Document NEDnV16MwgenmDm0m4BkwGy3b

'M ^ .. \* * j",v :-,vr i1^ - ,f,.~y .1 'J .. . ^ ->'r? w- < - - - ;/-<**v* \\w -1 v*<y. -v *: ;.. :: -V ./. v'-'^ ., <:* K\.. . ,.. . . ... - .. --v.i.'/, ,JV . V- ' -i .* *, : r^ fc'- ->/5rV; 'j ^ r'"i * ' ' 4',' i . -*;, V -- -X>. >* .;-.i .- * ' ** * ^ * *" 1 - * ;CV *f ^ "J * V v ' '.y. f.?.^J-'ZEu.V. . . ' . :> ' ^ -`A` <5 *?'. .* j' f i. ^ - JV7 \ * /v>-' DPMC-00134 June 1981 Shell Safety Committee LAM 006620 Recommendations for the safe handling of asbestos and materials containing asbestos This publication is issued as a revision to "Recommendations for the safe handling of asbestos and materials containing asbestos" (Group Industrial Safety Committee -- April 1970) which it now supersedes. The terms Group and Shell are used in this publication as a matter of convenience to refer to one or more companies of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of companies as the context may require. This document is issued for the use of companies of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group. Copies can only be made available to third parties with the permission of the Shell Safety Com mittee. The copyright in this document is vested in Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V., The Hague, the Netherlands. All rights reserved. Cl* *.11 DPMC-00135 June 1981 ............. LAM 006621 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1. FOREWORD 3 2. INTRODUCTION 3 3. HAZARDS TO HEALTH 3 4. RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 General 4.2 Sources of exposure 4.3 Medical surveillance 4.4 Protective clothing and facilities 4.5 Respiratory protection 4.6 Asbestos operations, indoors 4.7 Asbestos operations, outdoors 4.8 Storage, transport, disposal 5. REFERENCES Appendices 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 9 9 1. Recommendations for acceptable concentrations of asbestos fibre in air 2. Notes on materials containing asbestos 3. Examples of substitutes for packing and insulating materials containing asbes tos 4. Measured concentrations of asbestos fibres in work place air during various operations DPMC-00136 LAM 006622 3 1. FOREWORD These recommendations are intended as a guide to Group companies on the safe handling of asbestos and materials containing asbestos. They may serve as a basis for the drafting of more detailed rules and regulations, adapted to local conditions and circumstances at the discretion of the company's management. The recom mended precautionary measures should be regarded as minimum requirements. In those countries where statutory regulations concerning the use and handling of asbestos apply, these must of course be observed and should be read in conjunction with the recommendations made in this guide. Additional information concerning the handling of asbestos may be obtained from the publications listed at the end of this guide. 2. INTRODUCTION The types of asbestos fibres most commonly encountered in industry are: 1. Crocidolite (blue asbestos) 2. Chrysotile (white asbestos) 3. Amosite (brown asbestos) The other forms, i.e. tremolite, actinolite and anthopyllite have very little commer cial application. The properties of asbestos which are of practical value are incombustibility, strength and resistance to chemical attack. Crocidolite (blue asbestos) has been largely used in textiles, packings, thermal and acoustic insulation material, and as a filler in plastic components. Chrysotile (white asbestos) has been used chiefly in asbestos cement and other building materials. Amosite (brown asbestos), which has been used least, is sometimes employed in fire resistant boards and insulation material. 3. HAZARDS TO HEALTH That the inhalation of asbestos dust can be hazardous to health was recognised already at the turn of the century with the observation that pulmonary fibrosis, known as asbestosis, followed prolonged occupational exposure. Afterwards an association was shown between asbestosis and bronchial carcinoma, and this was followed some years later by the observation that exposure to asbestos could be followed by the development of a rare form of cancer, mesothelioma, a malignant tumor arising in either the pleura or peritoneum. The risk of developing such a disease depends on both the level and duration of exposure. The disease may develop as many as 20 to 30 years after exposure has ceased. Overall, exposure to crocidolite (blue asbestos) is considered most dangerous, followed by amosite and chrysotile in this order. The difference in hazard is most likely due to the difference in physical properties, i.e. diameter, length and toughness of the asbestos fibres DPMC-00137 LAM 006623 4 4. RECOMMENDATIONS In this context "asbestos" refers to raw material -- both virgin and waste -- and also to all other materials containing it. 4.1 4.1.1 4.1.2 4.1.3 4.1.4 4.1.5 4.1.6 4.1.7 GENERAL The use of asbestos should be prevented as far as reasonably practicable. Asbestos that may give rise to fibrous dust should only be permitted where its use is essential and other safer alternative materials are not available. In no circumstances should crocidolite (blue asbestos) be introduced or speci fied for use in new or existing operations. Other forms of asbestos should only be permitted after full consideration of substitute materials (see Appendices 2 and 3). In the event that the use of asbestos material is regarded as unavoidable and essential, the material should be clearly marked "ASBESTOS" as a warning to users and to maintenance and demolition personnel. The presence of existing asbestos insulation in buildings and plant is not in itself regarded as a significant risk. Consequently a general policy to remove asbestos without regard to other factors is not considered appropriate. Present evidence suggests that dangers inside buildings arise if asbestos fibres are released when the material is damaged, either accidentally or during mainte nance or repair. The risk generated by removal is likely to be much greater than leaving it in place in encapsulated state. Decisions to remove asbestos should, therefore, be preceded by an assessment of the existing risk, the life of the existing material, its condition and the impact of the removal of isolated sections or of complete removal, taking into account the degree of contamina tion of the work area and surroundings and the extent and feasibility of the final decontamination procedure. All persons handling asbestos should be informed of the hazards and should be fully trained in safe personal and plant hygiene practices. For activities and circumstances where exposure to fibrous asbestos dust may be expected please refer to section 4.2 below: "Sources of Exposure". Each company and location where asbestos materials are or may be handled should have regulations specifying safe methods of application, removal and disposal. These regulations should include provisions to ensure the safety of others working nearby and details of personal protection and hygiene measures to be adopted. A copy of the regulations should be given to each employee engaged in such work and discussed with them by their supervisor. A Register should be kept of all personnel handling asbestos, or those who are known to have handled asbestos regularly in the past (e.g. laggers) or who have had any exposure to crocidolite. This Register should contain the names of such personnel, length of exposure and details of personal precautions used. LAM 006624 DPMC-00138 5 The initiation and maintenance of the Register should be the responsibility of Management, who may delegate the responsibility to a designated person. The Safety Officer and Company's Medical Adviser should regularly inspect the Register and advise as necessary. 4.1.8 Where Contractor employees are engaged in asbestos work on Company prem ises, they should observe both statutory and Company Regulations. This should be stated as a condition in the contract. Although the ultimate responsibility for the health of the Contractor's employ ees rests with the Contractor, the Operating Company's management should ensure that the Contractor fulfills his obligation. In case the Contractor does not do so, he should be advised in writing of a breach of contract. Reference is made here to `Contractor Safety" (Shell Safety Committee -- March 1980). 4.1.9 Exposure to all forms of asbestos should be kept to the lowest practicable level and in no event exceed the concentrations which are specified in Appendix 1 or in relevant statutory regulations if these are more exacting. 4.1.10 Where air sampling is required to determine the level of exposure of personnel to fibrous asbestos dust, the membrane filter/personal sampler method should be used under the supervision of a trained person. Fibres should be counted by the phase contrast optical microscopy technique. For details of these tech niques see references 7 and 8. 4.2 4.2.1 4.2.2 4.2.3 SOURCES OF EXPOSURE Exposure to fibrous asbestos dust may be expected to a greater or lesser extent in the following areas, activities and circumstances. Spraying of asbestos fibres The application of asbestos fibres by spraying has been shown to be highly hazardous and therefore should not be permitted. De-lagging Exposure to fibrous asbestos dust above the prescribed limits may arise during the removal of dry dusty asbestos insulation material which still may contain crocidolite (blue asbestos), crysotile (white asbestos) or amosite (brown asbes tos), or a mixture, depending on age and manufacture. Machining Exposure to fibrous asbestos dust in excess of the recommended concentra tions may arise from the cutting, breaking or machining of dry dusty materials sucli as asbestos board or cement, particularly where high speed tools are used. DPMC-00139 LAM 006625 6 4.2.4 Waste Unacceptable exposure may arise from dry asbestos waste, through direct handling, from contaminated work room surfaces or from contaminated protective clothing. No appreciable exposure may be expected from the cutting or machining of asbestos-containing materials, such as gaskets. For further information on materials containing asbestos see Appendix 2. Examples of some typical exposure levels for various operations are given in Appendix 4. 4.3 MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE All persons previously or currently engaged in work which may give rise to exposure to fibrous asbestos dust should be submitted to a periodical medical surveillance at the discretion of the Company Medical Adviser. Those persons who will be engaged regularly in such work should undergo a medical exam ination prior to being assigned to such work. The contents of both the pre-employment and periodical medical examinations should be determined by the Company Medical Adviser, depending on the duration and regularity of the work and the expected and measured levels of exposure, (see section 4.2 above: "Sources of exposure"). If the persons concerned do not agree to these medical examinations they should not be permitted to work with asbestos. 4.4 4.4.1 4.4.2 4.4.3 PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND FACILITIES Overalls and headgear, close-fitting at the neck, ankles and wrists, should be worn at all times when working with asbestos. This clothing may be made of closely woven terylene/cotton mixture. Alternatively, plastic overalls, which can be washed down before removal or impermeable disposable types may be used. A special decontamination room or portable unit adjoining an existing locker/ washroom should be provided for the exclusive use of persons working with asbestos. This decontamination room/unit should contain its own W.C., urinal, showers, washing facilities, water point, vacuum cleaner and individual lockers exclusive ly for the protective equipment and clothing used by asbestos workers. Before contaminated work clothing and footwear is taken off it should be vacuum cleaned using a fine filtration apparatus and then stored in the "dirty" lockers provided. Collected dust should be disposed of as described in section 4.8 below: "Storage, transport, disposal". When sent for laundering clothing must be clearly marked "ASBESTOS CONTAMINATED - WET BEFORE HANDLING". Under no circumstances should contaminated clothing or underclothing or footwear be taken home. LAM 006626 DPMC-00140 7 4.4.4 4.4.5 The decontamination room should be kept clean and orderly at all times and during an asbestos handling operation it should be washed down at frequent intervals. Smoking, eating or drinking should not be permitted while working with asbestos, or in areas where asbestos is handled or manipulated, or until after decontamination. Before meals and at the end of the working day, workers should remove, clean and store protective clothing in the appropriate locker and take a shower. 4.5 4.5.1 4.5.2 RESPIRATORY PROTECTION When airborne asbestos fibres are likely to be released into the breathing zone in concentrations in excess of those given in Appendix 1, effective respiratory protection can be provided by use of the following types of equipment. Brea thing apparatus Fresh air hose with blower breathing apparatus (Bloman) Compressed air line breathing apparatus Self-contained breathing apparatus, open circuit compressed air type MESC. No. 96.58.20.110.1 96.58.20.178.1 96.58.20.150.1 These have a nominal protection factor of 2000 when used correctly. The term "nominal protection factor" is derived from a maximum allowed inward leakage of breathing protection equipment and is defined as the ratio of the concentration of contaminant present in the ambient atmosphere to the calculated concentration within the face piece at the maximum allowed inward leakage, when the breathing apparatus is being worn. Other types of respiratory protection equipment have lower protection factors but may be used where the above mentioned breathing apparatus is not avail able or unsuitable for a particular type of work. Positive pressure compressed air supplied hood Full-face filter respirator Half-face filter respirator Protection Factor 1000 20- 50 7 - 10 MESC. No. 96.58.10.125.1 96.58.20.516.1 96.58.20.533.1 The last two types depend on a filter to remove airborne fibres, and are nega tive pressure filter respirators. Their effectiveness depends greatly on the efficiency of the facial seal, as the pressure within the face piece falls below atmospheric pressure during inhalation. In general it can be stated that the effectiveness of respiratory protection depends on the proper use of the equipment and therefore it is essential that users are carefully trained and instructed and undergo regular re-training. LAM 006627 DPMC-00141 8 Respirators require careful supervision and maintenance, with regular changing of pre-filters and filters according to the manufacturer's instructions. Respiratory protections should be issued and fitted on a personal basis and should be cleaned and serviced regularly. Only respirators which have official approval should be used. Negative pressure filter respirators depend largely upon the tight fit of the face piece and therefore may be uncomfortable when used. Compressed air line and self-contained breathing apparatus can be comfortably used for extended periods. For more information on respiratory protection please refer to the "Personal Protection Equipment Guide" (Shell Safety Committee -- January 1980). 4.6 4.6.1 4.6.2 4.6.3 4.6.4 4.6.5 4.6.6 ASBESTOS OPERATIONS, INDOORS Should it be necessary to carry out regular work or prolonged operations involving asbestos within a building, the following arrangements should be made. The area concerned should be designated an asbestos area and be suitably segregated and sign-posted. Exhaust ventilation with fine filtration, preferably down to 0.5 pm particle size, should be installed at all operational points where asbestos dust may be involved. The collected dust should be disposed of as described in section 4.8 -- "Storage, transport, disposal". Where possible the exhaust gases should be discharged away from occupied areas, e.g. by remote venting. The purpose of exhaust ventilation is not only to protect the operators from exposure to asbestos dust but also to reduce the contamination of the work place. The asbestos area should be designed or modified to eliminate structures and equipment which might collect dust or waste. All surfaces should be imper vious as far as this is practicable. In particular, the floor should be impervious or plastic-sheet lined, kept damp at all times and periodically washed down. A water point should be available for this purpose. Non-asbestos workers should be excluded from an asbestos area. Extraction ventilation systems should be fitted with filters to remove asbestos dust before emission of extracted air. The air vented from these systems must not be recirculated into any workroom. The extraction and make-up air systems should be tested regularly by a trained person and the performance recorded in a log book. DPMC-00142 LAM 006628 9 4.7 4.7.1 4.7.2 4.7.3 4.7.4 ASBESTOS OPERATIONS, OUTDOORS Where asbestos handling or manipulation is infrequent and outdoors, e.g. de-lagging operations, the following arrangements should be made. The work area should be isolated to prevent the spread of contamination to other areas and persons, by the use of warning notices, suspended plastic sheeting, ground sheeting and barriers. Preferably the work should be carried out in the "still hours". Non-asbestos workers should be excluded from the area. Persons who are temporarily required to enter or approach the area should wear the stipulated protective clothing and respiratory protection. Extraction ventilation should be used whenever feasible and operated as indicated in section 4.6. Wherever possible all operations should be carried out "wet". 4.8 4.8.1 4.8.2 4.8.3 4.8.4 STORAGE, TRANSPORT, DISPOSAL Where applicable, all storage, handling, transport and disposal activities should comply with existing local or national statutory requirements. Each package of asbestos should be separately labelled "DANGER -- ASBESTOS - DO NOT INHALE DUST - HANDLE WITH CARE". It should be trans ported sealed in plastic bags or sheeting. At the end of the work the area, including contaminated plant structures, should be vacuum cleaned using a fine filtration method (preferably down to 0.5 pm particle size) to contain the collected dust, and then, if feasible, washed down. All waste should be dampened and enclosed in plastic bags. These should be sealed, labelled "DANGER - ASBESTOS - HANDLE WITH CARE - DO NOT OPEN" and disposed of by deep burial at a clearly marked place or by Local Authorities advised on the dangers of such wastes. 5. REFERENCES 1. "Recommendations for Handling Asbestos" -- E.E.U.A. Handbook No. 33, Engineering Equipment Users Association, 20 Grosvenor Place, London SW1. 2. "Asbestos -- Safety and Control" -- Asbestos Information Committee, 10 Wardour Street, London WIV 3HG. 3. "Recommended Code of Practice for handling and disposal of asbestos waste materials" -- The Asbestos Research Council, 114 Park Street, London WlY 4AR DPMC-00143 LAM 006629 10 4. "BS4275. 1974 -- Recommendations for the selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment" -- British Standards Institution, 2 Park Street, London W1A 2BS. 5. "Final Report of the Advisory Committee on Asbestos" (1979) -- Her Majesty's Stationery Office. London. 6. "Asbestos. Work on Thermal and Acoustic Insulation and Sprayed Coatings" -- Health and Safety Commission, HMSO, London. 7. "Monitoring of Asbestos in Air" -- Health and Safety Commission, HMSO, London. 8. "Reference method for the determination of airborne asbestos fibre concentra tions at workplaces by light microscopy (membrane filter method) RTM-1" -- Asbestos International Association, 68 Gloucester Place, London W1H 3HL. 9. Personal Protection Equipment Guide -- Shell Safety Committee -- January 1980. DFMC-00144 LAM 006630 APPENDIX 1 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACCEPTABLE CONCENTRATIONS OF ASBESTOS FIBRE IN AIR Asbestos fibre-in-air concentrations are expressed in terms of fibres per ml and fibre type (i.e. chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite). Acceptable concentrations, shown in the following table, are based upon 4 hour samples collected in the breathing zone using the membrane filter method (see ref. 7 and 8). Fibre Type Fibre Concentrations fibres per ml Chrysotile Amosite Crocidolite 1 0.5 0.2 Criteria for an asbestos fibre: length greater than 5 pm, and diameter less than 3 pm, and length to diameter ratio greater than 3:1 These recommendations correspond with those of the Advisory Committee on Asbestos (UK) (1979) and are in line with the proposed Directive of the Council of the European Communities on the protection of workers from risk related to exposure to asbestos (26 September 1980). DPMC-00145 LAM 006631 APPENDIX 2 NOTES ON MATERIALS CONTAINING ASBESTOS The following comments cover items containing asbestos in common use in the petroleum industry. Where substitute materials are available every effort should be made to adopt them. Discarded stocks of materials containing asbestos should be disposed of as recommended in Section 4.8 of the main text. 1. Asbestos Gloves. Permitted for occasional use only; suitable alternatives are alumi- nised glass fibre gloves, leather gloves, or tongs. 2. Asbestos Blankets. Suitable alternatives are mineral wool or glass fibre blankets. 3. Fire Suits. Suitable alternatives are aluminised fibre glass suits, although aluminised asbestos suits are also acceptable. The old style asbestos (uncovered) suits should be replaced as soon as practicable. 4. Asbestos/cement products (e.g. roof sheeting, drain pipes etc.). These are acceptable provided water or masks are used during manipulation causing dust e.g. cutting, drilling etc. (see Appendix 4). 5. Filter mats and gauzes. These cause little hazard from dust. Alternatives to gauze are open mesh metal gauzes or ceramic fibre equivalents. 6. Asbestos packing and insulating materials. Alternatives are ceramic and other asbestos-free materials which should be used wherever technologically acceptable (see Appendix 3). 7. Gooch crucibles. There is no hazard if dry asbestos is handled within a fume cup board. 8. Gaskets and pre-formed packings. The hazard is minimal, (see Appendix 4). 9. Asbestos rope and string. Suitable alternatives are ceramic fibre materials, (see Appendix 3). DPMC-00146 LAM 006632 APPENDIX 3 EXAMPLES OF SUBSTITUTES FOR PACKING AND INSULATING MATERIALS CONTAINING ASBESTOS MATERIAL SUBSTITUTE MESC Jointing Asbestos Millboard Asbestos Cloth Ceramic Fibre Paper Ceramic Fibre Board Glass Fibre Cloth Ceramic Fibre Cloth 85.22.20.006/394 85.22.20.012/013 *85.29. 85.22.10.005.1 Insulating Blocks Magnesia Asbestos Mineral Wool Blocks Glass Wool Slabs Ceramic Fibre Blocks 85.62.08.010/060 *85.62. 85.62.81.013/050 Insulation Pipe Sections Magnesia Asbestos Mineral Wool Pipe Sections Glass Wool 85.64.08.063/269 *85.64. Insulation Cement Magnesia Vermiculite Ceramic Fibre Cement 77.22.30.205/210 77.22.30.005/010 Insulation, Rope and Wrapping White Asbestos Glass Fibre Rope Ceramic Fibre Rope *85.70.12. 85.70.08.004/016 Examples of some "Ceramic Fibre" products are: "Fiberfax" "Kaowool" "Cerafelt" "Triton Kaowool" -- The Carborundum Co., U.S.A. The Carborundum Co., U.K. - Babcock and Wilcox Co., U.S.A. -- Johns Manville, U.S.A. -- Morganite Ceramic Fibre Ltd., U.K. For additional and more detailed information on available substitutes for asbestos contact Group Materials, SIPM, MAC/4. * No complete code number available DPMC-00147 LAM 006633 APPENDIX 4 MEASURED CONCENTRATIONS OF ASBESTOS FIBRES IN WORK PLACE AIR DURING VARIOUS OPERATIONS Because of the variability in work situations and in the conditions of use and friability of asbestos material, it is not possible to give firm figures for dust levels. Some indications of the sorts of levels that could be expected in typical operations are shown in the follow ing table. OPERATION Sprayed asbestos -- spraying -- stripping and removal dry water sprayed after thorough soaking Stripping and removal of asbestos lagging dry dusty soaked Asbestos cement products drilling -- indoors outdoors sawing -- circular saw/disc dry wet -- water flow hand sawing jig sawing with local exhaust ventilation Handling compressed asbestos fibre products gaskets preformed packing Use of asbestos gloves Fire fighting aluminised asbestos lined suits ASBESTOS FIBRES (fibres per ml) up to 1000 20- 100 less than 40 less than 5 5-50 less than 5 1- 5 less than 2 5-35 less than 2 2-10 less than 0.5 less than 0.1 less than 0.1 less than 0.5 less than 1 DPMC-00148 LAM 006634 SHELL SAFETY COMMITTEE PUBLICATIONS Including publications issued by the former Group Industrial Safety Committee which are still available. Fire-fighting at tanker terminals (1969) * Safety Certificates and Work Permits (1969) Hand tools and sparking hazards (1969) * Recommendations for protection against ionising radiation hazards (1971) * Noise Guide (1972) * Noise standards and recommendations on hearing conservation (1972) (Extracts from the "Noise Guide" for general guidance to Operating Companies on hearing conservation in relation to noise control) Electrical Safety (1973) Safety incentive schemes (1974) Gas-freeing and cleaning of oil storage tanks (1975) Safety policy statements (1975) Static electricity (1976) Welding and Cutting (1976) Seat belts (1976) The Secondary Use of Containers (1978) Guide for reporting accidents and injury data (1979) Asphyxiation -- The hidden danger (1979) Personal Protection Equipment Guide (1980) Contractor Safety (1980) Safe Handling of Asbestos (1981) SHELL PRODUCT SAFETY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH COMMITTEE PUBLICATION Safe Handling of Benzene (revised March 1980) * Under revision DPMC-00149 June 1981 LAM 006635