Document zdjQBRxkDEaxg1B849a4kGNja

Federal Register / Vol. 51, No. 119 / Friday, June 20, 1966 / Rules and Regulations 22677 permissible exposure limit for allowable recommended standard, OSHA has revised standard, i.e.. "engineering airborne concentrations of asbestos. The chosen not to adopt a product and controls first, work practices, and then AIA/NA argued that lowering OSHA's process categorization scheme in the the final [choice of method] being current PEL of 2 f/cc was not possible Final standard for asbestos. In addition personal protective equipment" (see because of the inherent sampling and to the objections to such an approach transcript of CACOSH proceedings). On analytical Variability inherent in the use discussed earlier, OSHA notes that the other issues raised by requirements of of the OSHA method (for a discussion of AIA/NA's recommendations are the draft under review, CACOSH urged the variability issue, see the Methods of intended to apply predominantly to the OSHA to reFtne particular provisions. Measurement section in the Summary installation of new products in the OSHA has generally incorporated and Explanation for General Industry construction environment, and would CACOSH's suggestions. For example, in [Section X. below). As discussed in thus not address those construction response to the point made by Mike detail in the Preamble section on operations that so many commenters Deis of Better Working Environments Technological Feasibility (Section VII), pointed to as being the most hazardous: that respirators should be qualitatively OSHA has determined that achieving Asbestos renovation, demolition, and fit tested with every wearing, OSHA has the new PEL of 0.2 f/cc as an 8-hour removal operations. revised the final standard specifically to time-weighted average is feasible in the great majority of workplaces with the use of engineering and work practice The Advisory Committee for , Construction Safety'and Health. At several critical junctures during the cross-reference 29 CFR 1910.134(e). Section 1910.134(e)(5)(l) requires employers to ensure the proper Fitting of controls alone, although respiratory asbestos rulemaking, OSHA has had the half-mask respirators by checking the protection may be required in some benefit of the Advisory Committee's facepiece fit "each time he [or she] puts operations. review of various draft versions of the on the respirator." In addition, CACOSH The AIA/NA'8 recommended standard was simitar in many other asbestos construction standard. Most recently, CACOSH reviewed a draft , noted several minor errors in the draft standard being reviewed, particularly in respects to the standard recommended standard at its September 26-27,1985 the draft respiratory protection section, by the BCTD (Ex. 330). For example, the meeting (see transcript of CACOSH and these have subsequently been AIA/NA's recommendations include the proceedings for that date). In addition to . corrected in the final standard (see adoption of a product classification providing specific reviews of successive transcript of CACOSH proceedings). scheme that would rank asbestos- drafts of the asbestos standard for The final standard thus reflects, in a containing products used in construction construction, the Committee also large number of provisions and in many in accordance with their potential for developed, in 1980, a comprehensive ways, the expert advice received by the releasing airborne concentrations of document entitled Report on Agency from the Advisory Committee asbestos. Implementation of the AIA/ NA approach would require Occupational Health Standards for the Construction Industry lEx. 84-233). over the course of this asbestos rulemaking. manufacturer certifications'and the validation of empirically determined product classifications, including the use of objective data or exposure studies Although this document is not directed specifically to asbestos, many of its Findings apply to the revised construction standard. For example, X. Summary hnd Explanation of the Revised Standard for General Industry 1. Paragraph (a). Scope and conducted by fully qualified testing CACOSH expressed concern about the application.. laboratories and empirical Geld testing -difficulty of applying many traditional Like the existing asbestos standard by OSHA inspectors and.others to health standards requirements in the and other OSHA health standards such confirm these test results.' construction setting; specifically, the as inorganic arsenic (11910.1018); lead According to the AIA/NA, examples . Committee noted that medical ( 1910.1025), DBCP (; 1910.1044). and of products qualifying.for Category A surveillance, the use of engineering acrylonitrile (8 1910.1045), this revised status (the least hazardous grouping) controls, and extensive recordkeeping standard applies to all "occupational include products in which asbestos . often pose problems in this high- exposures to (asbestos)." OSHA has not fibers are bound, coated, or enclosed by tumover, out-of-doors, short-term work defined the term "occupational - other materials, such as mastics, environment (Ex.-84-233). . exposure" in the regulatory text. mechanical packings, oil seals', compressed gaskets, sealants and In the context of OSHA's revised asbestos standard for construction, the However, because of increased public awareness pf the hazards of asbestos caulks, roof coatings, and electrical insulating paper. (Ex. 84-307, p. 23). Category B.products would include Committe voted overwhelmingly in favor of the issuance of a separate standard for the construction industry . and its ubiquitousness, inquiries have been made to OSHA concerning the applicability of the standard to ' those certified by their manufacturers as (Ex. 84-424). CACOSH also being incapable, under reasonably recommended that the PEL for foreseeable conditions of processing or construction be set at "the lowest exposures in buildings which may not result from manufacturing, processing or installing asbestos products. Significant use, of releasing asbestos fibers in excess of the PEL "when one or wore feasible level" (Ex. 84t424, pp. 11-13), as areas of concern expressed were OSHA has in fact done (see the exposures to office employees in . specified Fabrication Installation or Preamble section on Technological buildings where.asbestos products has Removal Methods ore used" (Ex. 84-307, feasibility, Section VII). At a later been installed and to employees who pp. 23-24). Category C products would meeting (September 26-27,1985). work in the vicinity of asbestos include, under the AIA/NA's members or the Committee noted their abatement and renovation activities. classification scheme, products support for many provisions of a draft In both situations the exposures are presenting the greatest.exposure final standard submitted to CACOSH occupational and are covered by this potential. These products would , for review; this draft was substantively, standard. The employee's presence in consequently be subject to the most similar to the standard published today. the workplace places him at increased . stringent regulatory controls. For example, committee member Joe risk from asbestos exposure regardless As explained in detail above in Adam urged that the traditional of whether the employee is actually . connection with the BCTD's hierarchy of controls be reflected in the working with asbestos. GLEASON-000925