From the early 1900s until the 1970s, asbestos was a popular building material due to its strength, resistance to fire, and insulation properties. Even though asbestos was banned in the United States at the beginning of the 1980s, it is still present in buildings all over the country. Fibers pose a serious threat to human health if they enter the air. When embarking on an asbestos removal project, property owners and managers need to be aware of what to anticipate.
Which of the Following Justifies the Removal of Asbestos?
The removal of asbestos is most frequently required for building demolition or renovation, as well as in emergencies like roof or pipe leaks. A building’s occupants might not be at risk from asbestos depending on how and where it is used. However, it is time to hire a professional environmental consultant to remove the asbestos if it can enter the air.
There are a lot of good reasons to get rid of asbestos in a building. For instance, if a building that is being renovated or demolished contains asbestos: Maintenance workers who must drill holes in walls to install cables or pipes are exposed to asbestos hazards. As soon as construction activities disturb in-place asbestos, it may become friable and release its volatile components into the atmosphere. Floor, siding, and roofing materials, which contain non-friable asbestos, do degrade over time and may release asbestos fibers into the air.
Regardless of the reason, proper personnel, work practices, engineering controls, and disposal procedures should be used to minimize exposure to occupants, workers, and the general public.
Non-regulated materials should follow similar work practices and guidelines, but the definition of removal projects specifically mentions regulated materials. Which are friable materials or non-friable materials that have become friable or are expected to become friable as a result of work practices?
Who Ought To Be Hired To Properly Remove Asbestos?
The level of training required for supervisors and employees, as well as the kind of work procedures and engineering controls required to complete a project, will be determined by the kind and quantity of the project’s materials. In some circumstances, such as schools, additional requirements like air monitoring may be necessary.
Once a decision has been made to carry out a removal project, a facility or project manager will typically communicate with environmental consultants or directly with an asbestos abatement contractor. A walkthrough of the project area will be carried out by the consultant and/or contractor to devise a strategy for the removal method that is both the most cost-effective and efficient. The regulator might require notice of the project, depending on its size.
Which Safety Measures Are Used In A Project To Remove Asbestos?
During an asbestos removal project, safety is always a top priority. As required, an asbestos contractor will control access to the immediate and surrounding areas. This can be as simple as restricting occupants’ access with signs and barrier tape to the construction of an entire structure covered in polyethylene sheets. Once more, this would be determined by the quantity of the material to be disturbed.
Did you realize it? If necessary, the use of foreign language, pictographs, or graphics on any barrier tape or warning signs used to demarcate a work area must ensure that all occupants, workers, and the general public comprehend the restriction.
What Occurs After The Asbestos Is Eliminated?
The contractor will contain the material in bags, drums, boxes, etc. before removing it from the component or substrate. And afterward, eliminate the waste holders from the venture site.
A copy of a report containing information pertinent to the project should be provided to the facility by the contractor or consultant following removal. Daily log reports, air monitoring results, worker/supervisor information, and disposal records are all examples of this kind of data.
Asbestos Management
- What Happens During An Asbestos Insurance Examination?
The first thing that needs to be done is to determine the kinds, places, and quantities of asbestos materials in the facility. Hiring an asbestos inspector with a state license can be accomplished. The inspector will most likely do asbestos consulting and discrete in the location where samples are taken because these inspections typically do not resemble “demolition” inspections. Any areas of the walls, ceilings, or floors that cannot be reached through panels, access holes, or other means should be inspected as this is not a demolition inspection.
- After An Asbestos Inspection, What Happens?
A report is prepared and presented to the facility following the completion of the inspection and receipt of the results. An Operations and Maintenance (O&M) program is created if asbestos materials are found.
- What Exactly Is The Asbestos Operations And Maintenance Program?
To keep asbestos-containing materials in good condition in buildings, an O&M program is a plan that includes employee training, a description of the best work practices, and the development of surveillance guidelines. The facility contact person should also have access to information in the program to help them answer questions or address concerns about asbestos materials.
- Is Abatement For Asbestos Part Of AN O&M Program?
The O&M program is meant for buildings that might have asbestos materials that can be managed in place, but it doesn’t say how to get rid of it. Abatement of asbestos goes beyond the scope of an O&M program.
- What Distinguishes O&M Plans from OSHA-Approved And EPA-Approved Facilities?
An O&M program for an OSHA-regulated facility can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of that facility. Following the rule, the EPA’s requirements for schools are more specific and must be implemented in each school facility. An O&M program is required, as are specific timeframes for surveillance inspections, specific requirements for response actions, notification requirements, and training requirements. The Management Plan that each facility is required to have and regularly update details these requirements.
- Are There Any Additional Requirements Specific To The School?
Each school building must keep two copies of the Management Plan, as required by the EPA. One copy ought to be kept on-site at the building, and the other ought to be kept somewhere off-site. The reasoning is that there is another complete, up-to-date copy to refer to in the event of a natural disaster, fire, or loss of the school copy.
