Regulated areas
- Employers must establish regulated areas where asbestos exposure may occur and allow only authorized personnel to enter such areas.
- Warning signs must be posted at all approaches to a regulated area.
Covered employers must establish a regulated area(s) where airborne concentrations of asbestos exceed the permissible exposure limit (PEL). Only authorized personnel may enter regulated areas and they must use respirators. No smoking, eating, drinking, chewing tobacco or gum, or applying cosmetics is permitted in regulated areas. Warning signs must be displayed at each regulated area and must be posted at all approaches to regulated areas.
Employers must ensure that employees working in and around regulated areas comprehend the warning signs. Methods to ensure employee comprehension may include the use of languages other than English, pictographs, and graphics. These signs must contain the following information:
- DANGER
- ASBESTOS
- MAY CAUSE CANCER CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS
- AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
In addition, where the use of respirators and protective clothing is required in the regulated area under this section, the warning signs shall include the following:
WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING IN THIS AREA
Warning labels must be placed on all raw materials, mixtures, scrap, waste, debris, and other products containing asbestos fibers. The label must include the following information:
- DANGER
- CONTAINS ASBESTOS
- FIBERS MAY CAUSE CANCER
- CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS
- DO NOT BREATHE DUST
- AVOID CREATING DUST