United States EPA-560-
Environmental Protection Agency OPTS-86-003
Washington DC 20460 Sept 1986
Asbestos Action Program
vvEPA Controlling
Brake Dust
to Protect
Your Health
...What Every
Auto Mechanic
Should Know
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CONTROLLING BRAKE DUST
TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH
Mechanics and anyone else in a garage where
brake and clutch work are done may be
exposed to asbestos dust. Some brake dust
can be seen when a brake drum is removed
from a car, truck, or other equipment. But
there are also many very small dust particles
that can't be seen with the naked eye.
These invisible particles may be asbestos or
other brake lining materials. Breathing these
particles can damage your health. Many years
after breathing them, they may cause shortness
of breath, lung disease, or cancer.
Asbestos is only one of many materials used in
brake linings today. The only way sure way to
know what is in the dust from a particular
brake is to test it in a laboratory. Since some
newer brake lining materials are still being
tested, caution is necessary,
The only practical way to protect your health
and those around you is to control the
release of brake dust in your garage to the
lowest level possible.
CLEANING METHODS THAT RELEASE
BRAKE DUST INTO THE AIR
Air Hose. DON'T BLOW BRAKE DUST!! NEVER
USE AN AIR HOSE FOR CLEANING. This blows
brake dust into the air of your garage, it
is one of the worst things you can do, and
this is now illegal.
When brakes are cleaned with an air hose,
invisible particles of brake dust can stay
in the air long after a brake job is done.
Any activity in the brake work area can stir
up the particles that have settled.
Other Methods that Release Brake Dust into
the Air. Also not recommended are cleaning with
a dry brush or rag, wet brush or rag, garden
hose, liquid squirt bottle, solvent spray, or
ordinary shop-vac. These methods will also
stir up visible and invisible brake dust. Many,,
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of these dust particles are so small that they
can pass through the filter bag of an ordinary
vacuum cleaner and spread throughout a garage.
CONTROLLING BRAKE DUST
Vacuum/Enclosure Method. A vacuum/enclosure
system has a special box with clear plastic
walls or windows, which fits tightly around
a brake assembly. Some boxes can even fit
over a brake drum. Good brake cleaning can
be done without exposing mechanics or
contaminating a garage. A special air gun
inside the box is used for cleaning. An
exhaust hose goes from the box or drum to a
special "HEPA"* asbestos vacuum cleaner,
which draws out and stores the brake dust.
The manufacturer's instructions should be
carefully followed when using this system
and changing the filters or collection bags.
Improper changing can release dangerous
amounts of asbestos into the air.
Steps for using this type of equipment on
drum brakes are simple:
1. Check that the hose is securely fastened to the
HEPA vacuum container and to the brake
enclosure. Also check that the vacuum container
seals and clips are in proper functioning order
according to the manufacturer's instructions.
2. Remove the wheel.
3 Turn on the asbestos vacuum cleaner.
4. Place the enclosure over the drum, being sure it forms
a tight seal behind the backing plate.
5. Place hands into the attached rubber gloves, if the
enclosure is equipped with them.
6. Remove the brake drum. Some equipment allows use of a
hammer or other tools when needed inside the enclosure
for drums that are hard to remove.
7. Blow dust off the drum and brake assembly using the air gun
attachment inside the enclosure.
8. Clean all the inside surfaces of the enclosure towards
the vacuum exit using the air gun attachment inside
the enclosure.
9. Remove the enclosure and turn off the vacuum cleaner.
*HEPA stands for an extremely fine, high-efficiency
—ticulate aerosol filtration system.
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Wet Methods. Using specially designed low-
pressure spray equipment that wets down
brake dust and properly catches the run-off
may prevent some asbestos from spreading
around a garage. Be sure to use only the
liquid recommended by the manufacturer,
Waste. All waste that contains brake dust
must be carefully disposed of according to
Federal and local regulations for asbestos
materials.* Asbestos waste should be placed
in a specially marked heavy plastic bag,
double tied, and stored in a leakproof, air-
tight container designated for asbestos
waste.
Machining and Bevelling. Use pre-ground,
ready-to-install parts. If a brake lining
must be drilled, grooved, cut, bevelled, or
lathe-turned, low speeds should always be
used to keep down the amount of dust
created. All machinery should have an
adequate, "HEPA"-equipped local exhaust dust
collection system to prevent asbestos
exposures and shop contamination.
BRAKE LININGS SHOULD NEVER BE
GROUND because this makes a lot of dust.
Slow lathe-turning will get the same job
done with much less dust.
Special Areas for Brake Work. Where
practical, brake work should be done in a
special area set apart from other work
areas. No one should eat, drink, or smoke
in an area where brake work is done.
Smokers who are exposed to asbestos, even
while they are not smoking, are at specially
high risk of getting lung cancer. If you
smoke, you should get help to stop smoking.
If possible, work clothes should be
laundered at special facilities equipped to
wash clothing contaminated with asbestos.
*O$HA asbestos waste disposal regulations are covered
under 29 CFR 1910(jH2f. Transport and disposal of
asbestos waste should be done only by individuals
familiar with procedures for hand/ing asbestos
waste in accordance with EPA's waste disposal guidance
(£PA,S30-SW-SS-007l.
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DO's
DO clean brakes and drums with special "HEPA"
vacuum cleaners.
DO use pre-ground, ready-to-install parts when
possible.
DO lathe-turn brake blocks at a low speed with
proper "HEPA"-equipped exhaust ventilation.
DO dispose of asbestos waste according to Federal
and local regulations.
DO wash thoroughly before eating or going home.
DO change into clean clothes before going home.
DO stop smoking.
DON'Ts
DON'T clean with:
• air hose • liquid squirt bottle
• dry brush or rag • solvent spray
• wet brush or rag • ordinary shop-vac
• garden hose
DON'T grind brake blocks.
DON'T lathe, bevel, drill, or cut brake blocks without
proper exhaust ventilation.
DON'T take work clothing home.
DON'T eat, drink, or smoke in work areas.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This fact sheet was prepared by the
Federal Brake Mechanic Education Program
at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Other free materials include a poster and
a technical guidance document. A videotape
is also available.
For copies of these materials or additional
free information on asbestos, call or write
to the EPA office in your region or:
U.S. EPA
TSCA Assistance Office, TS-799
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202)554-1404
Additional occupational information on
asbestos is available from:
OSHA Office of Information and
Consumer Affairs, Room N-3637
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210
(202)523-8151
National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
(513)533-8323
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