Document nmov0rzYweRej9GXLaqaZgnGG
FILE NAME Packings and Gaskets PAG
DATE 1985
DOC PAG059 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Recommended Work Practices for Asbestos-
Containing Gaskets
ASBESTOS INFORMATION ASSOCIATION 1745 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington Virginia 22202
i-
~ Recommended
| Work Practices
|
for
Asbestos-
Containing
Gaskets
MARCH 15 1985
Contents
Introduction
The Occupational Safety and Health Act OSH
Introduction ......sscccscccvcccscavcceces 3
Act in the United States and similar laws in Canada and other countries were enacted to ensure every
Asbeas ndtHeoals th 4 .........csccceccecees
worker a safe and healthy workplace This legislation is reaching It covers millions of
Summary of OSHA Asbestos Standard ...... 4
employees and nearly every employer The information and guidance in this booklet
OperaandtOi peroatnios ns ........eccecsecses S
have been developed to assist in assuring
compliance with the OSH Act and the Occupational
RecommWoerknPd race ticd es ...... cocevese S
Safety and Health Administration's OSHA
a
standard for occupational exposure to asbestos dust
Storage ....ccccwvcccccccccecccee ceceeee S
29 CFR Part 1910.1001 Because state or local
Fabrication ........ccccsccccccenccceees S
regulations may differ from the OSHA standard they should be reviewed to ensure total compliance
Original Installation ........ eee ceececence 6
Gasket Replacement .6
Housekeeping and
Waste Disposal ......ccccccccscccccccnce T
Appendix
Federal Waste Disposal Standard
..........secccceeee 9
The use of good work practices is recognized as one of the means of reducing health hazards
associated with exposure to asbestos dust The
recommendations that appear on the following pages were developed through experience study and field testing They were designed to achieve safer and more healthful job site conditions when working with containing gasket material
March 15 1985
Asbestos and Health
Exposure to asbestos fibers can increase the risk
of developing certain diseases a over period ofyears
Diseases associated with inhalation of asbestos fiber
are asbestosis a malignant scarring lung condition cancer of the lung mesothelioma - a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavities and possibly cancer of the digestive tract
It should be emphasized that the evidence of adverse health effects malignant and nonmalignant lung disease due to the combined action of cigarette smoking and exposure in the workplace is well
established Workers who handle asbestos greatly reduce their health risks by not smoking cigarettes
We will continue to see cases of asbestos disease for some years because of the unfortunate
legacy of excessive past exposures However the present state of scientific knowledge shows clearly that minimizing exposure to airborne asbestos dust
reduces the risks of asbestos disease Good
work practices are one means of significantly reducing generation of dust
Summoa f OrSHyA _
Asbestos Standard
Under the current OSHA standard for
occupational exposure to asbestos dust it is the employer's responsibility to assure that exposure of employees to airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers does not exceed the following permissible
exposure levels
a Eight weighted average TWA Two fibers longer than 5 micrometers per cubic centimeter 2 cc
b Ceiling concentrations Ten fibers longer than 5 micrometers per cubic centimeter 10 cc
OSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.21A of February 18
1981 states that the medical examination
requirements of the asbestos standard will be required where the 7 to hour TWA fiber
concentration is 0.1 cc or greater
4
Extensive field monitoring has demonstrated that the proper use of containing gaskets can
result in dust levels which are less than an hour
TWA of 0.1 cc By following the work practices recommended in this booklet when using such products dust levels can be minimized
Products and Operations
These work practices apply to the use of nonfriable containing compressed beateraddition and gasket millboard material when furnished as precut gaskets or in sheets and rolls
Operations to which these work practices apply
include
A. Storage
B. Fabrication
C. Installation
D. Replacement
E. Housekeeping and Waste Disposal
Recommended Work Practices
A. Storage
Gaskets materials are typically receiveidn
three forms sheets rolls and precut gaskets Storage areas should be kept clean and dust free either by wet sweeping or with
the use of a vacuum cleaner fitted with a
high efficiency particulate aerosol HEPA filter Any information provided by the manufacturer such as health warnings and handling requirements should be retained
B. Fabrication
1. Handpunching
Bolt holes are often made with the use of a
hand punch and mallet If feasible the material should be dampened while it is being worked All areas where hand punching takes place should be kept clean and dust free Scraps of waste from hand punching should be disposed of in the
proper manner
S
2. Hand Shaping
Hand shaping of gaskets is carried out with the use of a scribe pocket knife or scissors
Gasket sizes are scribed onto a flat sheet of
asbestos gasket material and then cut by the
use ofscios r as poco ketr kns ife The gasket
material should be dampened during scribing and cutting if feasible In this operation in others involving asbestos work areas should be kept clean and dust free and waste scraps should be promptly disposed of in the proper manner
3. Die Cutting - Hand Operated Press
Gaskets are sometimes to size and shape
on hand operated mechanical cutting
presses The surfaces of these machines and
the surrounding work area should be
maintained to be clean and dust free Gasket
scraps should be promptly disposed ofin the
proper manner
4. Die Cutt-iPonwegr Press
operated presses used in gasket fabrication should be provided with local
exhaust ventilation as needed Maintain
sharp dies toreduce burrs that will increase
the potential for dust and require further
handling The work area should be kept in
clean and dust free condition
Note Large pieces of gasket mater lefit aaftler
the fabrication operation may be returned to
storage for future use
Original Installation
No special controls are required
D. Gasket Replacement - Removal and
Installation
.
Replacing worn or scheduled service gaskets
often requires the usofea scraorpa ewir re
brush to remove all of the old gasket material from the flange surface before a
new gaskeits put into place prybyiprnyigng
or levering off the old gasket with a scraper
^'
E.
k
such as a wood chisel in order to remove it in the largest possible pieces Where practicable surfaces to be ground scraped
or brushed should be wetted Work areas
should be cleaned promptly Unless airborne concentrations are known respiratory protection is advisable
Note Some gaskets may be coated or surface treated with a parting agent so that when
gaskets are removed theries no need for excess
grinding scraping or brushing
Housekeeping and Waste Disposal
Housekeeping is an essential part ofany safe operation Airborne asbestos dust created
by the lack of good housekeehpasinthge
potential for harm to employees and others
Keep work areas clean by wet wipiornwg et
sweeping or by vacuuming with a unit equipped with a high efficiency particulate aerosol HEPA filter NEVER DRY
SWEEP OR BLOW ASBESTOS WITH COMPRESSED AIR
The scrap offcuts and webs from these
operatiaroe nnost consiadhaezarrdeouds
waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act RCRA and can be
shipped to local landfills for disposal Consult the Appendix for the federal regulations covering asbestos waste disposal
AVOID CREATING DUST
transporting
'
. :
.
f Mix
asbestos
asbestos
Weste
escape clean contain g mixing
(iv). " escape clean cuisionscuisions
CAUTION Label Afterta, ( AfterAfter
capeor
CAUTION cuisonCAUTION ii .Label containers the weting,are ContainsContains
Avoid
andsaolniivteont,ed AlternativelyBHreeaatlhitnhgAHlteeranaltitvehly AASlsttebrenaastnitvodelsyards warning
the
2
contaiers Safetyspecifed Safety asbestos Form outside Form ( asbestos
(
in
pallets
paletsair; palletsii
visible
pargph asbeto-cnaig Discharge escapo procesing and escapoescapo
containing
procesing Active weste
by
approvalaproval
alternative
(b)1i procesingaprovalprovalTo ActiveActiv. e acceptable
material material 61.151 meet as
material
in
metprocesingfolows: Either leak- anyany activea-
disposal
has been deposited or the requirements of paragraph c or d of this secmt ustibeomn et
b Unless a natural barrier adequately deters access by the general
maintaasifn ole lod ws or the requi of r pare agrm aphe c nt of ts his secmt ustibeomn et
ee
( Warning signs must be displayed at all entrances and at intervals .
of 100 m 330 ft or less along the property line of the site or along the ee
en periom f te he t sece tior ns of the site where containiwnasgte ee
depoiss dieptoseitd ed The warsnigi ns n mug st ( Be posted in such a manner and location that a person can easily
read the legenandd
ii Conform to the requirements of 51cm x 36cm 20 x 14 upright format signs specified in 29 CFR 1910.145 1910.145 and this paragraph
and
iii Display the following legend in the lower panel with letter sizes and styles of a visibility at least equal to those specified in this
w= Legend,
Asbestos Waste Dispomi
Natation
2.5 cm 1"Sans Serif Gotoh r Bi lac ck
Do.act Corset DEM oe crccscces 1.9 cm 16"Sans Serif
Gotoh r Bi lac ck
ne
Your ia Har adtoo Youw r Hes alth
14 Point Gothic
e Meee
*
BO
Ne me
Spacing between any two lines must be at least equal to the
8
height of the upper of the two lines
tme
2 The perimeter of the disposal site must fenced in a manner
-
adequate to deter access by the general public
( Upon request and supply of appropriate information the
Administrator will determine whether a fence or a natural barrier
adequately deters access by the general public
c Rather than meet the no visible emission requirement of
paragraph a of this section an active waste disposal site would be an
acceptable site if at the end of each operating day or at least once every
hour period while the site is in continuous operation the asbestos- yo
operating day or previous hour period is covered with either ( At least 15 centimeters 6 inches of compacted nonasbestos-
containing material or
2 A resinous or petroleum dust suppression agent that
used as recommended for the particular dust by the manufacturer of the
may be used upon prior approval by the Administrator For purposes of this paragraph waste crankcase oil is not considered a dust suppression
agent
d Rather than meet the no visible emission requirement of paragraph a of this section an active waste disposal site would be an acceptable site if an alternative control method for emissions that has appr prio or v appa rovl al by the Adminstrias tusoerd
Sec 112 and 301 of the Clean Air Act as amende4d2 U.S.C. 7412 7601 FR Doc 84-9060 filed 4-4-84 8:45 am
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