ERG 500.06: Asbestos Safety

References 

• SPPM 5.22, Asbestos Safety 
• SPPM 80.80, Respiratory Protection Program 
• WAC 296-65-001 through -005, Asbestos Removal and Encapsulation 
• WAC 296-62-077 through -07761, Asbestos, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite 
• Asbestos Management Plan – available from the OAE Safety Committee 
• Commons Hall (0005): Good Faith Survey – available from the OAE Safety Committee 

Purpose and Scope:   

The policies and procedures identified herein reduce the potential for OAE employee exposure to asbestos hazards. This chapter establishes requirements for employees that may encounter asbestos containing building materials. The WSU Asbestos Management Plan is the primary policy document for asbestos management at WSU and must be followed to meet regulatory safety and disposal requirements. 

Definitions 

Asbestos Program Manager:  An employee assigned by the Environmental Health and Safety Department (EH&S) to act as the primary asbestos resource for the university community and Competent Person for Public Safety employees. The asbestos Program Manager maintains the WSU Asbestos Management Program. 

Asbestos-containing Material (ACM): any material containing more than 1% asbestos. 

Assumed ACM:  Assumed asbestos-containing material.  Any suspect material that is not wood, metal, glass or structural concrete and has not been characterized by an AHERA Building Inspector. 

Competent Person: One who is capable of identifying existing asbestos hazards in the workplace and selecting the appropriate control strategy for asbestos exposure, who has the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them as specified in WAC 296-62-07728.  For the purpose of this document, the Competent Person for EH&S is the Asbestos Program Manager. 

Disturb or Disturbance: Activities that disrupt the matrix of ACM or PACM, crumble or pulverize ACM or assumed ACM, or generate visible debris from ACM or assumed ACM. This term includes activities that disrupt the matrix of ACM or assumed ACM, render ACM or assumed ACM friable, or generate visible dust or debris.  

Good Faith Asbestos Inspection: A formal report also known as an asbestos survey that documents the presence, location, and quantity of ACM and assumed ACM at a work site. Inspections are required prior to authorizing or allowing any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition project that may disturb building materials (WAC 296-62-07721). Reference the WSU Asbestos Management Plan for further details. 

Regulated Area: An area established by the employer to demarcate areas where asbestos work is conducted, any adjoining area where debris and waste from such asbestos work accumulate, and a work area within which airborne concentrations of asbestos exceed or can reasonably be expected to exceed the permissible exposure limit (PEL). Warning signs and/or tape indicating the hazard are placed at all entrances to asbestos regulated areas. 

Responsibilities 

Supervisors: contact EHD and/or Facilities Services when potential asbestos hazards are identified to them by their employees, ensure employees complete annual on-line asbestos awareness training, and initiate and document corrective procedures when employees do not conform to the policies herein. 

Employees: Identify suspected asbestos hazards to their supervisor, complete annual asbestos awareness training, and adhere to policies. 

General Requirements 

• All employees must report damaged building materials to their supervisor. Supervisors should contact Facilities Services dispatch at 509-335-9000 to create a work order to evaluate and/or repair damaged ACM as soon as practical.   
• Building materials that have been guaranteed not to contain asbestos in the Commons (#0005) can be referenced Appendix B.  For other buildings on campus, employees shall not disturb building materials unless the materials have been determined not to contain asbestos, as documented in a Good Faith Asbestos Inspection. Exceptions include only wood, metal, glass, or structural concrete constructed materials. 
• The EHS Asbestos Program Manager is designated as the contact for asbestos related concerns and fulfills Competent Person duties for Public Safety personnel.  
• Employees shall not enter an asbestos regulated area unless a situation poses an immediate risk (emergency) to life or health. The Competent Person in charge of the regulated area and/or EHS Program Manager should be contacted prior to entry in non-emergency situations. 
• Refer to the WSU Asbestos Management Plan for specific WSU policy and procedures regarding asbestos management and safety. 

Training 

All OAE employees will receive initial hire asbestos awareness training provided online at https://ehs.wsu.edu/workplace-safety/cs-asbestos/asbestos-default/ 

Task Specific Requirements 

Construction, Demolition, Repair, Remodeling, Maintenance or Renovation Activities: OAE Employees shall not disturb building materials unless the materials have been determined not to contain asbestos as documented in a Good Faith Asbestos Inspection (excluding emergency response). All employees involved in such activities – including project managers, supervisors, leads, and workers performing the work – are responsible for their roles and responsibilities outlined in the Asbestos Management Plan.