Document G58G2yaGVw4bYDDxMxKxkvkON

FILE NAME: Asbestos Cement Pipe and Sheet (ACPS) DATE: 1977 DOC#: ACPS134 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Recommended Work Practices for A-C Pipe - A-C Pipe Producers Assoc. . 1 4M U-* I R ecom m ended Wfork R ad ices forA /C Pipe Contents Introduction.................................................................................. 2 Asbestos and Health ..........................................................3 Summary of OSHA Asbestos Standard .T ? r ......................4 Products and Operations .................................................... .5 Recommended Work Practices Shipping, Receiving, Handling and Assem bly..................6 Cutting A/C Pipe Carbide Blade Equipment......................................................7 Snap Cutting Equipm ent......................................................8 Machining A/C Pipe Field Lathe--M anual.............................................................. 9 Field Lathe--P o w er.............................................................. 10 Rasp-- Manual.......................................... 11 Cutting Holes in A/C Pipe Shell Drill Cutters and R as .......................................................................... p ........................................................................ 12 13. Chisel and R a s p .................................................................... 14 Tapping A/C Pipe Non-Pressure ........................................................................ 15 Pressure ................................................................................... 16 Coupling Rem oval.................................................................... 17 Housekeeping and Waste D isposal.....................................18 Non-Recommended Work Practice Cutting ^ Abrasive Disc-Dry ................................................................ 19 fI /H'tt*Vyright 1977 by A/C Pipe Producers Association Introduction The Occupational Safety and Health Act in the U n ite d ^ ^ States and similar laws in Canada and other countries were-||||! enacted to ensure so far as possible, every worker a safeand healthy work place. This legislation is far-reaching. It cov-:->! ers millions of employees and nearly every employer, in- eluding those involved in utility duct and pipeline construe- '''I. tion. , ' r In keeping with the spirit and intent of these laws, the f asbestos-cement pipe industry is cooperating with labor by disseminating information regarding the potential hazards of exposure to airborne asbestos and the means of reducing such potential hazards through good work practices. Good work practices is what this booklet is about. The recommendations that appear on the following pages are % the result of field testing and were developed through study,* They are intended as general guides to achieve safe and clean job site conditions when working with asbestos- cement (A1C) pipe products. Since field conditions will vary, adherence to these work practices will not necessarily^ guarantee compliance with national, state or local regula ' tions. Questions relating to compliance should be directed to appropriate regulatory agencies. The A1C Pipe Producers Association believes this booklet will be helpful to engineers, superintendents, contractors, foremen and laying crews in understanding and explaining established procedures for the safe handling of A/C pipe products. 'S e c "Asbestos Exposures During the Cutting and Machining of AsbestosCemenl P ip e/' report prepared by Equitable Environmental Health Inc.,March, 1977 and "N ews from fA C ," reporting on a survey by Ihe Occupational Asbestos and Health you'are'aware, airborne asbestos fiber has been iden- J5!}fil'd as a possible health hazard. Very few things to which iwe'are exposed are "zero risks." But like the automobile, ^'electricity and x-rays, there are non-harmful ways to use potentially harmful things, Generally, asbestos-cement (A1C) pipe products contain less than 20% asbestos. The asbestos fibers are not free, but encapsulated or "locked-in" the cement binder like rein forcing rods in concrete. The distinction between "free" and "bound" asbestos is extremely important. First of all, it determines the probability of fiber release, which in turn, directly relates to the probability of risk. More importantly, it explains clearly and simply why A/C pipe is a nonharmful use of asbestos. Experience has shown that minimizing exposure to air borne asbestos dust is the only effective method of prevent ing asbestos-related diseases. Recommended work prac tices are the best assurance of providing exposure safe^^u ard s for yourself and your employees. i( Summary of OSHA Asbestos Standard The Occupational Safety and Health Act was signed intq'| law on December 29, 1970, and became effective on April ? 28, 1971. On December 7, 1971, the Secretary of Labor,% issued a temporary standard for exposure to asbestos dust. As required by the Act, a permanent standard for asbestos ,J exposure was promulgated six-months later. Under the current standard, it is the employer's respon sibility to assure that exposure of employees to airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers does not exceed the fol lowing "permissible exposure levels": a. Eight hour time weighted average: Two fibers, longer than 5 micrometers, per cubic centimeter. b. Ceiling concentrations: Ten fibers, longer than 5 mi crometers, per cubic centimeter. In October, 1975, OSH A proposed a revision to the cur rent standard which would reduce the eight hour time weighted average exposure to 0.5 fibers per cubic centime ter of air and ceiling concentrations to 5.0 fibers per cubic centimeter. In their notice, OSHA stated that a separate "construction industry standard" would be issued to coviJ| woikers who handle asbestos-containing products. Thilj work practice booklet will be revised as necessary to reflect any changes the construction industry standard may necessitate. The work practices recommended in this booklet are based on data for "peak dust concentrations" representing short time periods of maximum exposure. Field cutting and machining opera tions involving AtC pipe are normally infrequent and of short duration. Using these recommended work practices, it is improba ble that field personnel would be exposed in a typical working day to leveis exceeding the eight hour time weighted average. Products and Operations mA pespf A/C Pipe Products covered by these work practices Jficjude: /^ "C la ss'' Pressure Pipe -/`Transmission" Pressure Pipe Pressure Sewer Pipe - Gravity Sewer Pipe Building Sewer Pipe %'r-ir Storm Drain Pipe Perforated Underdrain Pipe Electrical Conduit Telephone Duct Air Duct Operations to which these work practices Shipping, Receiving and Handling Cutting Machining Hole Cutting Tapping Coupling Removal Housekeeping and Waste Disposal apply include: n r\ Shipping, Receiving, Handling and Assembly . I t X., 1 i t . . ri'- i v Cutting Carbide Blade Equipment ^ 1* / ' J lJlvjA- XJ XJ i)A iJ,4-r;r\.-^- "-i .f' 'tjfil'7 //'{ft L - v v / - - \ v M kvi A * Li, A1C pipe is shipped clean from the factory and carefully loaded using methods acceptable to the carrier. Loading, unloading, stringing out and assembling A/C pipe are essentially dust-free operations. Even in enclosed spaces, airborne asbestos fiber levels from pipe handling operations aie far below existing and proposed occupational standards. All hand and mechanical unloading operations should be car ried out in accordance with the manufacturer's installation man uals. A/C Pipe Products: All Size Range: All 1 A A J `">rhJ^ I : M l:f 1 W'Wi v , ' ' A V, Blade cutlers consist of a frame adjustable to the circumference of the pipe and a number of outboard, self-tracking rollers that align one or more carbide-tipped cutting blades. Blade cutters are typically hand-operated. Due lo Ihe relatively low mechanical input and clean cutting action, significant amounts of airborne asbestos dust are not produced. A/C Pipe Products: All Size Range: 3" through 24" i Snap cutters or "squeeze and pop" equipment operates by means of cutting wheels mounted in a chain wrapped around the pipe barrel.' Hydraulic pressure, applied by means of a remote electric or manually-operated pump, simultaneously squeezes the cut ting wheels into the pipe wall until the cut is made. A1C Pipe Products: All Size Range; Pressure Pipe--3" through 24" Pressure, Giavity and Building Sewer; Storm Drain; Air, Electrical and Telephone Duct--3" through 36" Manual field lathes are designed to end-trim and re-machine rough pipe barrels to factory-machined end profiles. The lathe i consists of an adjustable, self-aligning arbor inserted into the pipe bare (which acts as a mandrel upon which the turning i handle operates), a screw-fed turning frame, carbide machining | blades and manual (hand or ratchet) turning handles. I A1C Pipe Products: All Si2e Range: All Machining Field Lathe-Power . Machining Rasp-Manual* Power field ladies, like manual lathes, are designed to end trim and re-machine rough pipe barrels to factory-machined end pro files. The'lathe consists of an adjustable, self-aligning arbor in serted Into the pipe bore (which acts as a mandrel upon which the turning handle operates), a screw-fed turning frame, carbide machining blades and electric or pneumatic power drive. A/C Pipe Products: All Size Range: All Short lengths of A/C pipe (MEE's & MOA's) can be cut for pipe closures, repairs and to locate fittings exactly. Field cut ends may be rebeveled with a coarse wood rasp to form a taper approximat ing the same profile as the factory-beveled end. A/C Pipe Products: All Si2e Range: All ( Hole Cutting Shell Cutters Hole Cutting Drill and Rasp* For field connections into A/C pipe, dean, even entry cuts may be accomplished by means of sheii cutting equipment. Shell cutters consist of a hole cutter housing mounted on the pipe, a carbide or diamond-tipped hole cutter and a manual ratchet, pneumatic, electric or gasoline drive to power the cutting head. When culling holes in A/C pipe products, all dust and cuttings should be removed Irom the pipe or duct interior after the cutting operation. Removal may be accomplished by flushing with wa ter, wet mopping or vacuuming prior to placing in service. DO NOT BLOW OUT VVIT11 COMPRESSED AiR OR DRV SWEEP. A/C Pipe Products: Pressure, Gravity and Building Sewer; Air Duct Field connections may be made with.a heavy duty electric drill and rasp. Using a carbide-tipped drill, a series of closely-spaced holes are first drilled around the hole outline. The disc is knocked free with a hammer and the edges of the hole are dressed with a coarse wood rasp. When culling holes in A/C pipe products, ail dust and cuttings should be removed from the pipe or duel interior after the cutting operation. Removal may be accomplished by flushing with wa ter, wet mopping or vacuuming prior to placing in service. DO NOT BLOW OUT WITH COMPRESSED AIR(OR DRY SWEEP. A/C Pipe Products: Pressure, Gravity and Building Sewer, Air Duct Size Range: Aii Hole Cutting Chisel and Rasp / jj- : I /// H f" { 'J v i. Tapping Non-Pressure Holes may be cut into A/C pipe with a hammer and chisel. The edge of a plumber's wood chisel is used to cut completely around the hole outline,'about a 'A" from the prescribed line. The opera tion is repeated and the cut deepened until through. The edges of the hole are then dressed with a coarse wood rasp. When cutting holes in A/C pipe products, all dust and cuttings should be removed from the pipe or duct interior after the cutting operation. Removal may be accomplished by flushing with wa ter, wet mopping or vacuuming prior to placing in service. DO NOT BLOW OUT W1T11COMPRESSED AIR OR DRY SWEEP. A/C Pipe Pioducls: Pressine, Gravity and Building Sewer; Size Range- Ail Air Duct Non-pressure or "dry" tapping for service connections may be performed in orabove the trench. The equipment is affixed to the pipe by means of a chain yoke. Separate drills and taps or a combination tool drills and taps the pipe wall. Corporation stops or other connections may then be affixed to the pipe. To minimize (a) Ihe fouling of valves, regulators, meters, etc. with chips and (b) unnecessary addition of asbestos to drinking water, all dust and cuttings should be removed from the pipe interior by flushing with water, wet mopping or vacuuming poor to placing in service. DO NOT BLOW OUT Wi l l i COM PRESSED AIR OR DRY SWEEP. ' ' A/C Pipe Products: Pressure Pipe Size Range: All Ynrismt* tinta not cuirentfv available. UecoivnYiendalUm based on exposure data Tapping Pressure* Coupling Removal Hammer and Chisel* Pressure or "wet" tapping forservice connections is performed in the trench while the pipe is under pressure. The equipment (manual or power driven) is affixed to the pipe by means of a elmin yoke. A combination boring and inserting bar drills and taps the pipe wall and inserts a corporation stop or pipe plug. The pressure chamber, which protects against water leakage, also catches the asbestos-cement chips, so this is essentially a dustfree operation. To minimize (a) the fouling of .valves, regulators, meters, etc. with chips and (b) unnecessary addition of asbestos to drinking water, provisions should be made for downstream, flushing or use of lapping equipment with positive purge or "blow-off" features. A/C Pipe Products: Pressure Pipe Size Range: All . li . .u m ., t?.i,'.*miTipn.I.i! um based un exposure dalf4"^ ) Replacement of damaged pipe necessitates excavation, exposure and removal. Coupling removal may be accomplished by gradu ally splitting the coupling lengthwise, using a chisel andball-peen hammer. After the top of the coupling has been split, a crowbar or similar tool is used as a lever to split the bottom of the coupling. AiC Pipe Products: All pipe with AIC couplings Size Range: All I t (^ Jx p o s u r e data uol currently available Keaimrm.MuJnlkin based oil expos lire data