Document Rav9XRwYO5Rdd0v4yN0wkxJ2V

FILE NAME: National Gypsum (NG) DATE: 1970 DOC#: NG055 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Booklet - Recommended Practices for Fabricating, Handling and Applying Asbestos-Cement Products in the Building Industries Recom m ended P ra ctic es For Fabricating, Handling and Applying Asbestos-Cerner* Products in the Building an d Construction Industries t h e KOPY KQRNE& o v v i- '0 2 ^4 HEALTH & SAFETY COUNCIL ASBESTOS CEMENT p r o d u c t s ASSOCIATION 'i to?' aia~j.f orc.n an i3 & K u m m ,r7 Contents r.b /y Introduction i i 011791 2i ^ 5 INTRODUCTION ............................................ 3 HOUSEKEEPING ............................................ 4 SHIPPING, HANDLING AND STORAGE ........................................... 5 FABRICATION, AND APPLICATION ............................................. 6 hfcSPIRATORY EQUIPMENT ........................ 7 SUMMARY ....................................................... 7 Asbestos-cement products, In place end un der normal use, present no known fjealth risk to the user or general public. 1870 ACPA 2 The discovery and production of hundreds of natural and synthetic materials*including as* bestos-cament products has in soma in stances prompted the need fo r special pro tective equipment and practices that should be employed by all in the industry where dust is created. Manufacturers of asbestos-cement products have for years been taking protective meas ures to eliminate exposure of their workers to the inhalation of dust. The fabricating, handling and applying of asbestos-cement products are diverse and range from the installation ol a single piece to extensive operations Involving cutting and machining by mechanical equipment. While care should always be exercised, special pre cautions are necessary when dusts In excess of federal, state or provincial allowable thres hold limits are generated as the result of saw ing, drilling or other operations. Respirators should be worn. The following practices are recommended for fabricating, handling and ap~' :ng asbestoscement products in the build ^ and construc tion industries. Contractors and applicators are urged to study these recommended prac tices carefully and to see that they are ob served by all workers It is in the best interest of both employer and employee to see that these recommended practices are strictly ob- 2i l / 6 011792 7\ JHH S r C I b l i l S & KUI1TMI 1 v ~ : Housekeeping r . ( i Shipping, Handling and Storage z ijk * 011793 1, An organized housekeeping program should be maintained in ail areas and on all operations at all times. , 2. A major source of dust is from loose materials, scrap and debris distributed throughout the job area which are disinte grated by being trampled upon, run over, etc. Much of such dust can be eliminated by exer cising simple good housekeeping practices. 3. Specific standards and practices de signed for providing safe, clean and orderly working conditions should be defined. 4. Efficient supervisory control, planning of systematic cleaning plus day-to-day follow-up are the basic requirements for environmental control and injury prevention. 1. Under normal conditions, unit load han dling and storage of asbestos-cement prod ucts present no environmental problems. 2. When handling individual pieces of flat and corrugated asbestos-cement sheets, care should be taken when placing one sheet on top of the other to avoid creating breakage and dust. 3. If breakage of asbestos-cement products occurs, broken pieces of material should be cleaned up and disposed of to avoid disinte gration by then being trampled upon, run over, etc. 4. Handling and storage of bags containing asbestos fiber, cements, etc., present no problem providing that bags are unopened and not broken. Open or broken bags should be repacked, reseated or discarded to prevent dust distribution. Spillage up Immediately. 01179, should \ * be .cleaned H n kW Y a ft lb H Ib & KUMYRN Fabncation and Application ** ' P.8-3 Respiratory Equipment , ' 011795 1- When moving asbestos-cement products to and from the fabrication site, individual pieces of materials should be handled with care to avoid breakage and dust. 2. Fabrication of asbestos-cement products involving cutting, drilling, sawing, etc., should be done in a manner that will minimize dust. The use of proper methods, tools and equip ment is essential. 3. When cutting, drilling, sawing, etc., on a repeated basis with power equipment, me chanical dust collecting systems adequately designed to remove dust from the source should be used. 4. Fabrication of asbestos-cement products in confined spaces requires adequate me chanical dust collecting systems designed to collect dust at the source. Where these sys tems are impracticable, approved respirators should be worn. 8. Provide waste containers at all fabrica tion and application areas. Dispose of unus able material. Keep floors and surfaces clean. Vacuum cleaning equipment is recommended to remove dust and smalt particles. If vacuum equipment is impracticable, wet down waste material before sweeping and shoveling. Res pirators should be worn, during clean-up operations. , 6 . Only U. S. Bureau of Mines approved res piratory equipment is recommended for use. The efficiency and effectiveness of this equip ment is dependent upon proper care, cleaning and maintenance- A systematic procedure should be established to insure that this is done. A list of approved respiratory equipment can be obtained from: American industrial Hygiene Association 14125 Prvost Detroit, Michigan 48227 U. 3. Department of the Interior Bureau of Minas Nineteenth and E Streets, N.W. Washington, 0. C. 20240 I 011796 I i Summary Three major points to keep in mind in the fabricating, handling and applying of asbestoscement products. . . . Keep dust to a minimum. . - . Wear U. S. Bureau of Mines approved respirators when exposed to dusts above federal, state or provincial allowable threshold limits. . . . Maintain good housekeeping at all times. 7 HN m '90 17-.05 SPEIGHTS & RUNYAN ' % P. 9 -'3 I J 011797 Prepared by Health and Safety Cc.. Aabesto Cement Products As*?c>?-' 521 Fifth Avenge -20tn Fi"1' New York, New Yoik 1;>' ` VrlMted In U.S.A. m sn