United States EPA 560/5-85-018
Environmental Protection July 1985
Agency
Washington DC 20460
Office of Toxic Substances
&EPA Asbestos in
Buildings
Guidance for
Service and
Maintenance
Personnel
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Definitions
Technical terms used in this booklet.
Asbestos: A mineral composed of small,
thin fibers. It is common in
many building materials.
Cementitious: Materials that are hard
and usually rough-textured
or cement-like in
appearance.
Friable: Materials that can be crumbled,
pulverized, or reduced to
powder by hand pressure.
HEPA: (High Efficiency Particulate Air.) A
special type of filter that can trap
asbestos fibers.
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Introduction
How to work safely in buildings that contain asbestos.
This booklet has been prepared by the
United States Environmental Protection
Agency to assist service and
maintenance personnel in implementing
special Operating and Maintenance
procedures in buildings containing
asbestos. The information is extracted
from "Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-
Containing Materials in Buildings" (EPA
560/5-85-024).
If you follow the steps in this booklet
you will:
Protect the health of people using the
building
Protect your own health.
If there is asbestos in your building, you
should ask your supervisor for training on:
Asbestos-related hazards
How to avoid releasing asbestos fibers
into the air
How to avoid breathing asbestos
fibers by proper use of respirators
How to handle asbestos materials.
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Health Risks
Avoid breathing asbestos fibers.
Breathing airborne asbestos fibers has
been associated with
Asbestosisa serious lung disease
Lung cancer
Mesotheliomaa cancer of the
lining of the lung or abdominal
cavities.
Airborne asbestos levels in buildings are
much lower than those in industrial
workplaces where serious health effects
have been observed. However, it is still
important to minimize exposure to
asbestos fibers, by following proper work
practices.
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Recognizing Asbestos Materials
Become familiar with the types of materials that
could contain asbestos.
Friable, fluffy
sprayed-on
material
(fireproofing).
2. Friable, cementitious
sprayed-on or
troweled material
(acoustical plaster).
3. Perforated, nonfriable 4. Friable fireproofing
wallboard with friable material on beam
sprayed-on material with pipe insulation
behind. below.
7"" I^ฎ ~~ I i
Do not overlook the boiler room
Boilers and pipes are often insulated
with asbestos materials
The walls and ceilings of the
boiler room may be covered with
asbestos material.
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Disturbing Asbestos Materials
Avoid touching or disturbing asbestos materials on walls,
ceilings, pipes or boilers.
0 Do not drill holes in asbestos
materials
ฐ Do not hang plants or anything else
from ceilings covered with asbestos
materials.
Do not pin or hang pictures on
walls covered with asbestos materials.
Do not sand asbestos floor tiles or
backing material.
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Asbestos fibers can be released when the
material Is disturbed.
Do not damage asbestos material
while moving furniture, etc.
Do not disturb asbestos material
when replacing light bulbs, etc.
Do not allow curtains, drapes or
dividers to damage asbestos materials.
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Cleaning
Improper cleaning can stir up
asbestos fibers.
NOT THIS
Do not dust with a brush.
Do not dry sweep floors.
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Take care when cleaning rooms that contain
asbestos materials.
BUT THIS
Dust with a damp cloth.
Wet mop floors.
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NOT THIS
Do not use an ordinary vacuum to
clean up asbestos debris.
o Do not brush or sweep ceilings and
walls covered with asbestos materials.
8
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J . ป
Use only a special HEPA vacuum to
clean up asbestos debris.
Avoid touching or disturbing ceilings
and walls covered with asbestos
materials.
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General Maintenance
Take care when doing routine maintenance
jobs around asbestos materials.
NOT THIS
DO NOT use a dust mask. It does not
protect you against asbestos fibers.
If you have to remove ceiling tiles below
asbestos material
o DO NOT start work without
protection.
o DO NOT allow other people in the
area.
o DO NOT leave dust and debris after
you have finished.
If you change filters in the Air Ventilation
System:
o DO NOT remove the filter dry.
o DO NOT shake the filter.
Asbestos fibers could be released.
10
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BUT THIS
Wear a respirator that is approved
for work with asbestos.
Wear an approved respirator
Clear the area of other people
Use a drop cloth and clean up
carefully after each job.
Mist the filter with water
Remove the filter carefully
Dispose of properly.
11
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Boiler Room Maintenance
Take special care when working
in boiler rooms
Suggest that pipe insulation that
contains asbestos be labeled with
"CAUTION-ASBESTOS".
NOT THIS
If you have to repair boilers or pipes that
have asbestos insulation:
DO NOT start work without protection.
DO NOT allow other people in the area.
DO NOT allow asbestos material to fall
on the floor.
DO NOT allow asbestos fibers to be
released into the air.
12
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* Report all damage you see to your
supervisor
0 Obtain instruction on how to repair
damaged insulation.
BUT THIS
Wear an approved respirator.
Clear the area of other people.
Use a drop cloth.
Use a glove bag (Ask your
supervisor for details).
Clean up carefully.
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Disposal
All cleaning materials and other asbestos
waste must be disposed of properly.
Place all dampened filters, cloths,
mopheads and other asbestos.wastes
in double ply (6 mil) plastic bags.
Seal the bag with heavy duty tape.
ฐ Label each bag with a sign:
;'CAUTION: Asbestos Waste"
Place the sealed and labeled bags
with other solid waste material for
pick-up and delivery to an approved
waste disposal site
Asbestos materials should be disposed
of according to Federal and local
regulations.
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Actions to Take
By taking the right action you can
reduce the risk of exposure to asbestos
Know where the asbestos is in your
building
If you find materials that could contain
asbestos recommend to your
supervisor that they be tested
Ask your supervisor for training in
proper ways to work around asbestos
materials.
If you see materials that have been
disturbed report the damage to your
supervisor.
If the cleaning or maintenance in
your building is not being
done properly see that it is
corrected.
Keep on hand items useful for working
on or around asbestos materials.
These include:
disposal bags
respirators
tools for working on insulation
disposable coveralls
dropcloths
water bottles for misting filters, etc.
glove bags.
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Further Information
How to get more details.
If you work in a school and have
not received these documentsask
your supervisor for them.
800-424-9065
L
If you need more information:
Refer to EPA publications
For copies of this and other EPA
documents on asbestos call
800-424-9065 (554-1404 in
Washington, D.C.)
Contact your EPA regional asbestos
coordinator for technical assistance
and information on training.
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EPA Regional Asbestos Coordinators
Region 1 , .
(617)223-0585
Maine ' '.'',"
.Vermont;*
Newv'Ha.mpshire
Connecticut ' -.'.', .
Massachusetts <> ,
.Rhode Island ; ,
Region 2':..-. ' ".--
(201) 321-6068* '
New York ( t...;, -
New Jersey '. .
Puerto ,Ricp "'"-<
Virgin Islands -. . ,',,
"*-
Region 3 -- \
- (215) 597^9859 \
Pennsylvania **_
Maryland
, 'Delaware "' , ,
.Virginia v;:,, . f
West Virginia
District of Columbia'
Region ,4. .
(404) 881-3864
Georgia r ''
'Alabama , -";,'' "
'Mississippi^*.' " '
Florida ; ::.,",
.. North Carolina " ..
:South Carolina,
Tennessee':- '* ";
'Kentucky
Region 5 .';..'"
(312) 886-6006"v
Indiana . ,, ซ . %
-Ohio..',. J , '
Illinois ' " j.
Michigan ',. - -
' ^Wisconsin'
'Minnesota. ; ,
Region 6' - ,
(214) 767-5314
Texas ..',.' v ,
New Mexico .., , v
- Oklahoma ,-
Arkansas;'-"
. Louisiana .- - ,
' Region 7.'; ' ,
(913) 236-2838
Kansas ; ; "^ ''
Missouri'ป ," V
.Nebraska\ j ,
Iowa , ; ". -.,1 '.' -, ,
\ ' ,
Region 8 '- ,
(303) 293-1742
Colorado '.-. v;'"- .
Utah - / ': y ;
-Wyoming -," ,>-.
. Montana "... J *'
- North pakota '?
.South Dakota -
* ' 'si - . ' '*
Region 9 ,
(415) 974-8588 .?
4: California'
Nevada ; - . '
Arizona
Hawaii, . , '.'"' "',
Guam, Am. Samoa
' ' ^ / ! f t.
Region 10 ' ;
J206) 442-2870
Washington ". .% >
Oregon - , ,. '' ,
>Jdaho - , .'; ;, ' ^
Alaska - .
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