...
Until the 1970s, asbestos was a widely used, mineral-based material in the building and construction industry. Increasing public health concerns about the effects of exposure to asbestos fibers, primarily through inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers, resulted in EPA listing asbestos as a toxic substance and controlling its use and manufacturing under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
The term asbestos includes the following fibers:
- Chrysotile
- Crocidolite
- Cummingtonite-grunerite
- Anthophyllite
- Actinolite-tremolite
- Combinations of these materials
Asbestos is hazardous when it is friable. In this state, the asbestos can be crushed by hand pressure or can easily break. Either way, the final result is asbestos fibers being released into the air. Exposure to asbestos fibers can result in various forms of incurable lung disease. Often times, symptoms do not appear for 10 to 30 years after the initial exposure.
Scope
Current TSCA regulations concerning asbestos can be divided into three subject areas: asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in schools, asbestos abatement projects, and prohibitions and requirements for specific asbestos-containing products. These asbestos regulations are not all inclusive. EPA also regulates asbestos under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS), the Department of Transportation regulates the transportation of asbestos, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulates worker exposure and labeling requirements for asbestos.
Regulatory citations
- 40 CFR 763, Subpart E — Asbestos-containing materials in schools
- 40 CFR 763, Subpart G — Asbestos abatement projects
- 40 CFR 763, Subpart I — Prohibition of the manufacture, importation, processing, and distribution in commerce of certain asbestos-containing products; labeling requirements
Key definitions
- Asbestos: A heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, and is used in fire-resistant and insulating materials.
Summary of requirements
Current TSCA regulations concerning asbestos can be divided into three subject areas: asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in schools, asbestos abatement projects, and prohibitions and requirements for specific asbestos-containing products.
Asbestos-containing material in schools. Asbestos-containing materials (ACM) were used in the construction of schools. Due to the toxic nature of asbestos and the fact symptoms usually do not appear until several years after exposure, removing ACM from schools became a national priority. EPA required local education agencies to visually inspect public and private elementary and secondary schools for the presence of friable and nonfriable ACM . The main purpose of these plans was to initiate response actions or preventative measures to reduce asbestos exposure for students and school employees.Local education agencies also have to meet several other requirements which include, but are not limited to: inspection and reinspection; an operations, maintenance and repair (O&M) program; recordkeeping; and warning labels.
Asbestos abatement projects. EPA established standards to be followed for state and local government employees working on asbestos abatement projects that are not covered under the Asbestos Standard of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), asbestos standards which are part of an OSHA-approved state plan, or EPA-approved state asbestos regulations.These regulations protect employees by outlining requirements employers must meet for all asbestos abatement projects. These requirements include:
- Regulated areas
- Monitoring exposure levels
Approved methods of compliance - Respiratory protection
- Protective clothing
- Hygiene facilities and practices
- Hazard communication
- Housekeeping
- Medical surveillance
- Recordkeeping