Document QMEQ1v47x7zrjZjwwqYoQmrjE
FRICTION MATERIALS STANDARDS INSTITUTE, INC. E-210 ROUTE H
N.J. 07652
BULLETIN
NO. 613
October 31, 1977
California Department of Heallth--Reporting of
. Asbestos Use by Brake Repair Facilities
The California Department of Health issued an open letter to Motor Vehicle and brake repair facilities in August 1977 concerning their reporting on the use of asbestos. The notice headlined such items as reporting use of asbestos, penalties, the procedure for reporting, the regulation with items on inspection and disposal of waste.
As this open letter was addressed to motor vehicle and brake repair facilities it is intended specifically for those who do any work, on brake linings and clutch facings, and this includes procedures such a3 blowing out brake dust, grinding, sanding, drilling or chamfering of brake linings or clutch facings. A copy of this letter is sent to you so that you may alert your customers in the California market if they have not already been advised.
E..W. Drislane Executive Director
CC: Active Members (list C) Regional Members with U.S. Copyright
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SlAlt U< CAl iFORNfA HfAUM AMO W(UA*t ACtNf.r
department of health
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Ext.306
EOMUNO C. SROWN IS..
August 1977
AN OPEN LETTER TO MOTOR VEHICLF. ANO BRAKE REPAIR FACILITIES SUBJ ECT: Reporting Asbestos Use
This letter is intended to make you aware that California employers who use or work with asbestos face
new legal responsibilities for worker protection as part of an expanded State program to prevent job-related
cancer. As you know, brake linings and other friction tnatcrials used in your industry contain asbestos,
which in fiber form is a known cause of human cancer.
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The State's new Occupational Carcinogens Control Act seeks to prevent exposure of employees, employers and others to asbestos and 1 5 other State-regulated cancer-causing substances in the work place. The first new obligation for employers is to report the use of these materials,
REPORTING ASBESTOS USE
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Automotive repair facilities that arc registered with the State Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) do not
have to report the use of asbestos because they are obliged to register annually with the bureau. But they
are not otherwise exempt from State regulations requiring that employees be protected from unsafe
exposure to asbestos dust.
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Brake and clutch repair facilities which arc not registered with tiro BAR must report to the chief of the Division of Industrial Safety (DtS) as asbestos users if work practices arc used which can create dust. These work practices include: blowing out brake dust wiih compressed air, of the grinding, sanding, drilling, arcing or beveling of brake shoes or clutch facings. If these dusty work practices are not used, reporting is not required. `
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PENALTIES
Reporting must be done by September 1. 1977. After that date there is a S500 fine for failing to report to . the chief of DIS. Effective July 1, 1977, there arc SI.000 fines for serious safety violations of Cal/OSl-^
regulations involving asbestos and a S 5,000 fine for repeat infractions.
REPORTING PROCESS
Repair shops, garages, automobile dealers, and other facilities registered with the State Bureau of Automotive Repair arc automatically registered with the chid ol DIS and need not follow the reporting process described below. These facilities arc also exempt from the S500 fine for failure to report to the chief of.DlS.
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For shops, garages, and other facilities which arc not registered with BAR, the reporting process is simple. All an employer most do is send a letter to the Chief of the Division of Industrial Safety, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. Include the following information:
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Name and address of locations where asbestos is used, Number of employees working with asbestos, including maintenance personnel. Manner in which asbestos or asbestos-containing products arc processed, or otherwise handled. Names and addresses of any collective bargaining representatives or other representatives of affected employees.
. If you prefer, forms for this purpose arc available from the above address.
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' THE REPORTING REGULATION
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The regulation requiring reporting as passed by the Cal/OSHA Standards Board is quoted below. Parc (B) ' applies to clutch and clutch repair facilities as well as brake repair facilities.'NOTE: \eporting is not
necessary if you avoid the dust*producing work practices listed in part (B), or if you arc registered with BAR.
Operations Processes Requiring Reporting:
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" (A) Any use, handling,disposal. processing, manufacturing, packaging or repackaging of asbestos or asbestos-containing products which require labeling by Subsection (i)* of this section,
(B; Brake repair and clutch repair operations where asbestos-containing frictional materials arc processed in a manner whicli may produce airborne asbestos fibers, such as grinding, sanding, drilling, brake -shoe arcing and beveling, or removing asbestos-containing dust with
' compressed air. Automotive repair facilities which arc registered with the State Bureau of ' Automotive Repairs meet the registration requirements of this subparagraph, but arc not
otherwise exempt from this Section.
(C) Maintenance, construction, repair, renovation, demolition or salvage activities in which any
materials containing more than 1% asbestos (dry weight) are sanded, ground, abrasive
blasted, sawed, cut, shoveled, removed, or otherwise handled in such manner that asbestos
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dust would be raised.,
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(D) Any orlicr use where employee exposure .exceeds the concentrations of airborne fibers given in Subsection (a).*
NOTE: The ordinary use, handling, or installation of products which do not require labeling under Subsection (i)` arc exempt from the reporting requirements. Examples of non-tabclcd products include but : are not limited to, vinyl-asbestos floor tile, resilient sheet flouring, packings and gaskets, fibrated asphalt coatings and coated asbestos cloth.
Operations such as retail, wholesale, warehousing, transportation or distribution of products requiring labeling are exempt front reporting requirements providing such products are handled or stored in sealed or unbroken containers. '
See State General Industry Safety Orders Section 520H.
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INSPECTIONS
This new Act requires the State Department of Health to inspect work places where cancer-causing
substances are used. Primary responsibility for enforcing these safety and health standards, as with all other
job safety and health standards, rests witli the State Division of Industrial Safety in the State Department
of Industrial Relations.
It is important to note that even though facilities registered with the Bureau of Automotive Repair arc
exempt from reporting requirements, they are not exempt from Ca)/OSHA safety insjicczions to ensure
compliance with regulations on asbestos.
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T FOR REGULATIONS AND MORE INFORMATION
Free copies of regulations on asbestos and information on how to protect workers may be obtained by contacting one of the State Health Department offices listed below: '
In Northern California
In Southern California
State ofCalifornia Occupational Health Branch Occupational Cancer Control Unit 2151 Berkeley Way Berkeley, CA 94704
State of California
Occupational Health Branch
Occupational Cancer Control Unit
M49 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90026
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(415 ) 843-7900, Ext. 306
(213)620-4290
EMPLOYEE COMPLAINTS
The law requires the State Department of Health and the Division of Industrial Safety to respond to
complaints from employees regarding potentially unlawful use of the regulated cancer-causing substances in
their work places. Priority is given to investigation of such complaints.
- NO-CIIARGE CONSULTATION
To help employers achieve compliance with the provisions of the Occupational Carcinogens Control Act, the State Department of Health will provide penalty-free, no-charge consultative services and educational programs. These services will be provided oil request by any employer or employee.
RECOMMENDED WORK PRACTICES
To keep asbestos exposures as low as possible, it is recommended that removal of dust from brake drums
and brake assemblies be done with a wet rag or vacuuming instead of by means of compressed air. Ail arcing
or grinding of brake linings should be performed with an adequate local exhaust dust collection system. The
asbestos dust collected should be disposed of in sealed impermeable bags or containers.
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DISPOSAL
Ttie. Department of Health, Vector and Waste Management Section, lias designated asbestos-containing
waste as hazardous wastes. Waste consisting of spent brake linings, dust, cuttings, or other materials which
contain asbestos, should "Re packaged and in sealed, nonrctuniahlc containers (c.g. double plastic bags) from
which asbestos fibers cannot escape. The contents should be wetted to prevent the production of airborne
asbestos fibers in case the container is broken. These containers may be placed in your regular solid waste
bin for transportation to the disposal site.
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For additional information on the requirements for disposal of asbestos-containing wastes, contact tire
Vector and Waste Management Section Office nearest you.
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Headquarters Office
744 P Street Sacramento, CA 05814
(916) 322-2337
Berkeley Office
2151 Berkeley Way Berkeley, CA 94704
(415) 843-7900, Ext. 434
Los Angeles Office
Post Office Box 30327 1449 W. Temple Street Los Angeles. CA 90026
(213) 620-2380
The General Industry Safety Orders (Section" 5208 (i)(2)) require this caution label to be attached to containers of asbestos waste:
CAUTION Contains Asbestos Fibers
Avoid Creating ITusr Breathing Asbestos Dust May Cause
Serious Bodily Harm
The State Department of Health and the State Department of Industrial Relations provide this information
to employers now to alert them to their major legal responsibilities under the Occupational Carcinogens
Control Act and to give maximum lead time to planning to achieve health and safety standards mandated
by the Jawj Both Departments will work cooperatively with employers in the interests of improved worker
safety and health. '
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Sincerely.
Director of Industrial Relations and Designated Administrator forCal/OSHA
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