* exposed to airborne concentrations of asbestos in excess of ^PC 004360 51140 Federal Register / Vol. 48, No. 215 / Friday. November 4. 1983 / Rule* and Regulation* 0.5 f/cc, without regard to the uae of respirator* and (hall assure their participation in the program during the effective period of this 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 and smoking in producing lung cancer. (C) The nature of operations which could result in exposure to asbestos and necessary protective steps to minimize 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 all the provisions contained in 1910.1001. (5) Respiratory protection during the ETS. Notwithstanding any other requirement of this section, where respirators are used to achieve the permissible exposure limit of 0.5 f/cc they shall be selected according to Table 1. (0) Warning signs during the ETS. 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 at each location where airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers may exceed 0.5 f/cc. TA8U ) Respiratory Protection For Airborne Concentrations of Asbestos , Airborne Concentration of Asbestos (TWA) Hot in excess of 5 f/cc (10 X PEL) Hot in excess of 50 f/cc 1100 PEL) treater than 50 f/cc Raouired Respirator1' Reusabla or singla usa air purifying raspirator Full factpiace air purifying respirator, or a poMrad air purifying res pirator A type aC* continuous flow or pressure deaand, supplied air respirator. 1 Respirators specified for high concentrations oay be used at lower concentrations of asbestos. (Secs. 8(b). 8(c). 8(c) snd 8(g). Pub. L. *1-808. U5.C S3): ZP CPF Part in. Secretary of 84 StaL 1593, ISPS. 1599.1800:2S U.S.G 855. Labor's Order No. S-B3 (4a FH15738)) 887: Sec. 107. Pub. L 91-54.83 StaL 88 (40 (rsnoc. mvi fim . 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