Purpose, Application, and Scope

Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of fibrous minerals. It was added to many building materials because it is heat and chemical resistant, strong, and not easily degraded. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistant properties, asbestos has been used for a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials, heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings prior to 1980.  Asbestos containing materials (ACM) can also be found in building materials used after 1980, although it is rare. It is primarily found in insulation around pipes, ducts, and tanks. Other ACMs include spray-on fireproofing, troweled-on plaster, fire doors, wallboard, fume hood linings, linoleum, laboratory countertops, and floor tiles.

The presence of asbestos in buildings does not mean that the health of the building occupants is in danger.  When in good condition and undisturbed, ACMs do not pose a health risk to the occupants.  Asbestos becomes a concern when fibers become airborne, and exposure may result from fibers being inhaled. Studies have shown that individuals exposed to asbestos fibers over a long period of time have developed lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma with latency periods ranging from 10 to 40 years.

Wichita State University’s Asbestos Safety Program has been developed to ensure that ACMs are appropriately managed to reduce or eliminate potential health risks to the University community. This program will apply to all University employees, contractors, students and visitors.

No employee of Wichita State University (WSU) shall perform any type of asbestos work.  All removal or disturbance of ACMs shall be performed under controlled conditions by asbestos abatement workers licensed by the State of Kansas.

Definitions

Asbestos --- A naturally occurring geological material including the asbestiform varieties of chrysotile or serpentine, Amosite or cummingtonite, grunerite, crocidolite or riebeckite, actinolite, tremolite, and anthophyllite.

Asbestos-containing material (ACM)--- Any material that contains more than 1% asbestos.

Asbestos hazard abatement activity --- Any activity involving the removal, renovation, enclosure, repair, or encapsulation of reasonably related friable ACM in an amount greater that fifty linear feet or fifty square feet.  This also includes any such activity involving such ACMs in an amount of fifty linear feet or fifty square feet or less if, when combined with any other reasonably related activity in terms of time and location of the activity, the total amount is in an amount greater that fifty linear or fifty square feet.

Category I Nonfriable ACM --- Asbestos containing packings, gaskets, resilient floor covering, and asphalt roofing products containing more than 1% asbestos.

Category II Nonfriable ACM --- Any material, excluding Category I nonfriable ACMthat, when dry, cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure.

Demolition --- The wrecking or taking out any load-supporting structural member and any related razing, removing, or stripping of product.

Disturbance --- Is activity that disrupts the matrix of ACM or PACM, crumbles or pulverizes ACM or PACM, or generates visible debris from ACM or PACM. Disturbance includes cutting away small amounts of ACM or PACM, no greater than the amount which can be contained in one standard sized glovebag or waste bag in order to access a building component. In no event shall the amount of ACM or PACM disturbed exceed that which can be contained in one glovebag or waste bag which shall not exceed 60 inches in length and width.

Fiber --- A particulate form of asbestos 5 micrometers or longer, with a length to diameter ratio of at least 3 to 1.

Friable--- Any ACM that, when dry, can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure.

Glovebag --- Is not more than a 60x60 inch impervious plastic bag-like enclosure affixed around an ACM, with glove-like appendages through which material and tools may be handled.

HEPA filter --- A filter capable of trapping and retaining at least 99.97 percent of 0.3 micrometer diameter mono-disperse particles.

NESHAP --- National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants

Non-Friable ACM --- Any ACM that, when dry, cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to power by hand pressure.

PACM --- Presumed asbestos containing material; laboratory analysis is required to confirm the absence of asbestos in the material.

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) --- Time Weighted Average (TWA)- No employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of asbestos in excess of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter of air as an eight-hour TWA. Excursion Limit (EL)- No employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of asbestos in excess of 1.0 fibers per cubic centimeter as averaged over a sampling period of thirty minutes.

Regulated ACM (RACM) --- Friable ACM, Category I non-friable ACM that has become friable, Category I non-friable ACM that will be or has been subjected to sanding, grinding, cutting, or abrading, or Category II non-friable ACM that has a high probility of becoming or has become crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by the forces expected to act on the material in the course of demolition or renovation operations.

Regulated Area --- Is an area established by the employer to demarcate areas where airborne concentrations of asbestos exceed, or there is a reasonable possibility they may exceed, the permissible exposure limits.

Removal --- The taking out or stripping of ACM from a site.

Renovation --- The altering a facility or one or more facility components in any way, including the stripping or removal of ACM from a facility component.

Repair --- Returning damaged ACM to an undamaged condition or to an intact state so as to prevent fiber release.

Roles and Responsibilities

EHS Department is responsible for the following:

  • Ensures that a written program is in place
  • Reviews the program periodically and monitors to ensure compliance with this program
  • Ensures that employees receive appropriate training, and that training is documented
  • Coordinate with outside asbestos contractors to conduct surveys of buildings and abatement projects
  • Maintain asbestos surveys of asbestos in university building
  • Serve as a University liaison for local, county, and state agencies regarding asbestos issues and inspections
  • Provide technical assistance upon request

 Manager/Supervisor is responsible for the following:

  • Review work request and evaluate potential for work to impact ACM/PACM
  • Identifying, with assistance of EHS, ACMs prior to maintenance, renovation or other activities where ACMs may be disturbed
  • Scheduling project date with sufficient lead times for asbestos abatement
  • Ensures that employees comply with the guidelines established by this program
  • Ensures that employees complete required training, and that training is documented
  • Contact EHS if any previous unknown ACM or PACM is found during a project
  • Assure that employees are not disturbing any materials that are suspected to contain asbestos

Employees are responsible for the following:

  • WSU employees are not to disturb ACM or PACM
  • Completes required training and follows this program
  • Notifies the supervisor/manager of the presents of any ACM/PACM found

Contractors are responsible for the following:

  • All contractors working at WSU shall notify their WSU Project Manager immediately if any ACM/PACM is discovered during the project
  • All abatement contractors must follow all Federal and State regulatory requirements for Asbestos

Asbestos Abatement

No employee of WSU shall perform any type of asbestos work.  All removal or disturbance of ACMs shall be performed under controlled conditions by asbestos abatement workers licensed by the State of Kansas.

Design Phase for Renovation and Construction

During the design phase of all renovation or construction activities Facilities Planning, Project Manager, or Supervisor shall submit a copy of the plans to EHS for review. EHS will then convey the entire project scope to a licensed asbestos inspector for sampling.

If it is determined that asbestos removal is required for the project to proceed, then EHS will assist in procurement of a licensed asbestos abatement contractor to complete abatement work. Any asbestos that may be impacted by the renovation, maintenance, repair, or demolition activity must be abated prior to the commencement of such activity.  If asbestos material is intact and won’t be disturbed by project activities, it does not have to be removed. There is no regulation stating that asbestos must be removed if discovered. 

Sampling

All sampling shall only be conducted by licensed asbestos inspectors approved by WSU EHS.  No WSU employee shall collect samples of suspected ACM. Do not collect samples and bring them to your supervisor or EHS. WSU employees shall not remove or disturb any suspect asbestos-containing materials until the materials have been sampled by a licensed asbestos inspector and it has been determined that they do not contain asbestos.

Some materials are presumed to contain asbestos if installed before 1981. Examples of these materials, as well as other presumed ACMs are:

  • Thermal system insulation
  • Roofing and siding shingles
  • Vinyl floor tiles
  • Plaster, cement, putties and coatings
  • Industrial pipe wrapping
  • Heat-resistant textiles
  • Automobile brake linings and clutch pads

Renovation/Demolition Information

Prior to any renovation/demolition project, all ACMs to be disturbed during the project must be identifies as one of the following NESHAP categories: Regulated ACM (RCAM), Category I ACM (CAT I), Category II ACM (CAT II).

  • For renovation – RACM, CAT I, and CAT II materials must be abated prior to disturbance: the removal and waste disposal should be conducted by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.
  • For demolition – RACM, damaged CAT I materials, damaged CAT II materials, and CAT II materials with a high probability of being crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to a powder during demolition must be abated prior to disturbance; the removal and waste disposal should be conducted by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.

CAT I material in good condition may remain in place during demolition or may be abated prior to disturbance. Cat II materials, with low probability of being crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to a powder during demolition may remain in place during demolition or may be abated prior to disturbance. Any removal should be conducted by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.

Furthermore, if the demolition debris is to be recycled or if the demolition is to include burning, all CAT I and CAT II materials must be abated; the removal and disposal should be conducted by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.

Fiber Release Episodes

 Any uncontrolled or unintentional disturbance of ACM resulting in visible emission is considered a fiber release episode. Fiber release episodes should be documented and reported to EHS.

  • The impact area should be evacuated and isolated to prevent unauthorized access; HVAC systems supplying the area should be shut down or diffusers and returns serving the area should be sealed off.
  • The removal and disposal should be conducted by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.

Information and Training

The Department of Environmental Health & Safety will provide training for all employees who are potentially exposed to asbestos fibers above the PEL or EL. Training will be provided on an annual basis or at the time of being hired. The training program will inform employees about ways in which they can safeguard their health.

The elements of the training course will include the health effects of asbestos; common types of ACM that are present at the University, locations of known ACM, signs of damage and deterioration of ACM; and the proper response to fiber release episodes. Workers who perform housekeeping operations in buildings with presumed asbestos-containing materials but not at the PEL must also be provided asbestos awareness training.

Recordkeeping

All objective data and sampling data for asbestos projects are maintained at EHS offices. The data will be maintained for as long as it is relied upon. Any information regarding abatement projects will be maintained for the duration of ownership of the building.

Annual Review

The Asbestos Safety Program will be reviewed by the EHS Department.  The review will include current training and any documents associated with this program.  When new tasks, procedures, and/or positions are added or modified/revised which affect the Asbestos Safety Program, it will be updated to reflect these changes.