Document Rj9VwLzaQbgJoaQmR0d4V4pvn

FILE NAME: National Gypsum (NG) DATE: 0000 DOC#: NG022 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Industry Recommended Practices [Draft] - Fabricating Asbestos-Cement Products r practices ASBESTOS-CEMENT PRODUCTS Asbestos Building Products W flcturers Bnvlronaental Beslth Council *36-170  . - ( v C O CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . . . HOUSEKEEPING . . . SHIPPING, HANDLING AND STORAGE . . FABRICATION AND APPLICATION . RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT c es Three major points to keep in mind in the handling and applying of materials containing asbestos: . Take every precaution to keep dust to a minimum. . Wear U.S. Bureau of Mines- approved Respirators when exposed to excessive dusts. (See Page ) . Maintain good housekeeping at all times. 36-171 INTRODUCTION c t 1 ^ The development end production of hundred* of T ' natural and synthetic material including eabesto3" cement product* ha* brought the need to protect worker* from certain health risks, known or suspected. * ,, Manufacturer* of asbestos-cement products have for . years been caking protective measures to eliminate excessive exposures to inhalation of dusts that . may be injurious. . The handling and application of asbestos-cement products is very diverse and ranges from the installation of a single piece to extensive ' operations involving cutting and machining by ' mechanical ecuipmer.t. Whiel care should always be exercised, special precautions ere necessary when excessive dusts, including asbestos, are generated . as the result of saving, drilling or other similar . operation*. . ` Experience haa shown that all materials can be handled with no adverse effects to health provided proper precautions are taken. The Aabeatos Building Product* Manufacturers^recoomend the following practices for handling and applying asbestos-cement products in the building and construction industries, Contractors and applicators are urged to study these recommended practices carefully and to aee that they are observed by all porkers handling asbesto9-cement materials. As vlttT>Safety Regulations, it ie in the interest of both employer and employee to see K.- pr-nfnr 8re Strictly observed. . 36472 -3- 4 J housekeeping An organized housekeeping progrera should be maintained in all areas and on all. operations at all times. A major source of excessive airbrone dust i6 from loose materials, scrap and debris distributed throughout the Job area and disintegrated by trampling on running over. etc. Much of the airborne contamination can be eliminated by exercising simple good housekeeping practices. Specific standards and practices designed for providing Bsfe. clean end orderly working conditions should be defined. Efficient supervisory control, planning of systematic cleaning plus day to day follow-up are the basic reauirements for dust control and injury prevention. 36173 4 % I *>r. l O SHIPPING, HANDLING AND STORACZ Under normal conditions, unit load handling and storage of asbestos-cement products including roofing and siding shingles. H a t and corrugated ehceta, asbestos-cement pipe, etc., present no environmental health problems. When handling individual pieces of flat and corrugated asbestos sheets, care should be taken when placing one sheet on top of the other to avoid creating excessive airborne dust and breakage. If breakage of asbestos-cement products oceurs, broken pieces of material should be cleaned up and disposed of to avoid disintegration by trampling on. running over etc. which may create excessive dust. i Handling and storage of bags containing asbestos fiber, cements etc. present no environmental health hazards, providing bags are unopene'd and not broken. Open or broken bags should be repacked, resealed or discarded to prevent dust distribution throughout working areas. Spillage should be cleaned up immediately. ^''FABRICATION AND APPLICATION O ! r ! I When moving asbestos-cement produces to and from the fabrication cite, individual pieces of materials > should be handled with care to avoid creating excessive airborne dust and breakage. ' ( Fabrication of asbestos-cement products involving ; cutting, drilling, sawing, etc., should be done in a manner that will minimise airborne dust. The use of proper methods, tools snd equipment will contribute considerably toward dust abatement. When cutting drilling, sawing, etc. on a repeated basis with power eouipment, mechanical dust collecting ays terns adeouately designed to remove dust from the source should be used. If mechanical dust collecting - systems cannot be used and excessive du6t is generated. ' respirators should be worn. In confined spaces, fabrication of asbestos-cement products require special precautions. Provide mechanical dust collecting systems adequately designed to remove dust from the source. If conditions prevent collecting dust at the source, use exhaust blowers to provide continual general C room air changes. Avoid exhausting these blowers into other work areas. If exhaust equipment cennot be used, respirators should be worn. Provide waste containers at all fabrication and application areas. Dispose of unusable material itnnediately. Keep floors and surfaces clean. Dust and small particles created during fabrication and application should be cleaned up. Vacuum eouipment is recommended for this cleaning. If vacuum equipment cannot be used, wet down waste material before sweeping and shoveling. If excessive dust is generated during clean-up respirators .should be worn. I Bureau of Mines approved respirators - See Page 36-175 I  respiratory equipment o Onl) U. S. Bureau of Mines-approved respiratory equipment ia recommended for use with asbestos, silica and other pneumoconiosi6-producing dusts. Approved respiratory equipment must be used at all operations where dust control Is not sufficient to maintain airborne dust concentration within allowable limits for asbestoa and other pneumoconiosis producing dusts, ss established by governmental *nd professional agencies. efficiency and effectiveness of respiratory* equipment is dependent -upon proper care, cleaning and maintenance. A systematic procedure should be established to assure that this is done. Lista of currently approved respiratory eauipment can be obtained from: ' P.ureau of Mines . United States Department of the Intciior Nineteenth and E Streets, N.V. Washington. D. C. 20240 American Industrial Hygiene Association . 14125 Prvost Detroit, Michigan 48227 ' 3617 -7-