Document LKrVv8arndb05oqX8zK6vZVQq

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 0 ALCOA ARD 003793 Federal Register / Vol. 48. No. 215 / Friday. November 4. 1963 / Rules and Regulations 51139 respirators, and to assure that all such employees participate in the program and are informed of specified categories 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 asbestos 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 most 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 most 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 most importaniy, 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 f/ 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 exposure1, the relationship between asbestos and smoking in producing lung cancer; the operations exposing employees to asbestos fibers and necessary protective steps 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 respirators are multiples of the reduced PEL of (L5 f/cc. rather than multiples of the previous 2 f/ cc permissible limit. For example, approved air purifying respirators 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 respirators 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 0 f/ cc is 50 f/cc. Previously, employers could have used such respirators at concentrations up to 200 f/cc. It is likely 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. 6. Paragraph (k)(6). Warning signs during the ETS. The ETS requires that legible signs warning of the health hazards of asbestos be displayed at locations where airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers 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, views and arguments with respect to the revisions to the asbestos standard made by the ETS. These comments must be postmarked on or before January 3,1984 and sent to the Docket Officer, Docket No. H-033C, Occupational Safety & 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 submissions will be made a part of the record of the proceeding. List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 1910 - Occupational safety and health. Asbestos. Health. Emergency temporary standard. Cancer. Authority and Signature This document was prepared under the direction of Thorne 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 8(g) of the Act 29 CER 1910.1001 ia amended by adding a new paragraph (k) as set forth below. (See*. 6(b). 6(c). 8(c) and 6(g) Pub. L 91-608. 64 SUL 1593,1596,1569.1600; 29 U.&C. 655. 657; Sec. 107. Pub. L 01-64.83 SUL 96 (40 U.S.C. 333) 29 CFR Part 1911: Secretary of Labor's Order No. 9-63 (48 FR 35736)) Signed at Washington, D.C. this 2nd day of November 1983. Thorne G. Auchtar. Assistant SecretaryofLabor. * PART 1910--{AMENDED] Section 1910.1001 of Part 1910 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations Is hereby amended by adding a new paragraph (k) reading as follows: 11910.1001 Asbestos. (k) Emergency temporary standard effective November 4.75183.--(1) Scope. This emergency temporary standard is issued pursuant to section 6(c) of the Act and applies to all workplaces 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 provisions of 11910.1001 remain in effect. (2) Permissible levels ofexposure. The 8-hour time-weighted average airborne concentration of asbestos fibers to which any employee may be exposed shall not exceed one-half (0.5) fiber, longer than 6 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) As soon as possible, but not later than thirty (30) days from the effective date of this emergency temporary standard, the employer ehall institute a training program for all employees exposed to airborne concentrations of asbestos in excess of ARD 003794 51140 Federal Register / Vol. 48. No. 215 / Friday. November 4. 1983 / Rules and Regulations 0.5 f/cc. without regard to the use of respirators and shall 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) Respiratoryprotection during the ETS. Notwithstanding any other requirement of this section, where respirators are used to achieve the permissible exposure limit of (15 f/cc (hey shall be selected according to Table 1. . (6) 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 <X5 f/cc. :. -TABLE 1 Respiratory Protection For Airborne Concentrations of Asbestos , Airborne Concentration of Asbestos (THAI Not in excess of 5. f/cc (10 X PEL) Not in excess of 50 f/cc tlOO X Pa) fireater than 50 f/cc Required Respirator^ Reusable or single use air' Purifying respirator. Full facepiece air purifying respirator, or a powered air purifying res pirator A type aCa continuous flow or pressure deeand, supplied air respirator. 1 Respirators specified for high concentrations nay be used at lower concentrations.of asbestos. (Secs. 6(b). 6(c). 8(c) and 8(g). Pub. L. 91-686. 84 SUL 1593,1588.1599.160ft 29 U.S.C. 655, 657; Sec. 107. Pub. L 91-54.83 SUL 98 (40 UiG. 333); 29 CFR Part 1911,SecreUry of Labor'! Order No. 9-83 (48 PR 35736)) - (TR Doc. 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