Document OEj0eg3DdLo9yJnvvda1dkn8w

ic Plant Managers Area Managers of Operations Staff Heads !*,(: Revised Mon Valley Works Guideline for the Handling and Removal of Asbestos Bearing Materials. United Intanrjanlzatian Carrtipandaait* MB April 9, T984 Fine S. A. Bennett. Jr. General Manager Mon Valley Works The attached revised guideline must be Implemented to Insure continued compliance Kith existing asbestos regulations and to protect employees against the hazards of exposure to asbestos. This supersedes the Mon Valley Guideline dated August 24, 1983. Questions regarding the Guideline should be addressed to J. R. Oierdorf, General Supervisor-Industrial Hygiene (Homestead-Ext. 2945). Attachment cc: E. E. Harris E. M. Gorden K. F. Kuhns, M.O. J. R. Oierdorf Safety l Environmental Health Staff GUIDELINES FOR THE REMOVAL AND HANDLING OF ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS________ INDEX Introduction Notification for Exposure Monitoring Notifies'Ion for Reporting Initial `eterminatlon Safe Wor' Practices Disposal Protective Equipment Respirators Protective Clothing Personal Hygiene Restr-ct d Area ir-p1o*f* Training Phys<<> Exams PAGE 1 1 2 2 2 A 5 5 5 6 6 . *6 6 / Page 1 MON VALLEY WORKS Guidelines for the Handling and Removal of _______Asbestos Containing Materials In November 1983, an OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard was promulgated reducing the eight (8) hour exposure limit from 2.0 flbers/cc to 0.5 flbers/cc. As policy in the Mon Valley a permissible exposure limit of 0.5 flbers/cc will be enforced. Asbestos exposure has been associated with a variety of pulmonary abnormalities and diseases Including pleural thickening, asbestosls, lung cancer, mesothelioma and gastrointestinal cancer. The effects of cigarette smoking compound the risk. Teardown and removal of asbestos bearing products has the potential to generate levels of asbestos In excess of permissible exposure limits. Handling of asbestos bearing products such as gaskets, rope, brake shoes, etc. may also cause asbestos exposure. The following guideline must be followed In all handling applications. A. NOTIFICATION FOR EXPOSURE MGNIT0RIN6 The Plant Industrial Hygiene Representative should be notified prior to all asbestos removal and handling jobs in order to arrange for monitoring of employee exposures. Notification must be made In a timely manner before each job begins. Once exposure levels have been determined for a job or occupation and protection procedures have oeen established, further routine monitoring will not be required and management will be so notified. Subsequent to Initial monitoring, only those jobs which present new or different circumstances and hazards will require monitoring. The Plant Industrial Hygienist should be notified to arrange for monitoring. P NOTIFICATION for reporting to corporate industrial r. ^SERVICES All major jobs (i.e., those requiring mere then 2 man-days to complete) which Involve the handling or removal of asbestos materials* and all shipments of asbestos materials to dump sites must be reported to the Corporate Office. Initial reporting of the above Information- should be to the Superintendent Safety and Environmental Health - Mon-Valley Works. The information will then be transmitted to the Corporate Industrial Hygiene Services Organization. C J_NI_T_I_l DETERMINATION Before beginning any job where handling a material suspected'to contain asbestos Is involved* a member of J'^ricenent must either confirm that the material is asbestos free or if uncertain, contact the 0,ant Industrial Hygienist to have a bulk sample analyzed. If the material is determined to contain asbestos, or a determination cannot be made, the precautions outlined below must be followed: s*re work practices The work practices established for handling asbestos are designed to minimize dust generation and exposure to airborne fibers. The Mon-Valley Works Safe Work Practices for handling asbestos are as follows: 1. Prior to handling asbestos material, it should be thoroughly wetted when conditions permit Such application^ T.ie water spray should be controlled to prevent the breakdown of the material, when existing materials are being removed. When Installing new material, the product shall be thoroughly soaked when feasiole, prior to application. Page 3 2. Drop cloths or other suitable means should Fe used to contain both the asbestos material as It Is removed, as well as fibers that may be released during handling and cutting of asbestos bearing products. This will prevent spreading of the material and also facilitate clean up operations. 3. The existing asbestos bearing material should be removed In as large of sections as possible. That Is the amount o? fracturing should be minimized. 4. Where asbestos bearing materials must be cut, hand tools such as chisels or knives are pre ferable to hand saws or power tools. Use of power tools Is strictly prohibited without approval of the Superintendent'of Safety and Environmental Health. 5. Cleanup of asbestos material from the ground, equipment or clothing must be In such a way as to minimize dust generation and material break down. Dry sweeping and blowing with compressed air are strictly prohibited. Vacuum cleaning methods should be used where a hioh efficiency vacuum cleaner Is available. Where a "hiah efficiency vacuus cleaner Is not available, wet methods of sweeping, wiping or shoveling may be used. The Safety and Environmental Health Organization should be consulted to determine if vacuu* cleaners seet high efficiency requirements. 6. All asbestos debris, contaminated disposable clothing, respirator cartridges and drop cloths should be collected and placed In sealed, labeled. Impermeable bags. The bags shall then be placed In a sealable drm which must be labeled with the warning: .i CAUTION CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS AV010 CREATING DUST BREATHING DUST HAY CAUSE BODILY HARM Paje 4 7. Safe Job Procedures should be developed for all existing applications where asbestos bearing materials are handled. Employees shall be contacted annually on the requirements The Safety and Environmental Health Organization is available to assist In insuring all required safe handling procedures are addressed in the Safe Job Procedures. DISPOSAL When the druns are sealed and ready for disposal, the Mon-Valley Environmental Engineering Organization (Ho-estead Extension: 3111) must be notified. They win secure the appropriate aoency permits and will insi <-e that the drirn are disposed of In a properly lie* nsed landfill. Page S F. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT l. Respirators All employees Involved In asbestos removal or dlsmantellng operations, regardless of duration, shall be required to wear NOISH-approved respirators. The type of respirator to be used shall be determined by the exposure level as outlined below. All handl ing of asbestos bearing products other than removal or dismantling shall require the use of respiratory protection only when job exposures have been documented In excess of the OSHA PEL. Required Respirator Air Purifying Dust Respirator (with specific approval for asbestos) Poweed Air Purifying Respirator Type "C* Supplied Air Respirator Exposure Level Not exceeding 10 times the PEL Not exceeding 100 times the PEL Not exceeding 1000 tines the PEL If the asbestos material Is thoroughly wetted, hand tools are used and the operation Is In an area of good ventilation, air purifying respirators should be adequate to reduce employee exposures to below the permissible levels. Before using any respiratory protection, training and fit testing must be provided to Insure proper use, fitting, handling and cleaning of the respirator. Due to the hazardous nature of asbestos. It Is Important to comply wltn the Hon-Vallev Respiratory Protection Program and Facial Hair Policy. 2. Protective Clothing Disposable protective cwveralls shall be worn by employees Involved In all asbestos removal or dlsmantellng jobs greater than one hour In duration, or upon employee request regardless of exposure duration. Coveralls without pockets or cuffs, made of Impermiable material are preferred. Clothing, Including boot covers and hoods, shall be mandatory at all times (regardless of the type of handling performed) when OSHA celling limits are exceeded as determined by Industrial Hygiene surveys. Respirators must be worn until contaminated disposable clothing Is removed after completion of the job. Compressed air should not be used to blow the dust from clothing or tools. Suggested ordering Information for respiratory protection equipment and protective clothing Is attached. Page 6 G. PERSONAL HYGIENE Personal hygiene is important in protection against gastrointestinal exposure to asbestos. Hands, face and forearms must be washed prior to drinking, eating, smoking, etc., in order to prevent transfer of fibers and accidental ingestion. . RESTRICTED AREA All employees whose work does not require occupancy in the area of the asbestos job are prohibited froai entering such areas. Areas should be roped off as a minimum. In some applications, such as Indoor removals, the work area may need to be sealed to prevent exposure of nearby employees and areas. The Plant Industrial Hygienist should be contacted for consultation In these Instances. I. EMPLOYEE TRAINING All employees potentially exposed to airborne asbestos fibers shall receive initial instruction in the hazards and precautions required when handling asbestos~bear1ng products. Initial training Is to be arranged with the Safety and Environmental health Organization, and Is to be recorded on the employee's blue safety recort card. Periodic retraining for those employees frequently handling asbestos bearing product Is to be conducted every six (6) months by the employees' supervisor and Is to Include the information in sections D, E, F, G and H of this document. Retrairing shall be conducted prior to each job for those employees handling asbestos on an Infrequent basis (i.c., less than twice a year). All training shall be recorded on the employee's blue safety record card. Occupations handling asbestos bearing products, which have been demonstrated through Industrial Hygiene monitoring to have negligible asbestos exposure, will be exempted from the training requirements by the Mon Valley Safety and Environmental Health Organization. J. PHYSICAL EXAMS OSHA requires that all employees exposed to airborne asbestos fibers, in excess of 0.1 fibers per cc of air, must be given annual medical examinations, including chest x-rays and pulmonary function tests. Arrangements should be made with the Plant Medical Department to insure proper scheduling Is provided. April 9, 1984 ATTACHMENT I RESPIRATORY PROTECTION FOR ASBESTOS ne Safety Appliance Company - Vendor Stocking Contract No. 89060 A. Respirator body without filter or cartridge: Size Commodity Code Cost Small Medium Large 896-151-1873 896-151-1857 896-155-1085 $ 11.50 11.50 11.50 The following filters and filter covers must be ordered separately from Item A: 1) Type "F" filters - 100 per box, $29.50 per box, connodlty Code: 896-172-2967 2) Type "F" filter covers - $0.80 each, conrodlty . code: 896-172-1704, two required per respirator. B. Respirator with 10 type "F" filters and two covers medium size only. $13.60, commodity code: 896-155-1077