1.0 Introduction
An estimated 1.3 million employees in construction and general industry face significant
asbestos exposure on the job. Heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry,
particularly during the removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition. Employees
are also likely to be exposed during the manufacture of asbestos products (such as
textiles, friction products, insulation, and other building materials) and during
automotive brake and clutch repair work. Asbestos is well recognized as a health hazard
and is highly regulated.
2.0 Scope
These regulations apply to asbestos exposure in the following areas:
4.0 Permissible Exposure Limits (PELS)
7.0 Exposure Assessments and Monitoring
General monitoring
Initial exposure assessment
Negative exposure assessment
Objective data demonstrating that the material cannot release airborne fibers in concentrations
exceeding the PELs under work conditions having the greatest potential for releasing
asbestos.
Where exposure monitoring of a prior asbestos job was performed within 12 months,
monitoring was performed in compliance with the asbestos standard; and the data were
obtained under conditions that "closely resemble" those used in the current operations,
the operations were conducted by employees whose training and experience are similar
to that of current employees, and these data show that under the current conditions
it is unlikely that the PEL will be exceeded.
The results of initial exposure monitoring of the current job made from breathing
zone air samples that are representative of the 8-hour TWA and 30-minute short-term
exposures of each employee covering operations which are most likely to result in
exposures over the PELs.
Periodic monitoring
Termination of monitoring
Employee notification of monitoring results
Observation of monitoring
General Engineering controls and work practices
Work practices and engineering controls for class II work
Controls for specific Class II operations
Floor Tiles
Roofing Material
Siding, transite panel, shingles (other than roofs)
Gaskets
Other Materials
Alternative Work Practices and Controls
Work practices and engineering controls for Class III asbestos work
Class IV Asbestos Work
Alternative methods of compliance for installation, removal, repair, and maintenance of certain roofing and pipeline coating materials
This section applies when installing, removing, repairing, or maintaining intact pipeline asphaltic wrap, or roof cements, mastics, coatings, or flashings which contain asbestos fibers encapsulated or coated by bituminous or resinous compounds.
General
Respirators will be used in the following circumstances:
Respirator selection
Table 1. Respiratory Protection for Asbestos Fibers
Airborne concentration of asbestos | Minimum required respirator |
Less than 1 f/cc (10 X PEL) | Half-mask air purifying with HEPA filters |
Less than 5 f/cc (50 X PEL) | Full facepiece with HEPA filters |
Less than 10 f/cc (100 X PEL) | Powered air-purifying respirator with HEPA filters |
Less than 100 f/cc (1,000 X PEL) | Full facepiece supplied air respirator operated in pressure demand mode |
Gtr than 100 f/cc (1,000 X PEL) or unknown concentration | Full facepiece supplied air respirator operated in pressure demand mode, equipped with an auxiliary positive pressure SCBA |
Respirator Program
Respirator fit testing
11.0 Hygiene Facilities and Practices for Employees
Requirements for Class I Operations
Requirements for Class I work involving less than 25 linear or 10 square feet of TSI or surfacing ACM or PACM, and for Class II and III operations where exposures exceed a PEL or where no negative exposure assessment has been done.
Requirements for Class IV Work
Smoking in Work Areas
Installed asbestos containing building material
Duties of Employers
Criteria to negate the designation of installed material as PACM
Class I and II Operations
Class III Operations
Class IV Operations
Training Program
Employees covered
Examination
Objective Data
Exposure Measurements
Medical Surveillance
Training Records
Availability
Duties
Training for the competent person
1.0 Introduction
An estimated 1.3 million employees in construction and general industry face significant asbestos exposure on the job. Heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry, particularly during the removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition. Employees may also be exposed in general industry during the manufacture of asbestos products (such as textiles, friction products, insulation, and other building materials), during automotive brake and clutch repair work, and when conducting housekeeping activities. Asbestos is well recognized as a health hazard and is highly regulated.
2.0 Scope
This section applies to occupational exposures to asbestos in general industry. It does not apply to construction work.
3.0 Definitions
4.0 Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
5.0 Exposure Monitoring
6.0 Regulated Areas
7.0 Methods of Compliance
8.0 Communication of Hazards to Employees
9.0 Training
1. A training program will be established for all employees exposed to airborne concentrations of asbestos above the PEL. Training will be conducted at the time of initial assignment and at least annually thereafter. Training will include:
2. Housekeepers and maintenance personnel who work in areas that contain ACM or PACM will receive an asbestos awareness training course that contains the following material:
3. Training for housekeepers and maintenance personnel will be performed annually
by the Safety Office.
4. A copy of the Asbestos Standard will be made available to all affected employees
at no cost.
10.0 Housekeeping Procedures
11.0 Recordkeeping
12.0 Work Practices for Automotive Brake and Clutch Repair
The following methods are approved for the inspection or repair of brakes and clutches.
Negative Pressure Enclosure/HEPA Vacuum Method
Low Pressure/Wet Cleaning Method
Equivalent Methods
Wet Method
1.0 Introduction
In the construction industry, most over-exposures to lead are found in the trades, such as plumbing, welding, electrical work, carpentry, and painting. Significant lead exposures can also arise from removing paint from surfaces previously coated with lead-based paint, such as in renovation and demolition. Once in the blood, lead is distributed primarily in the blood, soft tissue (kidney, bone marrow, liver, and brain) and bones and teeth and can build to toxic levels.
2.0 Scope
This section applies to all construction work where an employee may be occupationally exposed to lead. Construction work is defined as work for construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating. It includes but is not limited to the following:
3.0 Definitions
Action level-Employee exposure, without regard to the use of respirators, to an airborne concentration of lead of 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).
Competent person-A person who is capable of identifying lead hazards and has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
Lead-Metallic lead, all inorganic lead compounds, and organic lead soaps. Excluded from this definition are all other organic lead compounds.
4.0 Permissible Exposure Limit
5.0 Exposure Assessment
General
Protection of employees during assessment of exposure
1. Until the Safety Office performs an exposure assessment and documents that an employee performing any of the tasks listed below is not exposed above the PEL (50 ug/cubic meter), the employee will be assumed to be exposed above the PEL, but less than ten times the PEL. The tasks covered by this requirement are:
2. For the tasks listed below, until an exposure assessment is performed that demonstrates that employees are not exposed in excess of 500 ug/cubic meter, employees will be assumed to be exposed to lead in excess of 500 ug/cubic meter. If employees are exposed to levels of lead below 500 ug/cubic meter, exposed employees will be provided with the appropriate respirator. The tasks covered by this requirement are:
3. For the tasks listed below, until an exposure assessment is performed that demonstrates that employees are not exposed in excess of 2,500 ug/cubic meters (50 x PEL), employees will be assumed to be exposed in excess of 2,500 ug/cubic meters. If employees are exposed to levels of lead below 2,500 ug/cubic meters, employees will be provided with appropriate respirators. Interim protection as described in this paragraph is required where lead containing coatings or paint are present on structures when performing:
4. With regard to tasks not listed above, if there is any reason to believe that workers may be exposed to lead in excess of the PEL, workers will be treated as if they were exposed above the PEL until an exposure assessment is performed that demonstrates exposures below the PEL.
5. For the tasks not listed above, if objective data is available demonstrating that a particular product containing lead or a specific process, operation or activity involving lead cannot result in exposure to lead above the action level this data may be used instead of implementing initial monitoring. An accurate record shall be maintained documenting the nature and relevancy of objective data, where used in assessing employee exposure instead of exposure monitoring.
6. Until an employee exposure assessment is performed that determines actual exposure, employees performing the tasks described above will be provided with interim protection as follows:
Basis of initial determination
1. Initial determinations of employee exposure will be based on exposure monitoring results and any of the following, relevant considerations:
2. Monitoring for the initial determination may be limited to a representative sample of the exposed employees who are exposed to the greatest airborne concentrations of lead in the workplace.
3. If previous monitoring for lead exposures was performed within the past 12 months using work operations that closely resemble the type of material, control methods, work practices, and environmental conditions used in the current operations, the earlier monitoring results may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section if the sampling and analytical methods meet the required accuracy and confidence levels.
Positive initial determination and initial monitoring
1. If an initial determination shows the possibility of any employee exposure at or above the action level, monitoring which is representative of the exposure for each employee in the workplace who is exposed to lead will be conducted.
Negative initial determination
1. Where an initial determination is made that no employee is exposed to airborne concentrations of lead at or above the action level a written record will be made. The record shall include the date of determination, location within the worksite, and the name and social security number of each employee monitored.
Frequency
1. If the initial determination reveals employee exposure below the action level, further exposure determination will not be repeated unless there is a change in the task.
2. If the initial determination or subsequent determination reveals employee exposure above the action level but below the PEL, monitoring will be performed at least every 6 months. Monitoring will be continued at the required frequency until at least two consecutive measurements, taken at least 7 days apart, are below the action level at which time monitoring may be discontinued unless there has been a change in the task.
3. If the initial determination reveals that employee exposure is above the PEL, monitoring will be performed quarterly. Monitoring will continue at the required frequency until at least two consecutive measurements, taken at least 7 days apart, are below the PEL but above the action level.
Additional exposure assessments
1. Additional monitoring will be conducted whenever there has been a change of equipment, process, control, personnel or a new task has been initiated that may result in additional employees being exposed to lead above the action level or may result in employees already exposed above the action level being exposed above the PEL.
Employee notification
1. Within 5 working days after completion of the exposure assessment each employee will be notified in writing of the results which represent that employee's exposure.
2. Whenever the results indicate that the representative employee exposure is above the PEL the written notice will include a statement that the employees exposure was above that level and a description of the corrective action that will be taken.
Accuracy of measurement
1. A method of monitoring and analysis will be used that has an accuracy (to a confidence level of 95 percent) of not less than plus or minus 25 percent for airborne concentrations of lead equal to or greater than 30 ug/cubic meter.
6.0 Methods of Compliance
Engineering and work practice controls
1. Engineering and work practice controls will be implemented to reduce and maintain employee exposure to lead below the permissible exposure limit to the extent that such controls are feasible. When engineering and work practices controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to below the permissible exposure limit, they will be used to reduce employee exposure to the lowest feasible level and will be supplemented with respiratory protection.
Compliance program
1. Prior to commencement of the job a written compliance program will be established and implemented to ensure that the PEL is not exceeded.
2. Written plans for these compliance programs shall include at least the following:
3. The compliance program will provide for frequent and regular inspections of job sites, materials, and equipment by a competent person.
4. Written programs shall be submitted upon request to any affected employee, authorized employee representatives, or OSHA and shall be available at the worksite.
5. Written programs shall be revised and updated at least every 6 months to reflect the current status of the program.
Mechanical ventilation
1. When ventilation is used to control lead exposure, the performance of the system shall be evaluated in controlling exposure as necessary to maintain its effectiveness.
Administrative controls
1. If administrative controls are used as a means of reducing employees exposure to lead, a job rotation schedule will be established and implemented which includes:
2. To the extent relevant, employees will follow good work practices as described in Appendix B of the OSHA regulations.
7.0 Respiratory Protection
General
1. Respirators will be used when:
Respirator program
1. The Respiratory Protection Program will be developed in accordance with OSHA regulations 1910.134.
2. If an employee has breathing difficulty during fit testing or respirator use, a medical examination will be provided to determine if the employee can use a respirator while performing the task.
Respirator selection
1. Only NIOSH approved respirators will be used. Respirators will be appropriate for the task.
2. A powered air-purifying respirator will be provided if an employee chooses to use such a respirator and it will provide adequate protection.
8.0 Protective Work Clothing and Equipment
Provision and use
1. If an employee is exposed to lead above the PEL or to lead compounds which may cause skin or eye irritation, and as interim protection, the following protective work clothing and equipment will be provided.
Cleaning and replacement
1. Protective clothing will be provided in a clean and dry condition at least weekly, and daily to employees whose exposure levels are over 200 ug/cubic of lead as an 8-hour TWA.
2. Cleaning, laundering, and disposal of protective clothing and equipment will be handled by the university.
3. Protective clothing and equipment will be repaired or replaced as needed to maintain their effectiveness.
4. Protective clothing will be removed at the completion of a work shift only in change areas provided for that purpose.
5. Contaminated protective clothing which is cleaned, laundered, or disposed of, will be placed in a closed container in the change area which prevents dispersion of lead outside the container.
6. Any person who cleans or launders protective clothing or equipment will be informed of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to lead.
7. Containers of contaminated protective clothing and equipment will be labeled as follows:
Caution: Clothing contaminated with lead. Do not remove dust by blowing or shaking. Dispose of lead contaminated wash water in accordance with applicable local, state, or federal regulations.
8. The removal of lead from protective clothing or equipment will be prohibited by blowing, shaking, or any other means which disperses lead into the air.
9.0 Housekeeping
10.0 Hygiene Facilities and Practices
Change areas
Showers
Eating facilities
Hand Washing facilities
11.0 Medical Surveillance
General
Biological monitoring
1. Biological monitoring in the form of blood sampling and analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels will be given on the following schedule:
2. When the results of a blood test indicate that an employee's lead level exceeds the criterion for medical removal a second test will be provided within two weeks after the employer receives the results of the first blood test.
3. Blood lead analysis shall have an accuracy (to a confidence level of 95 percent) within plus or minus 15 percent or 6 ug/dl, whichever is greater, and shall be conducted by a laboratory approved by OSHA.
4. Within five working days after the receipt of biological monitoring results, employees will be notified in writing of their blood lead level. When an employee’s blood lead level exceeds 40 ug/dl he/she will be notified that the standard requires temporary medical removal with Medical Removal Protection benefits when lead level exceeds the numerical criterion for medical removal.
Medical examination and consultations
1. Medical examinations and consultations will be made available to employees exposed above the action level for more than 30 days in 12 consecutive months on the following schedule:
2. The content of medical examinations will be determined by an examining physician and, if requested by an employee, shall include pregnancy testing or an evaluation of male fertility. Medical examinations shall include the following elements:
3. If the university selects the initial physician who conducts the medical examination or consultation, the employee may designate a second physician:
4. Employees will be promptly notified of their right to seek a second medical opinion after an initial physician conducts a medical examination or consultation. The university may condition its participation in, and payment for, the multiple physician review mechanism upon the employee doing the following within fifteen days after receipt of the notification, or receipt of the initial physician's written opinion, whichever is later:
5. If the findings or recommendations of the second physician differ from those of the initial physician, then the university and the employee will ensure that efforts are made to resolve any disagreement.
6. If the two physicians are unable to quickly resolve their disagreement, then the university and the employee through their respective physicians will designate a third physician:
7. The university will act consistent with the findings and recommendations of the third physician, unless the university and the employee reach an agreement which is consistent with the recommendations of one of the physicians.
8. The initial physician conducting a medical examination or consultation will be provided with the following information:
9. This information will be provided to a second or third physician conducting a medical examination or consultation upon their request or the employee’s.
10. The employee will be provided with a copy of a written medical opinion from each examining or consulting physician which contains only the following information:
11. Each examining and consulting physician will be instructed to:
12. The university and an employee may agree upon any alternate physician mechanism instead of the multiple physician review mechanism so long as the alternate mechanism is equally protective.
Chelation
12.0 Medical Removal Protection
Temporary medical removal
Return of employee to former job status
1. An employee will be returned to his or her former job status:
Removal of other employee special protective measure and limitations
1. Any limitations placed on an employee will be removed and any special protective measures will be ended when a subsequent final medical determination indicates that these are no longer necessary.
Employer options pending a final medical determination
1. Where the multiple physician review mechanism has not yet resulted in a final medical determination the following actions will be taken:
Medical removal protection benefits
14.0 Signs
1. Signs required by other regulations may be used in addition to, or in combination
with, signs required by this section.
2. No statement will appears on or near any sign required by this section which contradicts
or detracts from the meaning of the required sign.
3. The following warning signs shall be posted in each work area where an employees
exposure to lead is above the PEL:
4. Signs required by this section will be illuminated and cleaned as necessary so that the legend is readily visible.
15.0 Recordkeeping
Exposure Assessment
1. A record will be maintained of all monitoring and other data used in conducting employee exposure assessments.
2. Exposure monitoring records will include:
3. Records shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions of 29 CFR 1910.20.
Medical surveillance
1. A record will be maintained for each employee subject to medical surveillance.
2. This record shall include:
3. The university will keep, or assure that the examining physician keeps, the following medical records:
4. Medical records will be maintained in accordance with the provisions of 29 CFR 1910.20.
Medical removals
1. A record will be maintained for each employee removed from exposure to lead.
2. Each record shall include:
3. Medical removal record will be maintained for at least the duration of an employee's employment.
Objective date for exemption from requirement for initial monitoring
1. Objective data records will be maintained for at least 30 years.
Availability
1. All records required to be maintained will be made available to affected employees, former employees, and their designated representatives, and to OSHA.
Transfer of records
1. If the university ceases to do business, the successor employer shall receive and retain all records required to be maintained by this section.
2. If the university ceases to do business and there is no successor employer to receive the records required by this section, these records shall be transmitted to OSHA.
3. At the expiration of the retention period for the records required to be maintained by this section, the university shall notify OSHA at least 3 months prior to the disposal of the records and shall transmit those records to OSHA if requested within the period.
4. The university shall also comply with any additional requirements involving transfer of records set forth in 29 CFR 1910.20(h)
16.0 Observation of Monitoring
Employee observation
1. Affected employees or their designated representatives will be provided with an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to lead.
Observation procedures
1. Whenever observation of the monitoring of employee exposure to lead requires entry into an area where the use of respirators, protective clothing or equipment is required, the observer shall be provided with this equipment. The observer will comply with all other applicable safety and health procedures.
2. Without interfering with the monitoring, observers shall be entitled to:
1.0 Purpose
A seller or lessor of target housing shall disclose to the purchaser or lessee the presence of any known lead-based paint, provide available reports, provide a lead hazard information pamphlet, give purchaser a 10 day opportunity to conduct a risk assessment, and attach a disclosure and warning statement to the sales or leasing contract.
2.0 Scope
These regulations apply to all transactions to sell or lease target housing with the following exceptions:
3.0 Definitions
Target housing- any housing constructed prior to 1978 with the following exceptions:
0-bedroom dwellings- a residential dwelling in which the living area is not separated from the sleeping area; includes efficiencies, studio apartments, dormitory housing, and rentals of individual rooms in residential dwelling.
Common area - a portion of a building generally accessible to all residential/users including hallways, stairways, laundry, recreational rooms, playgrounds, community centers, and boundary fences.
Lead-based paint free - target housing that is free of paint that contains lead equal to or in excess of 1.0 mg/sq.cm. or 0.5% by weight.
Residential dwelling:
4.0 Disclosure Requirements
The following activities shall be completed before the purchaser or lessee is obligated to purchase or lease target housing that is not exempted under these regulations.
5.0 Certificate and Acknowledgment of Disclosure
Each contract to lease target housing shall include the following elements:
1.0 Introduction
Molds are fungi that can be found both indoors and outdoors. Molds grow best in warm, damp, and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making spores; which can survive harsh environmental conditions, such as drought, that do not support normal mold growth.
Molds are found in virtually every environment and can be detected, both indoors and outdoors, year round. Mold growth is encouraged by warm and humid conditions. Outdoors they can be found in shady, damp areas or places where leaves or other vegetation is decomposing. Indoors they can be found where humidity levels are high, such as basements or showers.
Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, on ceiling tiles, around windows, or pipe insulation, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.
Mold can enter your space through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, bags, and pets can and be carried indoors.
If mold is growing in your office or dormitory, you should contact Facilities Management to have the mold removed and have the moisture problem corrected. Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.
Mold growth, which often looks like spots, can be many different colors, and can smell musty. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you cannot depend on sampling alone to know your health risk. The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth.
2.0 Health Effects
Fungal diseases may sound mysterious and dangerous, but often they cause familiar infections. Yeast infections, thrush, ring worm, eye, lung, skin, hair, and nail infections can all be caused by fungi. Fungi are lurking everywhere and interact with humans, animals, and plants in a variety of ways. Some of these interactions can be beneficial; for example, both penicillin and bread, wine and beer use ingredients made from fungi. However, certain types of fungi can be harmful to health. Like bacteria and viruses, some fungi can act as pathogens. Human fungal diseases can occur due to infection or fungal toxins.
Fungi can be found in plants, soil, the environment, certain trees, decaying vegetation, and decomposing organic matter, even on our skin, mucus membranes and intestinal tract. Symptoms for fungal diseases can be as common as itching, coughing, fever, wheezing, but they can also be as serious as meningitis or even death.
Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. In general people should avoid areas that are likely to have mold, such as compost piles, cut grass, and wooded areas.
Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, eye irritation, coughing or wheezing, or in some cases skin irritation. People with mold allergies may have more severe reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may get serious infections in their lungs when they are exposed to mold. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs.
If you believe you are ill because of exposure to mold in the building where you work, you should first consult your health care provider to determine the appropriate action to take to protect your health and will decide whether you need referral to a specialist. Such specialists might include an allergist who treats patients with mold allergies or an infectious disease physician who treats mold infections. If an infection is in the lungs, a pulmonary physician might be recommended. Patients who have been exposed to molds in their workplace may be referred to an occupational physician.
Notify your supervisor or residence director about your concern so that appropriate action can take place to clean up and prevent mold growth. To find out more about mold, remediation of mold, or workplace safety and health guidelines and regulations, you may also want to contact your local (city, county, or state) health department.
3.0 Prevention and Control
In your office or dormitory you can control mold growth by:
If you choose to use bleach to clean up mold:
Recommendations:
4.0 Inspections and Sampling
Generally, it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in your space. Current evidence indicates that allergies are the type of diseases most often associated with molds. Since the susceptibility of individuals can vary greatly either because of the amount or type of mold, sampling and culturing are not reliable in determining your health risk. If you are susceptible to mold and mold is seen or smelled, there is a potential health risk; therefore, no matter what type of mold is present, you should arrange for its removal.
Furthermore, standards for judging what is an acceptable, tolerable, or normal quantity of mold, have not been established. Also, the results of samples taken in your unique situation cannot be interpreted without physical inspection of the contaminated area or without considering the building’s characteristics and the factors that led to the present condition.
However, if you believe you are experiencing a mold problem in your office or dormitory you should contact the safety office to conduct a visual inspection of the area to confirm the presence and identify the source if possible. In the event that mold cannot be visually confirmed and there are no significant signs of related moisture issues; leaks, stained ceiling tiles, etc. then air sampling may be necessary to confirm the presence of a mold problem based on the relative indoor/outdoor concentrations.
Common Indoor molds
“Toxic” Black Mold
1.0 Introduction
This program is designed to reduce or eliminate workplace exposure to crystalline silica. Exposure to crystalline silica can cause silicosis, a serious lung disease. More than one million U.S. workers, including over 100,000 in high risk settings, are occupationally exposed to crystalline silica. A wide range of industries use silica, including construction, mining, maritime industries, foundries, ceramics and glass manufacturing, electronics, agriculture, rock quarry/crushing and abrasives manufacturing.
2.0 Potentical Exposures
The following activities may cause crystalline silica dust to be present in the air:
3.0 Materials containing Silica
4.0 Air Monitoring
5.0 Exposure Limit
6.0 Medical Surveillance
1. Medical examinations will be made available:
2. The medical examination will include a medical and occupational history to elicit data on signs and symptoms of respiratory disease prior to exposure to silica. A chest x-ray and PFT will be performed at the physicians discretion. The chest x-ray will be read by a certified class "B" reader.
3. A chest x-ray will be obtained on employment termination.
4. Where medical examinations are preformed, the following information will be provided to the examining physician:
5. The Safety Office will obtain and furnish the employee with a written opinion from the examining physician containing the following:
6. The written opinion will not reveal specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure to silica.
7.0 Safe Work Practices
1. The primary means of protecting workers will be through the use of less toxic materials, enclosed systems, local exhaust ventilation, wet methods, and good work practices.
2. The following measures will be used to reduce exposure to crystalline silica in the workplace:
3. Silica sand or other substances containing more than 1% crystalline silica will not be used for abrasive blasting.
4. Good personal hygiene will be practiced to avoid unnecessary exposure. Eating, drinking, use of tobacco products, or applying cosmetics will not be done in areas where there is dust containing crystalline silica.
5. If possible, employees will shower and change into clean clothes before leaving the worksite to prevent contamination of cars, homes, and other work areas.
8.0 Personal Protective Equipment
1. When source controls cannot keep exposures below the PEL, respiratory protection will be used.
2. When respirators are used, the Safety Office will enroll workers in a comprehensive Respiratory Protection Program. Important elements of this program are:
3. A respirator approved for protection against crystalline silica-containing dust will be used.
4. If possible, disposable or washable protective clothes will be worn at the worksite.
9.0 Housekeeping Program
Exposed surfaces will be maintained free of accumulation of silica dust. To minimize hazards, the following procedures will be used to clean areas contaminated with dust containing crystalline silica:
10.0 Training
1. Workers who may be exposed to silica will receive safety training to include the following:
2. Training will be conducted by the Safety Office. Training records will be kept in the Safety Office for three years.
3. Training will be performed prior to the employee’s assignment to an area where the employee may be exposed to silica. Retraining will be performed if the Safety Manager or supervision believes it is necessary to prevent or reduce exposures.
11.0 Warning Signs