Asbestos Alert

Asbestos Federal Regulations

There are three key regulations that hold employers responsible for the safety of their workers who handle asbestos related products.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has the following three standards:

• 29 CFR 1926.1101 covering construction workers, including alteration, repair, renovation, and demolition of structures containing asbestos.
  
  
• 29 CFR 1915.1001 covering asbestos exposure while working in shipyards.
  
  
• 290CFR 1910.1001 applies to asbestos exposure in general indurstry, such as exposure in general industry, such as exposure during brake and clutch repair; custodial work, and manufactureing of asbestos related products.

There are four classifications with specific guidelines as follows:

• Class One
  The most potentially hazardous class of asbestos jobs that involves the removal of thermal system insulation and troweled-on surfacing or sprayed-on surfacing containing asbestos material or material that is thought to have asbestos.
  
  
• Class Two
  The removal of other types of asbestos related materials that are not thermally installed. For instance roofing materials, resilient flooring, or other materials containing asbestos.
  
  
• Class Three
  Repair and maintenance workers fall into this category where asbestos related materials are disturbed.
  
  
• Class Four
  Custodial activities are covered here where employees clean up asbestos containing debris.