Document 9JeoKNzx9Jd2xVVXLdxqZo13q

o PROPOSED OSHA ASBESTOS STANDARD October 9, 1975 On October 9, 1975, a new proposed OSHA asbestos standard was published in the Federal Register. The proposed standard has stricter requirements than the present OSHA standard. A summary of the proposed standard follows. 1. The Construction Industry is excluded. 2. Applies to all locations where asbestos or products contain ing asbestos is manufactured, processed, packaged, stored, applied, used or otherwise handled. 3. The allowable eight-hour time-weighted average concentration is 0.5 fibers/cc and the allowable ceiling concentration is 5 fibers/cc. (The present standard calls for a 2.0 fiber/cc average and 10 fiber/cc ceiling effective on 7-1-75.) 4. Regulated areas must be established where the allowable con centrations are exceeded. a. Only authorized employees may enter area. b. A daily roster of all persons entering the area must be maintained. * c. Respirators and respirator programs are required. d. Employees must be allowed to leave the area to wash their face and clean their respirator. e. No eating, drinking, smoking or chewing is allowed in the area. f. Change rooms are required with separate lockers, showers, etc. 1 g. Employees must be provided daily with clean and dry protective clothing to include coveralls, head covering, gloves and foot covering. - 5. Monitoring is required in all exposure areas. a. Monthly if greater than the allowance exposure. b. Quarterly if within the allowable exposure. c. Can be discontinued if two consecutive samples within a certain time frame are within the allowable levels. d. Not every employee need be monitored. e. Required after every process change. -1- FMSl 06854 (47) 6. Engineering controls are required to reduce the exposure, even if they won't result in asbestos levels within the ^ allowable limits. Periodic exhaust system checks are required. 7. A medical control program with preplacement, annual and termination exams is required. a. X-rays, pulmonary function tests, sputum cytology and medical history are included. _ b. There are provisions made for an employee's refusal -to take the examination. 8. A compliance program must be developed and made available, on request, to OSHA. The program must be revised and updated every six months. 9. Employees whom the doctor says cannot function normally while using a respirator shall be, to the maximum extent possible: a. Rotated to another job. b. Given the opportunity to transfer to another job, subject to the following requirements: i. Duties he can perform. ii. Same employer. iii. Same geographical area. iv. Same seniority, status and rate of pay. 10. Danger signs and labels, housekeeping and waste disposal provisions are included. 11. Extensive recordkeeping requirements are included with respect to asbestos monitoring and medical examinations. Monitoring records must be made available to employees upon request. Medi cal records must be made available to employees' doctors upon request. All records must be made available to OSHA upon re- j quest. Records must be maintained for 40 years or an employee's employment interval plus 20 years, whichever is longer. 12. Employee training programs, both preplacement and annual, are required. The programs are to include the how and why of operating procedures, medical examinations, etc. Employees are to have access to the asbestos standard and training materials. -2- FMSI 06855 (48) Draft Recommended Procudures For Brake and Clutch Servicing Because studies have indicated that exposure to excessive amounts of asbestos dust may be a potential health hazard, OSHA has set maximum limits on levels of airborne asbestos dust to which workers may be exposed. Since most automotive friction . materials normally contain a sizeable amount ot asbestos, it is important that people who handle brake linings and clutch facings understand the nature of the problem and know the precautions to be taken. i. 1. Areas where brake and clutch work are done should be set aside if possible, and entrances should be posted with an asbestos exposure sign as follows: Asbestos Dust Hazard Avoid Breathing Dust Wear Assigned Protective Equipment Do Not Remain in Area Unless Your Work Requires It Breathing Asbestos Dust May Cause Asbestosis and Cancer , ' 2.'The amoqnt of asbestos in the dust from brake lining wear is normally at an extremely low level because of chemical breakdown during use, and if machining of friction material does not take place, simple procedures will minimuze exposure. During brake servicing, the mechanic should wear an air purifying respirator, either a throwaway or one with replaceable particulate filter(s), as approved by the mining Enforcement and Safety Administration or NIOSH. It should be worn during all procedures starting with the removal of the wheels and including reassembly. When servicing a manual clutch such a respirator should be worn during removal and cleaning of the clutch, pressure plate and housing assembly and during installation of the new clutch assembly. FMSl 06856 2. 3. During disassembly, all parts should be carefully placed on the floor to minimize the possibility of creating airborne dust. Dust should first be cleaned from brake drums, brake backing plates, brake assemblies and clutch assemblies using an industrial type vacuum cleaner equipped with a high efficiency filter system. After vacuum cleaning, any remaining dust should be removed by using a rag soaked in water and wrung until nearly dry. Under no circumstances should compressed air or dry brushing be used for cleaning. i;. Of extreme importance are the precautions which must be taken during machining of friction material. This is the operation in brake servicing when exposure to asbestos dust is at its highest. In addition to the approved respirator, there must be local exhaust ventilation such that the worker exposures are maintained at least below the 1976 OSHA asbestos standards. If there is any ^ question as to the efficiency of asbestos dust removal by the machine, the < ^manufacturer should be contacted. 5. Industrial vacuum cleaner bags containing asbestos dust and cloths used for wiping brake and clutch assemblies should be sealed in plastic bags and _ labeled with the following warning label printed in letters of sufficient size and contrast to be readily visible and legible: Caution Contains Asbestos Fibers Avoid Breathing Dust Breathing Asbestos Dust May Cause Asbestosis and Cancer . > _ All asbestos waste should be disposed of in accordance with the OSHA asbestos regulation. During removal of vacuum bags, an Approved respirator, as described in (2) above should be worn. '' FMSI 06857 3. 6. All floor cleaning in areas where "brakes ana clutches are repaired should "be done with the high efficiency industrial vacuum cleaner as described in (3) above. Under no circumstances should sweeping take place. Grinding (arcing) machines should also be cleaned with such a vacuum cleaner and any remaining dust wiped with a damp cloth. An approved respirator, as described previously should be used during this cleaning. 7. Although adherence to the above procedures should minimize any contamination of work clothing, it is necessary that the appropriate sections of the OSHA regulations on asbestos be followed when ceiling levels on asbestos dust exceed current standards. This could involve special clothing, change rooms, etc. At the very least the work clothes should not be taken home but should remain at work for industrial laundering. 8. Proper hygiene practices will help minimize exposure to asbestos dust. Wash thoroughly before eating and do not eat in the work area. Remember, smoking is harmful to the health, and smoking coupled with breathing asbestos dust is extremely dangerous. x' CAUTION DO NOT BREATHE ASBESTOS DUST v- \ FMSI 06858