Asbestos RegulationsDownload the full text of the TSCA, NESHAP and OSHA regulations here Back to the Table of Contents page for information on many other subjects! 
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. Laws and Regulations Governing AsbestosTSCAUnder the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA issued the first regulations intended to control asbestos in schools. This regulation was known as the Asbestos-in-Schools Rule. See below AHERAThe Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) is more inclusive than the Asbestos-in-Schools Rule. AHERA requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to inspect their schools for asbestos containing material (ACM) and prepare management plans to reduce the asbestos hazard. AHERA established a program for the training and accreditation of all those who perform asbestos work in schools. ASHAAThe Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act (ASHAA) of 1984 provided loans and grants to help financially needy public and private schools correct serious asbestos hazards. This program was funded from 1985 until 1993. There has been no funds appropriated since that date. CAA-Asbestos NESHAPPursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970, EPA established the Asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP. It is intended to minimize the release of asbestos fibers during activities involving the handling of asbestos. It specifies work practices to be followed during renovation, demolition or other abatement activities when friable asbestos is involved.
Asbestos is well recognized as a health hazard and is highly regulated. OSHA and EPA asbestos rules are intertwined.
Compliance  | EPA - TSCA Standards 40 CFR Part 763 - ASBESTOS Regulations (1997)
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 | | EPA - NESHAPS 40 CFR Part 61 - Subpart M--National Emission Standard for Asbestos (1997)
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Background Document to the Asbestos NESHAP
Common Questions on the Asbestos NESHAP Asbestos NESHAP Adequately Wet Guidance Demolition Practices Under the Asbestos NESHAP Asbestos NESHAP Regulated Asbestos Containing Materials Guidance Reporting and Record keeping Requirements for Waste Disposal Regional Asbestos NESHAP Coordinators
| | OSHA Standards  | 1910.1001, asbestos standard for industry  | App A, OSHA Reference Method - Mandatory (air sampling & analysis) | | App B, Detailed procedure for asbestos sampling and analysis - Non-Mandatory | | App C, Qualitative and quantitative fit testing procedures - Mandatory | | App D, Medical questionnaires; Mandatory | | App E, Interpretation and classification of chest roentgenograms - Mandatory | | App F, Work practices and engineering controls for automotive brake and clutch inspection, disassembly, repair and assembly -- Mandatory | | App G, Substance technical information for asbestos - Non-Mandatory | | App H, Medical surveillance guidelines for asbestos - Non-Mandatory | | App I, Smoking Cessation Program Information For Asbestos - Non-Mandatory | | App J, Polarized Light Microscopy of Asbestos -- Non-Mandatory |
| | 1915.1001, Asbestos standard for shipyard employment | App A, OSHA Reference Method - Mandatory | | App B, Detailed Procedure for Asbestos Sampling and Analysis - Non-Mandatory | | App C, Qualitative and Quantitative Fit Testing Procedures - Mandatory | | App D, Medical Questionnaires; Mandatory | | App E, Interpretation and Classification of Chest Roentgenograms - Mandatory | | App F, Work Practices and Engineering Controls for Class I Asbestos Operations - Non-Mandatory | | App G, [Reserved] | | App H, Substance technical information for Asbestos - Non-Mandatory | | App I, Medical surveillance guidelines for Asbestos - Non-Mandatory | | App J, Smoking cessation program information for Asbestos - Non-Mandatory | | App K, Polarized light microscopy of Asbestos - Non-Mandatory | | App L, Work practices and engineering controls for automotive brake and clutch inspection, disassembly, repair and assembly - Mandatory |
| | 1926.1101, Asbestos standard for construction | App A, OSHA Reference Method - Mandatory (air sampling & analysis) | | App B, Detailed procedure for asbestos sampling and analysis - Non-Mandatory | | App C, Qualitative and quantitative fit testing procedures - Mandatory | | App D, Medical questionnaires; Mandatory | | App E, Interpretation and classification of chest roentgenograms - Mandatory | | App F, Work practices and engineering controls for Class I Asbestos Operations - non-mandatory | | App G, [Reserved] | | App H, Substance technical information for asbestos - Non-Mandatory | | App I, Medical surveillance guidelines for asbestos - Non-Mandatory | | App J, Smoking Cessation Program Information For Asbestos - Non-Mandatory | | App K, Polarized Light Microscopy of Asbestos -- Non-Mandatory |
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| OSHA Directives | CPL 2-2.63 (REVISED) - Inspection Procedures for Occupational Exposure to Asbestos, Inspection Procedures for Occupational Exposure to Asbestos Final Rule 29 CFR Parts 1910.1001, 1926.1101, and 1915.1001. (1995, November 3). The appendices of this compliance directive include a summary of OSHA asbestos regulations (you must obtain a printed copy to view the helpful "Job Class Requirements" table), OSHA and EPA training requirements, questions and answers, and settlement agreements (roofing, flooring, etc.). | CPL 2-2.63 CH-1, Inspection Procedures for Occupational Exposure to Asbestos Final Rule 29 CFR Parts 1910.1001, 1926.1101, and 1915.1001. (1996, January 9). |
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| | Review Commission Decisions | Docket 88-523, (1993, January 19), 15 pages. Failure to comply with requirements for providing records in a timely manner, to properly place sampling equipment (breathing zone issue), to conduct full shift monitoring, to provide proper protective equipment, to provide proper housekeeping, failure to conduct required additional monitoring. | | Docket 89-287, (1993, August 23), 5 pages. Failure to monitor employees at the start of asbestos removal. |
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| Standard Interpretation and Compliance Letters | Asbestos removal | Asbestos Standard for Construction, (1996, March 28), 1 page. OSHA considers the removal of wallboard and joint compounds to be Class II work. | | Clarification of Asbestos standard, (1996, August 26), 1 page. | | Clarification of "mechanical chipping device" used in floor tile removal, (1995, November 1), 1 page. | | Clarification on the use of negative pressure glovebags for the removal of asbestos-containing materials, (1994, November 17), 1 page. | | Effectiveness of the Glove Box for removal of asbestos-containing pipe insulation, (1990, April 4), 1 page. | | Glove bag methods for control of exposure to airborne asbestos, (1997, May 15), 1 page. | | Glove bag use, (1996, May 22), 1 page. | | High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters For Vacuum Cleaning Equipment, (1990, September 6), 1 page. Incorrect use of DOP for testing efficiency of HEPA filters. | | Negative exposure assessment for 1926.1101, (1995, December 4), 2 pages. | | Negative Pressure Glovebag Usage in Asbestos Removal, (1990, August 27), 2 pages. | | Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) requirements for asbestos removal bags, (1994, November 17), 1 page. | | Portam Process asbestos abatement equipment use for asbestos removal, (1990, August 23), 1 page. OSHA does not approve or certify equipment or processes for use in the workplace. This does discuss OSHA's intent. | | Power Roof Cutter on a Built-up Roof, (1996, July 15), 1 page. | | Red Baron Negative Air Enclosure System, (1990, May 3), 1 page. | | Responsibility of each person involved in Class I glovebag removal operations, (1997, September 18), 1 page. | | Use of a "Negative Air Bag" in the removal of asbestos pipe insulation, (1989, July 5), 2 pages. | | The use of "pipe cases" manufactured by Therm-Equip, Inc., in lieu of standard glove bags, (1995, December 15), 1 page. |
| | Sampling & analysis, and characteristics of asbestos-containing materials | Clarification of Asbestos Standard for construction, (1996, June 28), 2 pages. Sampling of bulk materials. | | Clarification of the requirement for representative monitoring under the asbestos standard for construction, (1987, September 8), 1 page. | | Compliance with OSHA's Asbestos Standard - Composite Bulk Samples, (1997, February 7), 4 pages. | | Definition of "statistically reliable measurements" in 1926.58(f) (4), (1987, August 20), 1 page. | | Exposure monitoring requirements, (1993, August 19), 1 page. Equivalent methods and samplers. | | Labeling requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard, (1989, July 26), 3 pages. | | NIOSH 582 training requirements relating to asbestos analysis slides, (1991, August 28), 1 page. | | The OSHA analytical reference method for asbestos requires 10% blanks with a minimum of 2 blanks for any set, (1988, October 20), 1 page. | | OSHA Asbestos Standard, (1996, March 4), 1 page. | | OSHA requires a minimum of 2 and at least 10% blanks be taken for all samples regardless of purpose, (1990, May 4), 1 page. | | Recommended changes for asbestos sampling from SLCAL, (1989, April 26), 1 page. | | Reporting limits for Asbestos air concentrations, (1991, August 28), 1 page. | | Sampling of Resilient Floor Covering, (1992, January 6), 1 page. | | Sheetrock and joint compound, (1997, April 28), 1 page. |
| | Friction materials, including brakes | | Building evaluation and use | Building and/or facility owner notification requirements, (1996, February 21), 1 page. | | In multi-story buildings "employee notice" requirement of asbestos standard, (1996, March 19), 1 page. | | OSHA Asbestos Standard, (1996, January 24), 3 pages. | | OSHA Asbestos Standard, (1997, February 5), 2 pages. | | (OSHA) revised asbestos standard, (1995, May 8), 2 pages. Discusses requirements for asbestos flooring. | | Questions concerning OSHA's Asbestos Standard, (1996, September 5), 1 page. | | The requirements of a building owner for conducting a survey, and the labeling of asbestos materials under the OSHA asbestos standard, (1996, February 16), 1 page. | | Smoking and occupational exposure to asbestos, (1990, September 4), 1 page. |
| | Worker protection | Acceptability of the TSI Portacount Portable Fit Testing Device for quantitative fit testing (QNFT) of respirators, (1988, November 8), 4 pages. | | After changing protective clothing for a lunch break, it should not be reused for the balance of the shift, (1993, June 21), 1 page. | | Answers to questions regarding respiratory protection under the asbestos, lead, and respiratory protection standards, (1988, February 8), 2 pages. | | Asbestos and the Hazard Communication Standard, (1989, December 26), 1 page. | | The asbestos standard does not allow beards for tight-fitting powered air-purifying respirators, (1987, March 4), 1 page. | | Classification of asbestos work for employees performing asbestos inspections and obtaining bulk samples, (1997, April 28), 1 page. | | Disposable Respirators, (1983, February 9), 3 pages. Includes NIOSH information relating to respirators. | | Employee safety and the laundering of contaminated clothing, (1997, April 1), 2 pages. | | Evaluation of X-rays and pulmonary function tests for early diagnosis of lung disease, (1985, February 4), 2 pages. Notifing employees of medical test results. | | How the Exposure to Asbestos standard regulates activities that involve "thin-layered" asbestos-containing paint, (1997, April 25), 2 pages. | | Interpretation of 1926.58, Training and Medical Surveillance as Condition of Employment, (1989, December 13), 1 page. | | OSHA Asbestos Standard, (1996, January 24), 3 pages. Training of employees. | | Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR) used in Asbestos Abatement, (1988, September 22), 2 pages. | | Quantitative and qualitative fit testing of respirators, (1990, December 9), 1 page. | | Regulation on OSHA's Occupational Exposure to Asbestos, (1995, May 9), 1 page. Classification of telecommunication workers. | | Respirator fit testing requirements in the revised asbestos standard, (1986, September 25), 1 page. | | Sheetrock and joint compound, (1997, April 28), 1 page. | | Trailer mounted vacuum system and bagging station used in asbestos abatement, (1990, August 10), 3 pages. | | Training requirements for Class II roofing work, (1996, February 29), 2 pages. | | Training requirements of the competent person for Class II roofing work, (1996, April 2), 1 page. | | The use of disposable respirators for protection against asbestos, (1984, August 17), 2 pages. | | Wearing a PAPR with hair growth on the face seal is a violation; PAPR's must be provided to employees who choose to wear them, (1987, June 1), 1 page. |
| | Other topics | Approved Courses for Competent Person Training under the Asbestos Construction Standard, (1988, April 5), 7 pages. | | Asbestos Standard for Construction, (1996, September 4), 2 pages. | | HAZWOPER and Asbestos standards apply to any emergency response to an uncontrolled hazardous substance release involving the presence of asbestos, (1994, April 26), 2 pages. | | Newly revised asbestos standard as it pertains to roofing, (1995, April 5), 2 pages. |
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