Document QJGrJd6KyNGBNwO0jV40Yp7bv

Department of Environmental Sciences M. 0. Varner Director Mr. Bruce Klomfas CAPCO, Van Buren December 1, 1983 As you know, on November 4, 1983, OSHA issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) on asbestos which reduces the current 8-hour permissible exposure limit (PEL) from 2 fibers/cc to 0.5 fibers/cc. A copy of this standard is attached for your information. All provisions of the current asbestos standard (1910.1001) remain in effect and the ETS requirements are a modification of or addition to these provisions. These new requirements are as follows: 1. A new PEL of 0.5 fibers/cc as an 8-hour time-weighted average exposure. This replaces the current 8-hour limit of 2 fibers/cc. The current ceiling limit of 10 fibers/cc remains in effect. The new PEL can be achieved by a combination of engineering controls, work practices and respiratory protection. 2. Employee training for all employees potentially exposed to asbestos concentrations above the new PEL. This must be accomplished by December 4, 1983. This training must include the following items: a. Asbestos health effects b. Relationship between asbestos producing lung cancer. and smoking in c. What operations result in asbestos exposure and protective steps to reduce exposure such as engineering controls, work practices, respirators, housekeeping and clothing. d. Proper use and fitting of respirators. e. A review of all provisions of the asbestos standard. Attachment 1 is included for your use in covering items a & b. You will need to cover the information in item c depending on local exposure conditions. Item d should be done in accordance with your existing respirator program. Item e can be addressed by covering the major ASARCO Incorporated 3-522 South 700 West. Salt Lake City. Utah 84119 (801) 262-2459 CAP CO JEN 0012015 provisions of the current asbestos standard (1910.1001). A copy of this standard is in the D.O.E.S. Environmental Manual. 3. The respirator table permits the use of standard reusable half-mask or disposable respirators for exposure up to 10 x PEL, full facepiece, PAPR's or supplied air respirators are required for exposures greater than 10 x PEL. 4. Warning signs are required for exposures greater than the PEL. See the current standard, section (g) for appropriate wording. Through a suit brought by the AIA, this standard has been temporarily stayed. In the interim, the above requirements do not have to be met but, you should be making whatever plans might be necessary for compliance when a ruling by the courts is made. If you need any additional information or assistance in complying with the requirements of the new asbestos standard, please let me know. GEW/lb cc: SGT.pvshock (w/attach.) It Gary E. Walter Senior Environmental Scientist 2 CAP CO JEN 0012016 ATTACHMENT 1 Asbestos Health Affects Asbestos is the common name for a group of mineral silicates, in cluding chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. When separated from natural rock formations, the fluffy fibrous material is processed into many useful pro ducts. Asbestos is used in building products, such as insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, and reinforced cement sheets and pipes, because of its resistance to heat and acids. It also serves as a friction product in brake and clutch linings for automobiles, railroad cars, and industrial machinery. Other uses include fire-proof clothing, and smothering blankets. Asbestos can be a health hazard when fibers too fine to be seen by the human eye become airborne during various industrial processes, e.g., demolition or removal of asbestos insulation, sawing or grinding asbestos boards, and are inhaled or swallowed. These small sharp fibers can work their way into body tissues and remain imbedded. Asbestos-related diseases develop over a long period of time; symptoms may first appear 5-30 years after exposure. Asbestosis is a lung disease, caused by asbestos dust irritating the lining of the lungs so that the lung wall becomes scarred and thickened. Breathing be comes difficult, causing a strain on the heart. Cancer of the lungs and digestive tract has been shown to be associated with asbestos exposure (cancer of the respiratory tract is five times as common in asbestos workers as in a control group with no asbestos exposure). Mesothelioma is a cancer of the chest or abdominal lin ing. It is a rare and incurable form ofcancer, usually fatal within one year of the first symptoms. Although these diseases are known to be associated with exposure to asbestos, researchers are not in agreement as to how much exposure may actually cause the disease. Smoking greatly increases the chances of developing lung cancer in asbestos workers (OSHA indicates that asbestos workers who smoke have almost 55 times greater risk of cancer than a non smoking control group). CAP CO JEN 0012017 Federal Register / Vol. 40. No. 215 / Friday. November 4, 1903 / Rules and Regulations 51139 respirators, and to assure that all such multiples of the reduced PEL of 0.5 f/cc. Authority and Signature employees participate in the program and arc informed or specified categories of information. OSHA considers this provision to be "necessary" within the meaning of section C(c) of the Act. to reduce the grave danger faced by asbestos exposed employee. 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 tin effective work practices. Without training in applying these work rather than multiples of the previous 2 f/ cc permissible limit. For examp'e. 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 0.5 f/ cc is 50 f/cc. Previously, employers could have used such respirators at concentrations up to 200 f/cc. ' It is Kkely that the main impact of the reduced PEL on respirator choice will bo in operations and industries where This document was prepared undin the direction of Thome G. Auchter. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and I tealth. U.S. Department of Labor. 200 Constitution Avenue, NW. Washington. DC 20210. Pursuant to Sections 0(b). 0(c). 8(c) and 8(g) or the Act. 29 CFR 1910.1001 is amended by adding a new paragraph (k) as set forth below. (Ser.s.C(b). 6(c). 8(c) and 8(g). Pet). L. 91-590. 84 Slat. 1593.1590.1599.1800:29 U.S.C. 65.r>. 657: See. 107, Pub. 1- 91-54. 03 Slot. 95 (40 U.S.C.J33): 29 CKR Part 1911; Secietarv of Labor's Order No. 9-83 (481:R 35730)) Signed at Washington. D.C.. this 2nd day of November 1983. Thorne G. Auchler, Assistant Secretary ofLabur. practices, employee protection would be exposure levels are between 5 f/cc and PART 1910--(AMENDED) inadequate. Where the employee plays a 20 f/cc. Formerly, employees exposed in more passive role in his protection such this range could use half-mask air Section 1910.1001 of Part 1910 of Title as where engineering controls are relied purifying respirators: now they must be 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations is on, training is also essential, because protected by a powered air purifying hereby amended by adding a new the employee must know the sources or respirator or a full facepiece respirator, paragraph (k) reading as follows: workplace asbestos contamination, and or they may use a supplied air the health hazards of asbestos exposure, respirator. 1910.1001 Asbestos. 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 ponlrol. instruction about housekeeping methods, for example, frequent vacuuming, is essential. Perhaps most importanly. 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 die effectiveness of respirator protection. Accordingly this requirement applies where airborne concentrations arc reasonably expected to exceed 0.5 f/ 6. Paragraph (h)(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 PEI- XL Public Participation (k) Emergency temporary standard effective November 4,19S3.--(1) Scope. This emergency temporary standard is issued pursuant to section G(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 19101001 remain in effect. (2) Permissible levels ofexposure. The 8-hour time-weighted average airborne concentration of asbestos fibers to which any employee may be cc. even if employees use respirators to reduce breathing zone concentrations and thereby comply with the KTS. As set forth in paragraph (k)(4) the employer must inform the employee of f (lie health effects of asbestos exposure: ! 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 exposed shall not exceed one-half (0.5) fiber, longer than S micrometers, per cubic centimeter of air, as determined - by the method prescribed in paragraph (e) of this section. (3) Methods ofcompliance with the the relationship between asbestos and 1 and sent to the Docket Officer, Docket smoking in producing lung cancer; the ! No. H-033C. Occupational Safety & emergency temporary stondord. Notwithstanding any other requirements operations exposing employees to -Health Administration. U.S. Department of this section, compliance with the asbestos fibers and necessary protective of Labor. 200 Constitution Avenue. NW,, reduced exposure limit of 0.5 f/cc shall steps to minimize exposure: the purpose, Room S-6212. Washington. D.C- 20210. be achieved by any feasible proper use. fitting instructions and limitations of respirators, and the conrents of all the provisions of the The data, views and arguments that combination of engineering controls, are submitted will be available for work practices, and personal protective public inspection and copying at the equipment and devices. Asbestos Standard at 1910.1001. above address. All timely written (4) Employee information and 5. Parogroph (h)(5) Respiratory submissions will be made a part of the. training.--(i) As soon as possible, but protection during the ETS. The KTS record of the proceeding. not later than thirty (30) days from the adds a new paragraph {k](5J which includes a table which ties respirator List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 1910 effective date of this emergency temporary standard, the employer shall srJection to the 0.5 f/cc I'EL. Under the Occupational safety and health. institute a training program for all KTS. thu concentration cut-offs for Asbestos. Health. Emergency temporary employees exposed to airborne various kinds of respirators arc standard. Cancer. concentrations of asbestos in excess of CAP CO JEN 0012018 51140 - Federal Register /.Vo). 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 daring the ETS. Notwithstanding any other requirement of this section, where respirators are used to achieve the permissible exposure limit of 0.5 f/cc `they 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 e cceed 0.5 f/cc. TABLE t Respiratory Protection For Airborne Concentrations of Asbestos . Airborne 'Concentration of Asbestos (TWA) Hot in excess of 5 f/cc.. {10 X PEL) hot in excess of 50 f/cc vlOOXPEL) Greater 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 "C* continuous flow or pressure demand, supplied air respirator* ' ^ Respirators specified for high concentrations may be used at lower concentrations of asbestos. (Secs. 6(b). 6(c). 8(c) and 8(3). Pub. L. 91-596. 84 Stat. 1593,1596.1599.1000:29 U.S.C. 655. 657; Sec. 107. Pub. 1.91-54.83 Stat. 96 (40 U.S.C. 333): 29 CFR Pari 1911, Secretary of Labor's Order No. 9-83 (48 FR 35736)) p'R Doc. SMCOT Filed ll-'-Eh 1-45 pm| BILLING CODE 4510-2(44 luukj i ir.giicftrorer3rgi: CAP CO JEN 0012019