Document pBKaeZNXageddRmODEVVYoG6k

22720 Federal Register / Vol.-51, No. 119 / Friday, ]une 20, 1986 / Rules and Regulations' (h)(4)(H) of the revised standard the use "adequate to protect" workers in this (Tr. 8/21, p. HI-210). D.M. Bradshaw, . of qualitative fit-test methods only for industry. Responses to this question and Director of Manpower Services for the half-mask negative-pressure respirators, information about protective clothing Associated General Contractors of. which can only be used for used by construction workers who work America (AGC). recommended that concentrations of asbestos fibers that do with asbestos are discussed below, disposable protective clothing should bo not exceed 10 limes the PEL. Since together with requirements for provided if a contractor foresees qualitative methods do not appear to be protective clothing mandated by the asbestos exposure at any level and adequate for ensuring proper fit for full- . revised rule. stated that OSHA's personal protective facepiece negative-pressure respirators, The revised standard for construction clothing requirements should be OSHA has required that such differs from the existing standard in that followed when asbestos is being respirators be fit tested using it requires, in paragraph ()(!). that installed in new construction (Ex. 84- quantitative methods. Fit testing is not personal protective clothing be provided 457). required for positive-pressure for employees exposed above the However, other commenters did not respirators because the flow of air from revised PEL of 0.2 fiber/cc, rather than feel that personal protective clothing the inside of the respirator to the outside restricting the use of such clothing to should.be required regardless of effectively eliminates the possibility of asbestos contamination entering the respirator facepiece through the face seal. The provision in the existing standard employees exposed above the ceiling level only. When nondisposable protective clothing is used, the employer is required by paragraph (i)(2) to launder the clothing in a manner that prevents exposure level or work situation. Dr. Arthur Langer of Ml. Sinai Hospital, speaking on behalf of the AFL-CIO, recommended protective clothing "where appropriate'.' (Tr. 7/3, pp. 90-91). requiring employers to establish a the release of airborne asbestos fibers in AIA-NA commented that employers respirator program in accordance with excess of the PEL and to notify the should provide protective clothing to the requirements contained in 29 CFR person responsible for laundering. employees "exposed above 6.5 f/cc 1910.134 (b), (d). (e) and (f) is essentially Paragraph (i)(3) requires employers to TWA |i.e., the PEL recommended by unchanged in the revised standard. transport contaminated clothing in AIA/NA] because this is already a fairly Finally, the revised standard sealed impermeable bags or other common (practice] in manufacturing stipulates that respirators required for impermeable containers. The plants" (Ex. 328, p. III-43). AIA/NA also protection from exposure to asbestos requirements of paragraphs (i)(2) and cited their article "Asbestos Cement libers shall be provided at no cost to the (i)(3) are identical to the requirements of Products," which emphasizes the need employee. OSHA views this allocation the existing standard and the revised for personal protective clothing when of costs to control employee exposure to asbestos fibers as being necessary to effectuate the purpose of the Act. The requirement is consistent with other health standards issued under section 6(b) of the Act. Paragraph (i)--Protective Clothing The.existing standard for asbestos (29 CFR 1910.1001(d)(3)) required that employers provide "special clothing" for any employees exposed to airborne. asbestos fiber concentrations in excess of the ceiling level (10 fibers/cc of air).. This special clothing was to include "coveralls or similar whole body clothing, head coverings, gloves, and foot coverings." In addition, the existing asbestos standard required that. asbestos-contaminated clothing be '. laundered using means that "prevent the release of airborne asbestos fibers in . - . excess of the exposure limits. . . ." The standard stated:that any employer who .. had asbestos-contuminated clothing standard for general industry. In addition, a requirement for employees involved in asbestos removal, demolition, or renovation operations at paragraph (i)(4) requires that worksuits being worn by employees working inside.negative-pressure enclosures be examined periodically by a competent person to detect rips or tears, and that when rips or tears are detected in clothing while an employee is working in a negative-pressure enclosure, they '.'shall be immediately mended, or the worksuit shall be immediately replaced."- Most commenters supported the inclusion of requirements in a revised standard mandating that employers provide personal protective clothing to employees exposed to asbestos. In general, commenters raised the following issues concerning personal protective clothing: (1) When personal protective clothing is needed; working with asbestos cement products (Ex. 312.A). Commenters from AIA/NA also pointed out that the Council Directive of the European Communities, Article 11, requires that workers be issued personal protective equipment and that the equipment be worn, and that Article 12 of the Directive requires that a plan specifying the provision ofpersonal protective equipment be drawn up prior to demolition and/or removal work (Ex. 312.A). The only work situations in which commenters felt that protective clothing might not be necessary or should not be required were one-time removal or installation operations (Ex. 341), cutting and installation of asbestos cement sheet-. (Tr. 7/10), and cutting of asbestos cement,pipe (Tr. 7/10). In response to these comments, OSHA's revised standard requires personal protective clothing only for employees exposed to airborne asbestos laundered by another person "shall (2) What types of personal protective concentrations in excess of the PEL, i.e., .-. inform such person of the requirement. clothing should be used, e.g.; full body in a regulated area. Triggering the . . . to effectively prevent the release of coverings, head coverings, gloves, boots; requirement for personal protective airborne asbestos fibers . . . (and that) - (3) What protective clothing materials clothing at the PEL is consistent both contaminated.clothing shall be are appropriate in various work . with the revised asbestos standard for - transported in sealed impermeable bags, situations', general industry and with past OSHA - or other closed, impermeable containers, (4) How asbestos-contaminated rulemakings (see, for example, inorganic and [be|:labeled. . ." protective clothing should be cleaned or arsenic, 29 CFR 1910.1018). In the-April notice (49 FR 14130), OSHA questioned the appropriutenes9 disposed of: and - (5) Concerns about heat stress and A number of commenters recommended the use of disposable of applying, the existing standard's worker comfort. worksuits (Exs. 123-A, 330, 298, 92-26, protective clothing requirements to the Both NIOSH and Margaret Stasikowski 92-25, 92-11. 84-457, Trs. 7/3, 8/29. 6/ construction,industry, and in particular .of EPA stated that the standard should, 25). particularly during major asbestos . asked whether, these requirements were include the use of protective clothing removal and renovation projects. These GLEASON-000968