Document aBmDYwG8nY494r8e6Vx1RaOnN

FILE NAME: National Gypsum (NG) DATE: 0000 DOC#: NG022 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Industry Recommended Practices [Draft] - Fabricating Asbestos-Cement Products o PRACTICES AS3EST0S-CEMEST PRODUCTS Asbestos Building Products Manufacturers r- ( i V c O CONTESTS INTRODUCTION HOUSEKEEPING ......... SHIPPING, HANDLING AND STORAGE . . . , FABRICATION AND APPLICATION . . . , RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT I 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. * 2- I 36171 O O INTRODUCTION c The development end production of hundred* of f natural and synthetic material Including asbestos* cement products, ha* brought the need to protect workers from certain health risks, known or suspected. Manufacturers of asbestos-cement products have for . years been taking protective measures to eliminate excessive exposures to inhalation of dusts that may be injurious. The handling end application of asbestos-cement products is very diverse snd ranges from the installation of a single piece to extensive operations involving cutting and machining by mechanical eeuipmer.t. Vniel 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 operations. , Experience haa shown that all materials can be c handled with no adverse effects to health provided proper precautions are taken. The Asbentos Building Products Manufacturers^recomasnd the following practices for handling and applying asbestos-cement products in the building snd construction industries. Contractors and applicators are urged to study these recotnoended practices carefully and to see that they are observed by all porkers handling asbestos-cement materials. As witt^Safety Regulations, it is in the interest of both employer and employee to aee thsf haaT-h prnrar*ion practices are strictly observed. 3647! -3 - o c HOUSEKEEPING An organized housekeeping program Bhould be maintained in all areas and on all operations at all times. A major source of excessive airbrone dust is from looae materials, scrap end 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 reauiremer.ts for dust control and injury prevention. ! j | 4 36473 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 tramplir. on. running over etc. which may create excessive dust. l 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. .5. 36471 O ^'FABRICATION AI") APPLICATION c When moving asbestos-cement productc to and from the fabrication site, 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 and equipment will contribute considerably toward dust abatement. When cutting drilling, sawing, etc. on a repeated basis with power equipment, mechanical dust collecting systems adeouately designed to remove dust from the source should be used. If mechanical dust collecting systems eannot 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 room air changes. Avoid exhausting these blowers C into other work areas. If exhaust equipment cannot be used, respirators should be worn. Provide waste containers at all fabrication and application areas. Dispose of unusable material limedlately. Keep floors end surfaces clean. Dust and small particles created during fabrication and application should be cleaned up. Vacuum equipment is reeotmended for this cleaning. If vacuum equipment cannot be used, vet down waste material before sweeping and shoveling. If excessive dust is generated during clean-up respirators .should be worn. Bureau of Hines approved respirators - See Page 36-175 RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT o r- Only 13. S. Bureau of Mines-approved respiratory enuipment is recommended for use with asbestos, silica and other pneumoconiosis-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 asbestos end other pneumocor.iosiB producing dusts, as established by governmental and profeaslonal agencies. The efficiency and effectiveness of respirator)' equipment is dependent upon proper care, cleaning and maintenance. A systematic procedure should be established to assure that this is done. Lists of currently approved respiratory equipment can be obtained from: P.ureau of Mines United States Department of the Nineteenth and E Streets, N.V. Washington. D. C. 20240 Intctior c American Industrial Hygiene Association 14125 Prevost Detroit, Michigan 48227 3617G -7-