Document qaOOZRLgOokp0p35Xx4xJJODM

^Tui-v 1<* -< Gt TO: .-DEPARTMENTAL CStf COMMITTEE FROM.:- ti./.. ADAM. ,o , , . /' 1 | vr. , ASBESTOS - MEDICAL EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS The asbestos standard, 29 CFR 1910. ICOi (j j (2`) , or (5j cr (4) requires employers to provide-or make available medicai examinations for each employee engaged ir. occupations exposed tc r.itb:--.e concen trations of asbestos fibers. Because the voiding in :-.e standard ` is vague, some misunderstandings have developed. In order to establish a consistent interpretation ar.d application of the medical examination program provision, the following guidance is provided for site use. Sites should: Include in the medical examination program all employees in job categories whicOanB 1 e~ asbestos' in* a way that has potential for producing airborne fibers. .............. ' Maintain a list of the employees that are in the examination program. -- . Include "gray-area" job categories if monitoring shows measurable concentrations of airborne fibers bv the method of measuremeiiF prescribed in the Standard. Discussion - The objective is to be in compliance with the Standard and provide sound medical surveillance but include only the necessary employees in the medical examine tier, program.. * This guidance provided is to assist in the identification of those occupations which are included in "an occupation exposed to airborne concentrations ..." [29 CFR 1910.1001 (. j11 . or <5j or (.<')) Some job catego ries obvieusly fall intcr~"an occupatic i exposed diet ab 1 y .rent; v cld tnsji La:ion, cut tr rnsito, e csl-estes additi v - ~ t * n:ttv b a g filters] cr work in p.rpx ini tv .to. se operations are examples" ' DUP 0905947 SC-DP-05930 -2- These job categories should be identified_ and^dccuinerj^ed Joy the .site and ejhpioyees'^assijfrietPihbulei' be Irf'the madicai examination without re card- t'o~Tfborne" concent rat ibY/msi 5 urenorts;~ .PI?T.c.r_ Careful site analyses to establish these job categories.-.is essential. Depending upon past and present job classifications could be misleading. For example, since asbestos no longer is used for new insulation, potential exposure will be Telstei to -removal or- handling of cld insulation. Insulators who handle only new, non-asbestos insulation ' may not have any exposure. Field pipefitters, millwrights, utility personnel may be Job categories .which, pempye or . handle cld...insula tiao one or mqre_times per year. The.se_s.hould_autcmatically__bey ijicluded_ in the~'medical examff.atidr.. Vein's JLVjthe ._e xar.ination program doesn't **, *s <- ACm e +*** ^ r> 1* r* r o ** * n 1 % *1 <- T + does expand the number of medical"~f lies related ~to "the'St-Vdare" " and thereby''subject tc insr.scticr. ur.dor the _Stcr.'ai'fd . ' ~' Conscious management of asbestos handling asnigr.nc-r. er, r. control the number of job categories falling into ``an o: rupee it The inclusion of some job category activiri s.s :roy be cu* rtirnable at a particular site - removal and replacer.-tnt :f former. arc staled asbestos blocks, for example. These categories rou]r. h: cr: -.ted if monitoring shows that no measurable ccncent-atiens c ? irberne fibers occur during handling. The method of r.easure-.c-nt to he used is the On? pr-per'-i nn in th* .7 ;a . ni n rd . Th* * c-:' " j v GU a n ti - ficaticn of this method is 0.1 fibers/cn' - '."OSH It rantReport No. 79-12.7, February 1979, "USPHS/N'DSK Me: .crane Filter Me mod for Evaluation Airborne Asbestos Fibers." Mss.-urenents relied on for tffis exemption should be representative of the exposure common to the job during the activity involved in work with asbestos and may Tequite several measurements for an accurate representation. Many job categories should be eliminated b.cause they don't require the handling of asbestos. However, if an employee unexpectedly gets a known exposure to asbestos fibers, a medical examination should be given. Subsequent special medical examination for a one time exposure ,is a matter of judgement by the physician. ) The Standard does not require that an employee be continued in the medical examination program once the employee moves to a job category not exposed to asbestos.. Our continuing backup is the i t ju.ii. e which_ includes ~ji fch'es t hTroy aT.ta P si w*C Jiipi3_ve es_3.y4x_4.o_ anS.Jxi annually.. e- medical exa lire tier. tjs t os e_und . v-tior. vually_ /j iw DUP 0905948 (?'1