Asbestos substance technical info

Yes — asbestos refers to a group of magnesium-silicate minerals in fibrous form and the common types are chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, tremolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos, and actinolite asbestos. See the substance identification in 1910.1001 App G for this list and descriptions.

• Look for fibrous, stringy, or fluffy material and for common asbestos-containing products listed in the appendix (e.g., floor tiles, roofing felts, pipe and boiler insulation, sprayed-on fireproofing).
• If you suspect asbestos, treat the material as ACM (asbestos-containing material) until testing confirms otherwise and follow employer procedures for notifications and controls per 1910.1001.

Friable means the material can be crumbled by hand pressure and is therefore likely to release respirable asbestos fibers; it matters because friable materials are much more likely to create airborne fibers when disturbed. The appendix explains this definition and the link between friability and fiber release in 1910.1001 App G.

• Friable sprayed‑on fireproofing, insulation, or acoustical material are specifically called out as readily releasing fibers.
• Nonfriable materials (for example, vinyl-asbestos floor tiles) generally do not emit fibers unless cut, sanded, or otherwise disturbed.

Common building materials that may contain asbestos include heat-resistant clothing, automotive brake and clutch linings, floor tiles, roofing felts, ceiling tiles, asbestos-cement pipe and sheet, fire-resistant drywall, pipe and boiler insulation, and sprayed-on materials on beams, in crawlspaces, and between walls. The appendix lists these uses in 1910.1001 App G.

• Older buildings (especially pre‑1980) are more likely to contain ACM.
• Treat suspect materials as ACM until tested; disturbing them can create a hazard.

Yes — the appendix states sprayed‑on fibrous or fluffy materials used for fireproofing, insulation, or soundproofing are considered friable and will readily release airborne fibers if disturbed. See 1910.1001 App G.

• Because they are friable, these materials require strict controls during work (wet methods, HEPA vacuums, respiratory protection) to limit fiber release.

The permissible exposure limit is 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter of air (0.1 f/cc) as an 8‑hour time‑weighted average. The appendix states the exposure may not exceed 0.2 fibers per cubic centimeter of air (0.1 f/cc) averaged over the 8‑hour workday; see 1910.1001 App G and the related requirements in 1910.1001.

• Employers must monitor and control exposures to keep airborne asbestos at or below this limit.

Asbestos exposure can cause disabling respiratory disease and various cancers — including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and cancers of the stomach and colon — and symptoms often do not appear until 20 or more years after initial exposure. See the health hazard data in 1910.1001 App G.

• Mesothelioma is specifically noted as a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdomen; symptoms can include shortness of breath and chest or abdominal pain.
• Because of latency, limiting exposure now is critical to prevent disease decades later.

Respirators are required when tasks result in asbestos exposure above the PEL and while engineering controls are being installed or when engineering controls are infeasible; air‑purifying respirators with a HEPA filter can be used up to 2 f/cc, and above that level air‑supplied, positive‑pressure, full facepiece respirators must be used. This is explained in 1910.1001 App G.

• Disposable dust masks are not permitted for asbestos work.
• Employers must provide respirators that fit and must conduct fit tests when first assigned and every 6 months thereafter (see the respirator fit testing requirement in the appendix).

No — disposable respirators or dust masks are specifically not permitted for asbestos work. The appendix advises that such devices are not acceptable and that proper respirators (HEPA‑equipped air‑purifying respirators for concentrations up to 2 f/cc or air‑supplied positive‑pressure respirators above that) must be used; see 1910.1001 App G.

• Using inadequate masks can leave workers exposed to harmful asbestos fibers.

Employers must conduct respirator fit tests when an employee is first assigned a respirator and every 6 months thereafter. This requirement for fit testing is stated in 1910.1001 App G.

• Proper fit testing ensures the respirator provides the intended protection during asbestos work.

Protective clothing is required in work areas where asbestos fiber concentrations exceed the permissible exposure limit. The appendix specifies this requirement in 1910.1001 App G.

• Employers must provide and ensure use of disposable or launderable protective clothing as part of the control measures to prevent fiber contamination of personal clothing and to reduce take‑home exposures.

Material containing asbestos that is removed from buildings must be disposed of in leak‑tight 6‑mil thick plastic bags, plastic‑lined cardboard containers, or plastic‑lined metal containers; these wastes should be kept wet during removal and sealed before they dry to minimize fiber release. See the disposal procedures in 1910.1001 App G.

• Seal containers while waste is still wet and label appropriately to prevent fiber release during handling and transport.

Do not attempt to clean vacuum bags or disposable paper filters; instead, spray them with a fine water mist and place them into a labeled waste container for disposal, as directed in the appendix at 1910.1001 App G.

• This prevents releasing trapped fibers back into the air when handling filters or bags.

The appendix recommends wetting process waste and housekeeping waste with water or a water‑surfactant mixture before packaging, and using appropriate vacuums and wet methods rather than dry sweeping; see 1910.1001 App G.

• Use HEPA‑filtered vacuums designed for asbestos work; avoid dry sweeping or compressed‑air cleaning that can re‑entrain fibers.
• Keep waste wet and sealed during collection and transport to minimize airborne fiber release.

Employers must inform employees annually of the information contained in the asbestos standard and its appendices and provide instruction in safe work practices and correct use of protective equipment for handling asbestos‑containing materials. This annual information requirement is found in 1910.1001 App G and is tied to the employer’s duty to determine and communicate exposures in 1910.1001.

• Training should cover recognition of ACM, control measures, PPE use, and emergency procedures.

Yes — employees or their representatives have the right to observe employee exposure measurements and to record the results, and employers are required to inform employees of their exposure and corrective actions if exposures exceed the PEL. See 1910.1001 App G.

• Observing monitoring helps ensure transparency and gives employees confidence that exposures are being measured properly.

Employers must keep exposure records for at least thirty (30) years and medical records for the period of employment plus thirty (30) years. This retention requirement is stated in 1910.1001 App G.

• Employees or their designated physicians may obtain these records upon written request.

If the work activities involve asbestos‑containing building materials as part of building renovation, demolition, or similar remediation (typical property remediation work), those activities are covered by OSHA’s construction asbestos standard, 29 CFR 1926.1101, rather than the general industry standard. This is explained in OSHA’s recent interpretation in "Asbestos remediation protocols" (Nov. 14, 2024) and referenced in that letter to clarify coverage.

• Property remediation firms that perform demolition, renovation, or similar handling of ACBM should follow 29 CFR 1926.1101 requirements; the Nov. 14, 2024 LOI explains that even nontraditional construction firms performing these activities fall under the construction standard.

According to the appendix, an air‑purifying respirator equipped with a HEPA filter may be used where airborne asbestos fiber concentrations do not exceed 2 fibers per cubic centimeter (2 f/cc); if concentrations exceed that level, an air‑supplied, positive‑pressure, full facepiece respirator is required. See 1910.1001 App G.

• Employers must assess concentrations and provide the appropriate type of respirator and fit testing as required by the appendix.

Contaminated disposable protective clothing should be treated as asbestos waste: keep it wet if possible, place it into labeled, leak‑tight disposal containers (e.g., 6‑mil plastic bags), and seal the containers before they dry out, as required in 1910.1001 App G.

• Do not attempt to launder disposable clothing; dispose of it in accordance with the appendix’s waste packaging and labeling guidance.

Yes — the employer is required to inform employees of their exposure, and if exposures exceed the permissible limit, the employer must inform employees of the actions being taken to reduce exposures to within the permissible limit. This requirement is stated in 1910.1001 App G.

• Employers should communicate both the exposure results and the control measures (engineering, administrative, PPE) they will implement to reduce exposures.