General Procedures

For Construction Projects and Maintenance Activities

When a project manager plans a construction project or a maintenance supervisor approaches a maintenance activity there are two issues related to asbestos s/he must consider. The first consideration is whether or not asbestos-containing materials are present, and if so, determining whether those asbestos-containing materials will be disturbed. The second consideration is protecting the employee working on the project from asbestos exposure.

Asbestos-containing material is defined as containing more than 1% asbestos. Consequently, many of the requirements of the asbestos rules do not come into play when a good faith inspection shows that a material is not asbestos-containing. However, an employee may be overexposed to asbestos when working on material that contains less than 1% asbestos, and the rules require employee protection from asbestos exposure even though the material in question is not considered to be asbestos-containing.

In order to ensure a project will meet both the requirements for locating asbestos-containing material and employees protection, the flow sheets entitled Table 1 and Table 2 should be used for any project performed on campus involving construction (including demolition, remodeling) or maintenance.

A good faith survey to determine if asbestos is present must be performed on all projects unless there is a reasonable certainty asbestos will not be disturbed. (Alternately, materials can be assumed to contain asbestos without sampling. These must be managed as though they contain asbestos). Monitoring for employee exposure must be performed when demolition, construction, remodeling, or maintenance occurs involving materials which may contain asbestos capable of being released at PEL levels. Asbestos fibers may be found in, and released from, many building materials, including pipe and boiler insulation, wall surfacing material, wallboard, wallboard joint compound, flooring, suspended or glued-on ceiling tiles, sprayed-on popcorn ceiling material, wiring, laboratory bench surfaces, blown-in or poured-in insulation, etc. A more extensive list of possible asbestos-containing materials is provided on the "Reasonable Certainty of Non-Disturbance of Asbestos" form (Appendix 1).

It should be noted that requirements for construction (including demolition, and renovation) activities differ from the requirements for maintenance activities. A project manager or maintenance supervisor must consider that construction activities typically involve the addition, removal or replacement of building components, whereas maintenance activities may simply disturb the matrix of a building component or components.

Use Table 1, "For demolition, construction or remodeling of a building or a portion of a building," with construction projects and Table 2, "For maintenance or custodial work in which suspected asbestos containing materials may be disturbed."

Demolition/construction/renovation Activities

If demolition/construction/renovation activities which may disturb asbestos are being performed by a contractor at a secured building or facility, and no WSU employees will be involved, a good faith inspection is performed by WSU personnel or by an environmental contractor hired by WSU prior to the project. The good faith inspection information about ACM/PACM is provided to the construction contractor(s) and to EH&S. If demolition is to occur, all asbestos-containing materials are abated prior to demolition activity in accordance to WRD 23-35 (of 1/31/01).

If demolition/construction/renovation work being performed involves WSU employees, the WSU asbestos abatement crew, or other certified crew hired by WSU, shall perform any tass during which asbestos may be disturbed.

Maintenance/Custodial Activities

If maintenance or custodial activities are being performed, and not construction work, Appendix 3 "Maintenance Repair and Custodial Projects" should be consulted if building materials may be disturbed by the activity. Each task performed must comply with the criteria "under workplace conditions closely resembling the processes, type of material including percentage of asbestos, control methods, work practices, and environmental conditions." Any employee performing a task with potential exposure to asbestos must be asbestos awareness-trained.

If the table says that an assessment must be performed during construction or maintenance activity, EH&S must be contacted to set up assessment parameters.

Table 1: For demolition, construction, or remodeling of a building or a portion of a building.

Table 2: For maintenance or custodial work in which suspect asbestos-containing materials may be disturbed..