29 CFR 1926.1101: Asbestos

Question 1

During a Class I removal job, an air monitoring technician reviews a 30-minute sample collected in a worker's breathing zone. The result is 0.6 f/cc. The employer's 8-hour TWA results for the same worker have all been below 0.1 f/cc. Based on the asbestos construction standard, what is the correct conclusion about this result?

1. AIt complies, because the 30-minute result is below the excursion limit of 1.0 f/cc
2. BIt cannot be evaluated, because the excursion limit applies only to 8-hour samples
3. CIt violates the standard, because the excursion limit is 0.5 f/cc over 15 minutes
4. DIt violates the standard, because any 30-minute result above 0.1 f/cc exceeds the limit

Question 2

A crew is removing asbestos-containing floor tile and mastic (Class II work). No negative exposure assessment is available, so the employer issued elastomeric half-mask respirators with HEPA cartridges. One worker asks to use a tight-fitting powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) with HEPA filters instead. The exposure conditions are such that the PAPR would give adequate protection. What must the employer do?

1. ARefuse the request, because the half-mask already meets the minimum respirator requirement for this work
2. BOffer a disposable filtering facepiece respirator as a compromise, since it is lighter than the half-mask
3. CProvide the PAPR only if the worker supplies it, since the employer has already met its obligation with the half-mask
4. DProvide the tight-fitting PAPR, because the worker chose it and it gives adequate protection

Question 3

A contractor is removing asbestos-containing material using a containment box. The box was smoke-tested yesterday at another location, and no leaks were found. The crew now plans to reuse the same box today at a new location, and the foreman proposes skipping the smoke test because the box passed and was not damaged in transport. What does the standard require?

1. AReplace the smoke test with a HEPA filtration system running during removal
2. BSmoke-test the box again and seal any leaks before this use, even though it passed yesterday
3. CSkip the test, because a passing result carries over to later uses unless the box is visibly damaged
4. DSmoke-test the box only at the start of each work week

Question 4

A laborer completed the 8-hour hands-on Class II course. It covered only the work practices for removing asbestos ceiling tiles. The crew's work does not require critical barriers or negative pressure enclosures. The supervisor now wants him to also remove asbestos-containing transite panels on the same project. What does the standard require before he takes on the transite work?

1. ANo new training until his next annual refresher, at which time transite practices can be added
2. BFull asbestos abatement worker training equivalent to the EPA Model Accreditation Plan course, because he is now handling two materials
3. CNothing further, because he already completed the 8-hour Class II course and holds the same classification of work
4. DTraining in the work practices applicable to transite panels and the removal methods he will use, in addition to his ceiling tile training