Subpart Z
Asbestos is the name for a group of fibrous magnesium‑silicate minerals that includes chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite asbestos, tremolite asbestos, and actinolite asbestos, and those are the minerals treated as asbestos under the appendix. See Appendix H to 1915.1001 for the list and identification.
The PEL for asbestos is 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc) as an 8‑hour time‑weighted average, and 1.0 f/cc averaged over any 30‑minute period. These limits are stated in Appendix H to 1915.1001. Employers must evaluate and control exposures to meet these limits.
Friable asbestos material is defined as material that can be crumbled by hand pressure and therefore is likely to release breathable fibers; it matters because friable materials readily release airborne asbestos when disturbed and pose a higher exposure risk. This definition and the explanation of why friability increases fiber release are in Appendix H to 1915.1001.
Employees must wear respirators when asbestos exposure exceeds the PEL or during certain designated operations, and the type depends on concentration: air‑purifying respirators with HEPA filters are allowed where concentrations do not exceed 1.0 f/cc, while higher concentrations require more protective, supplied‑air positive‑pressure respirators. These respirator requirements are described in Appendix H to 1915.1001.
No — disposable respirators and ordinary dust masks are not permitted for asbestos work. Appendix H explicitly states these are not allowed and explains that respirators must provide effective particulate filtration for asbestos; see Appendix H to 1915.1001.
Employers must perform a respirator fit test when an employee is first assigned a respirator and then at least every 6 months thereafter to ensure an effective, snug fit. This fit‑test frequency and requirement are stated in Appendix H to 1915.1001.
Protective clothing is required in work areas where airborne asbestos fiber concentrations exceed the PEL of 0.1 f/cc. Appendix H explains that clothing must be used to prevent contamination of workers' street clothes and reduce secondary exposure; see Appendix H to 1915.1001.
Asbestos removed from buildings should be kept wet during removal, sealed in leak‑tight 6‑mil plastic bags or plastic‑lined containers, and sealed before they dry out to minimize fiber release during handling. Appendix H gives these disposal and packaging recommendations; see Appendix H to 1915.1001.
Process waste and housekeeping waste should be wetted with water or a water‑surfactant mixture before packaging in disposable containers to reduce airborne fiber release during handling and disposal. These cleanup and packaging steps are recommended in Appendix H to 1915.1001.
Vacuum bags or disposable paper filters that have captured asbestos should not be cleaned; they should be sprayed with a fine water mist and placed into a labeled waste container for disposal. Appendix H states this practice to minimize fiber release during handling; see Appendix H to 1915.1001.
Employers must annually inform employees of the information contained in the asbestos standard and appendices, instruct them in proper work practices for handling asbestos‑containing materials, and teach correct use of protective equipment. Appendix H sets this annual information and training requirement; see Appendix H to 1915.1001.
An employer must treat thermal system insulation and sprayed‑on or troweled‑on surfacing material as asbestos unless laboratory analysis shows the material does not contain asbestos. This presumption and the need for testing to rebut it are explained in Appendix H to 1915.1001.
Yes — employees or their designated representatives have the right to observe exposure monitoring and to record the results obtained during asbestos exposure measurements. Appendix H affirms this right to observation and recording; see Appendix H to 1915.1001.
Employers must keep exposure records for at least 30 years and medical records for the duration of employment plus 30 years. Appendix H specifies these retention periods and the requirement to maintain these records; see Appendix H to 1915.1001.
Yes — an employer must release an employee's exposure and medical records to the employee's physician or designated representative upon written request by the employee. Appendix H states this right of access to records; see Appendix H to 1915.1001.
If an employee is exposed above the PEL, the employer must inform the employee of their exposure and inform them of the actions being taken to reduce exposure to within the permissible limit. Appendix H requires employers to notify employees of exposures above the PEL and corrective actions; see Appendix H to 1915.1001.
No — OSHA does not accept an EPA school clearance level of 0.01 f/cc (from 40 CFR Part 763) as sufficient "objective data" to satisfy OSHA's employer exposure assessment requirements for occupational asbestos exposures. OSHA explained this position in its interpretation about asbestos sampling protocols, which states that EPA clearance criteria are not equivalent to OSHA exposure assessment requirements; see OSHA's interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2015-10-07 and Appendix H to 1915.1001.
No — OSHA does not consider a bulk asbestos content below 1% to be a "safe" level of asbestos; the 1% threshold only triggers certain regulatory procedures and enhanced requirements, but does not indicate safety. OSHA clarified that its regulations have not changed regarding bulk analysis and that a 1% bulk threshold is used for some regulatory triggers, not as a safety cutoff in a 2014 interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2014-11-05-1 and see Appendix H to 1915.1001.
Bulk sampling to rebut presumptions of asbestos must be performed by an accredited inspector or a certified industrial hygienist (CIH) using approved analytical methods and laboratories that demonstrate proficiency (for example NVLAP or AIHA accreditation); OSHA discusses these requirements in its interpretation about asbestos sampling and point counting, see https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2014-11-05-1 and Appendix H to 1915.1001.
Yes — employers are required to inform employees each year of the information in the asbestos standard and appendices and to instruct them in proper work practices and protective equipment use regardless of whether current exposures exceed the PEL. Appendix H states this annual information requirement; see Appendix H to 1915.1001.