Document RabNZZebNyVN9ZBLgXbxdkzVk

Industrial Hygiene Technical Bulletin No. 83-3 Date: 1983 June 15 RE: ASBESTOS EXPOSURES Due to the very serious nature of asbestos exposure hazards, a closer look was taken at our policies and procedures for controlling such ex posures. Starting In 1978, Alcoa Implemented an Asbestos Replacement Program with the objective of making our operations as free of asbestoscontaining materials as possible. While the program has met with con siderable success, there are still some applications where acceptable substitutes have not been found. Likewise, we currently have numerous applications where asbestos products were used In past construction and are still In place. This situation may pose a potential health hazard In the event that asbestos-containing materials become capable of fiber release (l.e. due to deterioration, water damage, etc.), or during ren ovation or demolition activities. The purpose of this technical bulletin Is to clarify Alcoa's policy and procedures for job tasks Involving exposures to asbestos fibers. It ap plies to both renovation or demolition of asbestos-containing materials, as well as routine or repetitive job tasks Involving asbestos exposures. Attached please find a one page flow chart entitled "Asbestos Exposure Procedures" which summarizes the requirements outlined In the following text based upon job activity and air monitoring data. I. DEFINITIONS A. "Asbestos fiber" means a fibrous form of asbestos longer.than 5 microns with a length-to-dlameter ratio of at least 5 to 1, and with a maximum diameter of 3 microns. B. "Friable asbestos" means any material that contains more than 1% asbestos by weight and that can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry. C. "Action Level" Is defined as 0.1 flbers/cc (8 hour TWA). Med- . leal surveillance, air monitoring and employee training require ments are triggered at the action level. D. "Alcoa Permissible Limit (APL)" Is defined as 0.5 flbers/cc (8 hour TWA). Respiratory protection Is required when exposures may exceed the APL. Likewise, a respiratory protection program (employee training, fit testing, medical approval, etc.) must be implemented. E. "Routine or Repetitive Job Tasks" means employees engaged In work activities Involving exposures to asbestos fibers on an average frequency of an 8 hour shift per month or greater. (Ex amples include working with marinlte headers, trough linings, thermocouple wire, brake lining, etc.). E3 ALCOA ALCOA0000009110 Industrial Hygiene Technical Bulletin 1983 June 15 Page 3 celve an annual medical examination. This periodic evaluation will Include a questionnaire to elicit the symptomatology of respiratory disease, pulmonary function tests (FVC and FEVi.o), and a chest roentgenogram. Employees should be notified of any abnormalities within 30 days of such a finding by the evaluating physician. B. Employee Training All employees exposed to asbestos concentrations above the action level shall receive annual training In the proper handling of asbestos. This program should Include an ex planation of the following: (1) The requirements outlined in this bulletin. (2) Hazardous properties of asbestos. (3) Work practices and engineering controls utilized to reduce exposures. (4) Safe work procedures for handling asbestos-containing materials. (5) The effectiveness of personal protective equipment. Attendance at such training sessions should be documented and filed appropriately. C. Air Monitoring All tasks involving potential exposures to asbestos require baseline sampling. Routine air monitoring should be contin ued on a six month basis for routine or repetitive job tasks with asbestos concentrations at or above the action level. If exposure levels are found to be below the action level, air monitoring should be performed If process or product changes occur which might potentially increase the airborne fiber concentrations. If reliance on engineering controls is necessary to reduce exposures below the action level, annual monitoring should be performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the controls. D. Respiratory Protection Respirators are required of anyone performing a job task whose potential exposure to airborne asbestos fibers may exceed the APL. This would Include all demolItlon/renovation activities, and may include routine or repetitive job tasks, depending upon Industrial hygiene sampling data. For exposures up to 10 flbers/cc, the following NIOSH approved respirators are acceptable for protection against asbestos fibers: ALCOAO 000009112 Industrial Hygiene Technical Bulletin 1983 June 15 Page 5 tos products have been found. Efforts to find replacements for the remaining applications will continue. It is imperative that accurate records be kept to identify areas where asbestos-containing materials are being used, or have been used in past construction. To minimize potential health hazards associated with renovation or demolition of asbestos products, all maintenance projects should be reviewed for potential asbes tos exposures prior to starting the job. If asbestos is suspected, the material should be treated as such unless laboratory analysis confirms otherwise. Samples of bulk material can be analyzed by Alcoa's Environmental Health Laboratory. Asbestos materials in good condition which do not represent likely exposures should not be removed simply because they contain asbes tos since doing so may present a greater hazard during the actual removal. However, a routine inspection program of the material should be implemented to insure that the situation does not change. If you have any questions concerning the above, please do not hesitate to contact me. JOAN E. 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