Dealing with Asbestos during the Remodeling Process

1
Dealing with Asbestos during the Remodeling
Process
2
Asbestos Mineral

• Natural occurring mineral
• Mined in open pits or underground
• Three largest asbestos producers are Canada,
  China and Brazil

3
What is Asbestos?

• Asbestos is the name applied to six naturally
  occurring minerals that are mined from the earth.
  The different types of asbestos are
• Amosite
• Chrysotile
• Tremolite
• Actinolite
• Anthophyllite
• Crocidolite

4
What is Asbestos?

• Chrysotile (white) is the most common
• Amosite (brown / off-white), or
• Crocidolite (blue) as well.

5
Common Types of Asbestos

• Chrysotile
• Amosite
• Crocidolite

6
Chrysotile Asbestos
7
Amosite Asbestos
8
Crocidolite Asbestos
9
Tremolite Asbestos
10
Asbestos Properties

• Heat, cold and sound insulator
• Tensile strength
• Resistant to chemicals

11
Asbestos Properties
Asbestos fibers are also virtually
indestructible They are resistant to chemicals
and heat, and they are very stable in the
environment They do not evaporate into air or
dissolve in water, and they are not broken down
over time Asbestos is probably the best insulator
known to man
12
Asbestos Products
13
Aerodynamic Properties

• Because asbestos fibers are so small, once
  released into the air, they may stay suspended
  there for hours or even days (i.e. 72 hours)

14
When is Asbestos Dangerous?

• The most common way for asbestos fibers to enter
  the body is through breathing.

15
When is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos containing material is not generally
considered to be harmful unless it is releasing
dust or fibers into the air where they can be
inhaled or ingested Many of the fibers will
become trapped in the mucous membranes of the
nose and throat where they can then be removed,
but some may pass deep into the lungs, or, if
swallowed, into the digestive tract Once they are
trapped in the body, the fibers can cause health
problems
16
When is Asbestos Dangerous?
Damage and deterioration will increase the
friability of asbestos-containing materials.
Water damage, continual vibration, aging, and
physical impact such as drilling, grinding,
buffing, cutting, sawing, or striking can break
the materials down making fiber release more
likely
17
Problems with Asbestos

• Breaks into fibers versus dust
• Aerodynamic
• Unable to detect visually or by smell

18
Health Effects

• Because it is so hard to destroy asbestos fibers,
  the body cannot break them down or remove them
  once they are lodged in lung or body tissues.
  They remain in place where they can cause disease
  
• There are three primary diseases associated with
  asbestos exposure
• Asbestosis
• Lung Cancer
• Mesothelioma

19
Health Effects of Asbestos

• Healthy Lungs
• Asbestosis
• Mesothelioma

20
Defense Mechanisms

• Nose and Mouth
• Mucous Lined Breathing Passages
• Cilia in Trachea

21
Smoking Impact

• Impairs Bodys Defense Mechanism
• Increased Risk of Lung Cancer

22
Relationship Between Smoking and Asbestos

• Risk of Lung Cancer
• 2 - Non smoker with no asbestos exposure
• 5 - Non smoker with asbestos exposure
• 10 - Smoker with no asbestos exposure
• 50 - Smoker with asbestos exposure

23
Asbestosis

• Asbestosis is a serious, chronic, non-cancerous
  respiratory disease. Inhaled asbestos fibers
  aggravate lung tissues, which cause them to scar.
  
• Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of
  breath and a dry crackling sound in the lungs
  while inhaling. In its advanced stages, the
  disease may cause cardiac failure.
• Why?

24
Asbestosis

• There is no effective treatment for asbestosis
  the disease is usually disabling or fatal. The
  risk of asbestosis is minimal for those who do
  not work with asbestos the disease is rarely
  caused by neighborhood or family exposure
• Those who renovate or demolish buildings that
  contain asbestos may be at significant risk,
  depending on the nature of the exposure and
  precautions taken

25
Lung Cancer

• Lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths
  related to asbestos exposure. The incidence of
  lung cancer in people who are directly involved
  in the mining, milling, manufacturing and use of
  asbestos and its products is much higher than in
  the general population
• The most common symptoms of lung cancer are
  coughing and a change in breathing. Other
  symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent
  chest pains, hoarseness, and anemia

26
Mesothelioma

• Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that most
  often occurs in the thin membrane lining of the
  lungs, chest, abdomen, and (rarely) heart. About
  200 cases are diagnosed each year in the United
  States. Virtually all cases of mesothelioma are
  linked with asbestos exposure.
• Approximately 2 percent of all miners and textile
  workers who work with asbestos, and 10 percent of
  all workers who were involved in the manufacture
  of asbestos-containing gas masks, contract
  mesothelioma.

27
Mesothelioma

• People who work in asbestos mines, asbestos mills
  and factories, and shipyards that use asbestos,
  as well as people who manufacture and install
  asbestos insulation, have an increased risk of
  mesothelioma
• So do people who live with asbestos workers, near
  asbestos mining areas, near asbestos product
  factories or near shipyards where use of asbestos
  has produced large quantities of airborne
  asbestos fibers

28
Other Cancers

• Evidence suggests that cancers in the esophagus,
  larynx, oral cavity, stomach, colon and kidney
  may be caused by ingesting asbestos

29
Famous Persons Mesothelioma

• Steve McQueen
• Warren Zevon
• Bruce Vento
• Paul Gleason
• Bob Miner
• Terrence McCann
• Merlin Olsen

30
What Is An Asbestos Containing Material (ACM)?

• Any material that is gt1 asbestos
• Thermal System Insulation (TSI) pipe, boiler,
  duct furnace insulation
• Surfacing Materials plaster textured ceilings
• Miscellaneous Materials siding floor tile
• Over 3,000 products may contain asbestos

31
MDH Definition of Friable Material

• "Friable asbestos material" means any material
  containing more than one percent asbestos by
  microscopic visual estimation by area, that hand
  pressure can crumble, pulverize, or reduce to
  powder when dry.

32
MDH Definition ofFriable Material

• Friable asbestos material includes previously
  non-friable asbestos material which becomes
  damaged to the extent that when dry all or a
  portion of the material may be crumbled,
  pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure.

33
Common Asbestos-Containing Materials

• Insulation around heating,
• air and water systems

34
Common Asbestos-Containing Materials

• Wall and ceiling insulation (vermiculite)

35
Vermiculite

• Has been used in approximately 2.5 - 16 million
  homes.
• Recently identified as being contaminated with
  asbestos.
• May not be regulated, but has shown to create a
  health hazard in the form of high airborne fiber
  concentrations in materials with low asbestos
  concentrations.

36
Common Asbestos-Containing Materials

• Fireproofed Ceiling Space

37
Common Asbestos-Containing Materials

• Textured ceilings and ceiling tiles

38
Common Asbestos-Containing Material

• Floor tiles and linoleum backing

39
Common Asbestos-Containing Materials

• Transite roofing, siding, panels, and flue pipes

40
Common Asbestos-Containing Materials

• Plasters and
• joint compounds

41
Example of Category I Nonfriable Vinyl Floor
Tile
42
Example of Category I Friable Vinyl Floor Tile
43
Linoleum/Vinyl Sheet Flooring Backing Generally
Friable
44
Linoleum/Vinyl Sheet Flooring Backing Generally
Friable
45
Example of Category II Not Regulated Unless
Broken
Transite board (Johns Mansville)
46
Textured Ceiling Spray Friable
47
Milboard (Black Paper Layer) Friable
48
Insulation on Pipes Friable
49
Preformed Pipe Wrap Friable
50
Heating-system Insulation Friable
51
High-temp Insulation Friable
52
Mud-pack on Elbow Friable
53
Transite Pipe Regulated When Broken
54
Insulation Friable (tape and wrap may be
asbestos)
55
Roofing (Category I) Usually Not Friable
56
Asbestos Building Surveys

• MPCA and MNOSHA require surveys
• When there is no survey
• When the survey does not include the material
  that will be disturbed
• Surveys must be completed by a MN certified
  asbestos inspector
• MDH rules define sampling and reporting protocols

57
Building Survey Report

• Must contain exact locations of all
  asbestos-containing materials (ACM)
• Must be signed and dated by the MN certified
  inspector
• Must include a copy of the MN certified
  inspectors certification

58
Asbestos Bulk Sampling
59
Regulated Asbestos Work

• Material is greater than 1 asbestos by
  microscopic determination
• Material is Friable
• Material amounts are greater than 160 square
  feet, 260 linear feet, 35 cubic feet in a
  commercial setting or greater than 6 square feet,
  10 linear feet, 1 cubic foot in a residential
  setting

60
Regulation of ACM in Minnesota?

• Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
• Protects Public Health
• Minnesota Statues, sections 326.70 326.81
• Minnesota Rules, parts 4620.3000 4620.3724
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
• Protects the Environment
• Environmental Protection Agency Title 40 CFR
  Part 61, Subpart
• Minnesota Department of Labor Industry (MNOSHA)
• Protects Workers
• US Dept of Labor Industry Title 29 CFR Part
  1926.1101

61
Regulated Asbestos Work

• Requires the following
• Notification of the Project
• Use of Appropriate Work Practices
• Use of Licensed Asbestos Contractors
• Use of Certified Asbestos Disciplines

62
Asbestos Abatement Activities

• Encapsulation
• Enclosure
• Removal

63
Asbestos Abatement Activities

• Survey to identify ACM?
• Specifications/project design
• Notification
• Work Area Containment
• Posting of Work Areas
• Engineering Controls/PPE
• Air Monitoring I/O
• Disposal of ACM Waste
• Clearance Testing

64
Who Can Remove Asbestos-Containing Materials?

• MDH and MPCA requires MN licensed asbestos
  abatement contractors to
• Submit a notification
• Employ and use certified workers and supervisors
• Comply with MDH work practices
• MDH allows homeowners to do own removal in the
  residence they live in and own
• MNOSHA requires a competent person at a minimum

65
Suspect Material ACM?

• Before starting a project make sure that
  asbestos-containing material will not be
  disturbed
• Assume all suspect material contains asbestos if
  no data
• If you encounter suspect material when performing
  work STOP immediately

66
What To Do?

• If you see something that strikes you as wrong or
  suspicious, do not enter the area
• Instruct other workers, contractors and building
  occupants to stay out of the area
• Contact MDH, MPCA or MNOSHA

67
Agency Assistance

• Provide clarification/interpretation of
  regulations
• Assist property owners or contracting entities in
  understanding their responsibilities
• Assist licensed asbestos contractors and other
  contractors in maintaining compliance with the
  regulations
• Provide lists of
• licensed asbestos contractors
• environmental consulting firms
• analytical laboratories
• Hazardous waste landfills
• Provide compliance history

68
Why does MDH conduct compliance inspections?

• To determine compliance with the Minnesota
  Asbestos Abatement Act and Rules
• To protect Public Health and the Environment

69
Agency Inspections

• Three Primary Types
• Pre-Project (variance)
• Scheduled (based on notifications)
• Complaint (workers, contractor, homeowner)

70
How are violations determined?

• Violations are identified
• On-site observation
• Through project documentation review

71
(No Transcript)
72
(No Transcript)
73
(No Transcript)
74
(No Transcript)
75
(No Transcript)
76
(No Transcript)
77
What are the Types of Violations?

• Administrative Violations
• Work Practice Violations

78
Common Administrative Violations

• Certification (Hard Card) Issues
• Expired
• Not On Site
• License, Permit, Notification Issues
• Project Plan Issues
• Incomplete
• Manometer Record Issues
• Not Recorded
• Missing Records

79
Common Work Practice Violations

• Installation of Critical Barriers
• Containment
• Decontamination Units
• Removal of ACM
• Completion of Abatement
• Glove Bag Procedures
• Facility Component Removal (Wrap and Cut)
• Air Monitoring

80
What Causes Violations?

• Multiple Distractions
• Working Too Fast
• Working Carelessly
• Relying On The Hygienist

81
Questions?

• MDH 651-201-4620
• www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/asbestos
• MPCA 651-296-6300
• http//www.pca.state.mn.us
• MNOSHA 651-284-5050
• http//www.doli.state.mn.us