Department of

Environmental Health and Safety

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Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used in construction materials in the past because it is resistant to fire. It is commonly found in floor tiles, thermal system insulations, ceiling tiles, wallboard, spray-on acoustical and spray-on fire proofing materials in buildings. When airborne, asbestos fibers can be inhaled. Asbestos fibers, we know now, cause cancer and various respiratory illnesses. Asbestos fibers can become airborne when moving tiles, knocking holes in walls or floor tiles, or disturbing other asbestos containing materials.

There are specific Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Utah Occupational Safety and Health (UOSH), and Salt Lake Valley Health (SLVH) regulations requiring operations and maintenance (O&M) and project management plans where building components consist of regulated asbestos containing material (RACM). DEQ amended regulations effective August 1, 2000.

A minimum program is comprised of the following:

1. A written Operations and Maintenance program for maintenance, telecommunications, and custodial activities where the limited disturbance of small quantities of PACM is incidental and unavoidable. Includes emergency response procedures.

2. A training program for maintenance, telecommunications, and custodial staff. Includes annual and procedural change refresher training.

3. Competent person on staff or contracted. UOSH defines a competent person as one who is capable of identifying existing asbestos hazards in the workplace and selecting the appropriate control strategies for asbestos exposure and who has the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

4. Contractor and contract employee notification of all locations comprised of PACM.

5. An asbestos survey report on site for all renovation and demolition projects greater than 3 square or 3 linear feet. Survey report must be available on site to all persons who have access to the site for the duration of the renovation or demolition activities, and the DEQ Executive Secretary upon request. The August 2000 amendments removed the exemption for buildings constructed prior to 1980 unless the original architect certifies that the building components are asbestos free.

6. A DEQ certified asbestos inspector must inspect each facility to be demolished or renovated and certify that existing reports are current/accurate or collect representative samples and generate a survey report where none exists.

7. A SLVH certified inspector must inspect and certify all buildings for hazardous materials prior to demolition. Includes notification to SLVH prior to demolition.

8. Notification to DEQ anytime RACM small projects are conducted (greater than 3 linear or 3 square feet but less than 160 square or 240 linear feet). Notification at least 1 day prior to start of work and an annual report of all small projects. This program element does not affect the University of Utah as long as in-house abatement is not conducted.

9. Notification to building occupants prior to abatement activities.