4.15 – Asbestos

ASBESTOS

Asbestos has been used in a wide variety of products in the past.  It continues to be used in some materials due to its strength and unique fire and chemical resistance properties.  Its use is heavily regulated in Canada at this time. Workers must not be exposed to airborne concentrations of asbestos in excess of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter or air (0.1 f/cc) over an 8-hour time period.

Asbestos must be inhaled to cause disease.  Intact and undisturbed asbestos poses no direct health hazard.  It does present a potential health hazard should the fibres be released into the atmosphere.  As a result, there is a risk associated with all asbestos installations.

Workers who come in contact with asbestos must be aware of the risks, and the method of dealing with asbestos including health assessments which will be provided by Griffin Properties Ltd if exposed.  Any worker who is going to remove asbestos must be trained according to legislation.

Definitions

• CLEAN ROOM – means a room in a high-risk decontamination facility which is used by workers to change from street clothes into protective work clothing and equipment prior to entering the designated work area;
• CLEARANCE AIR SAMPLING – means sampling to determine if the air inside a containment of a high-risk work activity is sufficiently free of asbestos fibre to permit the dismantling of the containment;
• CONTAINMENT – means an isolation system designed to effectively contain asbestos fibre within a designated work area where asbestos-containing material is handled, removed, encapsulated or enclosed, and includes a glove bag;
• DECONTAMINATION FACILITY – means a series of rooms constructed so as to allow a person to enter and leave a containment without spreading asbestos fibre or waste material beyond the designated work area;
• DESIGNATED WORK AREA – means an area for work with asbestos-containing material which is restricted to access by authorized persons by warning signs and by barricades, enclosures or other means of isolation, with due regard for the level of risk;
• ENCAPSULATION – means treatment of an asbestos-containing material or surface with a sealant which penetrates the material and binds the fibres together;
• ENCLOSURE – means isolation of asbestos-containing material from adjacent occupied areas in a building by physical barriers such as gyproc, plywood, or metal sheeting, to prevent the release of airborne asbestos fibres into these areas;
• FRIABLE ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIAL – means asbestos-containing material that is crumbled or powdered or can be crumbled or powdered by hand pressure;
• HIGH RISK WORK ACTIVITY – means a work activity that involves working with or in proximity to asbestos-containing material if a high level of control is necessary in respect of that activity to prevent exposure of a worker to airborne asbestos fibre;
• LOW RISK WORK ACTIVITY – means a work activity that involves working with or in proximity to asbestos-containing material if, at the time the work activity is being carried out, both of the following apply:
  • a) the asbestos-containing material is not being
    • i) cut, sanded, drilled, broken, ground down or otherwise fragmented, or
    • ii) disturbed such that the asbestos-containing material may release airborne asbestos fibre;
  • b) it is not necessary to use personal protective equipment or engineering controls in respect of that activity to prevent exposure of a worker to airborne asbestos fibre;
• MODERATE RISK WORK ACTIVITY – means a work activity, other than a high-risk work activity, that involves working with or in proximity to asbestos-containing material if, at the time the work activity is being carried out, one or both of the following apply:
  • a) the asbestos-containing material is being
    • i) cut, sanded, drilled, broken, ground down or otherwise fragmented, or
    • ii) disturbed such that the asbestos-containing material may release airborne asbestos fibre;
  • b) it is necessary to use personal protective equipment or engineering controls, or both, in respect of that activity to prevent exposure of a worker to airborne asbestos fibre;
• QUALIFIED PERSON – means a person who
  • a) has knowledge of the management and control of asbestos hazards through education and training, and
  • b) has experience in the management and control of asbestos hazards.

General Requirements

Exposure control plan

If a worker is or may be exposed to potentially harmful levels of asbestos, Griffin Properties will develop and implement an exposure control plan meeting the regulatory requirements.

A risk assessment will be conducted by a qualified person on asbestos containing material identified in the inventory, with due regard for condition of the material, its friability, accessibility and likelihood of damage, and the potential for fibre release and exposure of workers. (Before any demolition, alteration, or repair of machinery, equipment, or structures where asbestos-containing material may be disturbed).

The activity will be classified as a low, moderate or high-risk activity.

Griffin Properties will ensure that a risk assessment has been conducted before any demolition.  If there is uncertainty whether or not the material that is being worked on or near contains asbestos, then the customer will have the material tested by a company of their choice and results will be supplied to Griffin Properties to further access the situation.

The Owner/Client must ensure that all asbestos-containing materials present in the workplace are identified by signs, labels or other effective means.  If there are any areas of uncertainty then the material shall be treated as suspect and the proper protocol to be used with dealing with it.

Control of asbestos fibre

Griffin Properties will ensure that all friable asbestos-containing materials in the workplace are controlled by removal, enclosure or encapsulation so as to prevent the release of airborne asbestos fibre.  Owner/Client shall remove asbestos containing materials unless otherwise arranged prior to the job being performed.

Griffin Properties will not allow any work that would disturb asbestos-containing material unless necessary precautions have been taken to protect workers.

Procedures

Griffin Properties will ensure (or monitor Owner/Client) that procedures for handling or using asbestos-containing material prevent or minimize the release of airborne asbestos fibres.

If Griffin Properties is responsible for handling or using asbestos-containing material we will ensure that the procedures for control, handling or use of asbestos are in accordance with procedures acceptable to the Board.

The procedures must address

• a) containment of asbestos operations where applicable,
• b) control of the release of asbestos fibre,
• c) provision, use and maintenance of appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing,
• d) means for the decontamination of workers, and
• e) removal of asbestos waste and cleanup of asbestos waste material.
• f) The procedures must provide a worker with task-specific work direction that addresses both hazards and necessary controls.

Prohibitions

Except for waste intended for disposal crocidolite asbestos or material containing crocidolite asbestos is not brought into or used in a workplace.

The spraying of asbestos or asbestos-containing material is not permitted.

Pressure spraying equipment of any type must not be used to remove asbestos insulation or other asbestos-containing material from buildings or structures.

The use of compressed air to clean up or remove asbestos dust or debris, or dry sweeping or dry mopping of asbestos waste is not permitted.

Substitution

Where possible material less hazardous than asbestos-containing material will be used when practicable.

If such substitution is not practicable, documentation will be provided with the reasons why less hazardous material cannot be substituted for asbestos-containing material and make this documentation available to workers and to the joint committee or the worker health and safety representative, as applicable.

Instruction and training

Griffin Properties will ensure that a worker(s) who is at risk of exposure to asbestos and the safe handling of any asbestos containing material is adequately instructed and trained in

• a) the hazards of asbestos,
• b) the means of identifying asbestos-containing material at the worksite,
• c) the work procedures to be followed,
• d) the correct use of the required personal protective equipment, and operation of the required engineering controls, and
• e) the purpose and significance of any required health monitoring.

Monitoring

During a high-risk work activity, except where glove bags are used as the containment, the Owner/Client (or GRIFFIN if pre-arranged) must sample for airborne asbestos fibre in

• a) areas outside of the containment but in its vicinity, at least daily if there are unprotected workers in the area,
• b) the clean room, at least daily during removal and clean-up operations, and
• c) contaminated areas inside the containment, as necessary during removal and clean-up to ensure that workers are adequately protected.

The results of all air samples taken during a high-risk work activity will be made available to the workers involved, within 24 hours of completing the collection of the samples.

Except where glove bags are used as the containment, prior to dismantling a containment used in a high-risk work activity and after all asbestos waste has been cleaned up, removed or otherwise controlled, the employer must ensure that

• a) clearance air sampling is conducted in previously contaminated areas inside the containment, and
• b) the airborne asbestos fibre levels in these areas do not exceed 0.02 f/ml.

Designated Work Areas and Containments

Designated area

Before starting work with asbestos-containing material:

• a) identify and mark the boundary of the designated work area by barricades, fences, or similar means to keep these areas isolated so other areas are not contaminated,
• b) ensure that the immediate work area is cleared of objects, materials and equipment other than that required to do the work, and
• c) ensure that windows, doorways and all other openings are adequately secured to prevent the release of asbestos fibre into other work areas.

Signs will be posted at the boundaries of the designated work area indicating asbestos work is in progress, the hazards, and the precautions required for entering the work area.

The area will be restricted to authorized persons who are adequately protected against the level of risk within the designated work area.

Permanent enclosure design

When asbestos-containing material in the workplace is controlled by a permanent enclosure, the enclosure must be airtight, and if practicable, that electrical, plumbing, ventilation and similar services are located outside the enclosure.

Glove bags

When a prefabricated glove bag is used for the removal of asbestos insulation from pipes, ducts and similar structures

• a) the glove bag is sealed to prevent the release of asbestos fibres into the work area outside the bag,
• b) waste materials on surfaces are washed to the bottom of the glove bag and all exposed asbestos insulation is encapsulated while inside the glove bag enclosure,
• c) all glove bags are evacuated through a HEPA vacuum to remove the air inside the bag, prior to removal of the bag, and
• d) after removing the glove bag, all exposed surfaces are cleaned again.

High risk work

For high risk work activity Griffin Properties will provide and maintain a containment and a decontamination facility, except that a decontamination facility is not required if the containment is a glove bag.

A containment and a decontamination facility used for high risk work activity will be inspected at least daily to ensure their effectiveness is maintained.

The design of the decontamination facility includes

• a) a physical connection to the containment,
• b) a shower facility, and
• c) provision for the safe entry and exit of workers.

If the high-risk work activity involves encapsulation of asbestos-containing material, the encapsulant penetrates the material and effectively binds the asbestos fibres together and has not disturbed the bonding of the material to the supporting surface.

• a) At the completion of a high-risk work activity and before dismantling the containment, make sure that you:
• b) visually inspect the area inside the containment to ensure that an effective clean-up has been completed, and
• c) treat all exposed surfaces inside the containment with a sealant to bind any remaining asbestos fibres and prevent them from becoming airborne.

Ventilation

Containment ventilation

The Owner/Client or Griffin Properties, if required, with the exception of a glove bag, ventilate a containment to ensure that

• a) air flows only from clean outside areas into the contaminated area,
• b) exhaust air from the containment ventilation system is directed to the outdoors through an effective HEPA filter, and
• c) there is an inward airflow through the decontamination facility into the containment.

Local exhaust ventilation

Local exhaust ventilation will be provided with exhaust air discharged through a HEPA filter for all dust-producing operations outside a containment where asbestos-containing material is handled or used.

Filter testing

The effectiveness of HEPA filters by DOP (dioctyl phthalate) testing or similar means must be done at least annually, after a HEPA filter is replaced in a vacuum cleaner or ventilation system, and before use in high risk work activity.  If GRIFFIN does not provide the system being used the contractor that is providing the service shall provide the necessary records.

Other Means of Controlling Exposure to Asbestos

Protecting work surfaces

Before starting work where exposed friable asbestos-containing material is present or asbestos-containing material has been handled all asbestos dust from contaminated work surfaces with a damp cloth or similar material will be removed, or with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA-filtered exhaust.

Work surfaces in the work area must be kept as free as practicable from accumulations of asbestos dust.

Work surfaces in a designated work area must, with due regard for the level of risk, be covered with plastic sheets, tarpaulins or similar materials to help control the spread of asbestos-containing material.

Preventing spread

Griffin Properties will prevent the spread of asbestos dust and debris to other work areas during the work with acceptable means.

Wetting material

Asbestos-containing material that is to be removed or disturbed must be effectively wetted before and during the work, whenever practicable.

Repairing damaged material

When damaged asbestos-containing material is repaired Griffin Properties or the Owner/Client must ensure that

• a) the repair methods will seal all exposed, friable ends or edges, and
• b) the methods used disturb the least amount of asbestos-containing material necessary to complete the repair.

Waste Handling and Disposal

Sealed containers

Griffin Properties, or the Owner/Client, will ensure that all asbestos waste and other waste contaminated with asbestos, including disposable protective clothing and clean-up equipment removed during abatement activities is placed into sealed containers or other methods used to contain asbestos.   These containers must be labelled as containing asbestos and be adequately contained in a designated area.

Cleaning containers and equipment

The exterior of a container of asbestos waste is to be cleaned with a damp cloth or a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA-filtered exhaust before being removed from a designated work area.

Reusable tools and equipment contaminated with asbestos must be cleaned after work is completed.

Waste removal

Before any work involving asbestos containing materials takes place, procedures for the safe removal of asbestos dust and debris from the work area are set out in writing by a qualified person.

The written procedures must:

• a) comply with the requirements set out in the WCB Regulations,
• b) provide for removal of asbestos dust and debris from the work area
  • i) while work is in progress, at intervals necessary to eliminate or minimize the risk of exposure,
  • ii) at the end of each work shift, and
  • iii) at the completion of work involving asbestos, and
• c) consider the nature of the asbestos dust and debris to be removed and provide specific direction regarding which of the following removal methods, or combination of the following removal methods, is most appropriate for safe removal of that asbestos dust and debris in relation to each of the times set out in paragraph (b) (i), (ii) and (iii):
  • i) using a vacuum cleaner, or similar device, that is equipped with a HEPA-filtered exhaust;
  • ii) wiping surfaces with a damp cloth or sponge to remove residual amounts of asbestos dust and debris;
  • iii) wet sweeping or wet mopping to remove larger amounts of asbestos dust and debris;
  • iv) using a shovel or similar device to place larger amounts of dampened asbestos debris into the sealed container
  • v) using another method that is acceptable to the Board.

Griffin Properties will ensure that

• a) every worker who is engaged in asbestos dust and debris removal at the work area is adequately instructed and trained in the written procedures of the qualified person under this section, and
• b) the written procedures of the qualified person are followed.

Waste disposal

The Owner/Client will dispose of containers of asbestos waste promptly to prevent the accumulation of large amounts of asbestos waste or a professional disposal agency will be contracted for the removal of waste.

Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment

Respiratory protection

Workers within a designated work area must wear respirators which are adequate for the anticipated level of exposure and when the airborne concentration of asbestos cannot be reduced below its occupational exposure limit.

A single use respirator is not used for protection against asbestos.

Protective clothing

All persons within a designated work area will wear protective clothing which is made of material resistant to penetration by asbestos fibres, fits snugly at the neck, wrists and ankles, and as necessary to protect against the risk, covers the head and feet as well as the body.

Any torn or damaged protective clothing must be immediately repaired or replaced.

Before a worker removes protective clothing and equipment, the worker will clean their gear with a damp cloth or a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA-filtered exhaust.

Griffin Properties Supervision will ensure that a worker removes protective clothing and equipment before leaving the designated work area.

Protective clothing contaminated with asbestos is, before reuse, cleaned with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA-filtered exhaust, and placed in a water-soluble plastic bag, which is sealed and labelled before being sent to an acceptable laundry facility.

Information to laundry workers

Any workers who launder clothing contaminated with asbestos are to be informed of the hazards of asbestos and the precautions required for handling the clothing.

Documentation

Types of records

Griffin Properties will maintain, for at least 10 years, records of asbestos-containing materials inventories and risk assessments, inspections and air monitoring results.

Griffin Properties must maintain for at least 3 years, records of corrective actions to control asbestos fibre release, training and instruction of workers, written work procedures and written notification of the Board.