ASBESTOS REMOVAL PROJECTS
POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Responsible Persons: Facilities Services, Environmental Health & Radiation Safety (EHRS) and Off-campus Contractors
 
Policy:
Designed to establish procedural guidelines for small and incidental asbestos removal projects.  Small, minor and major asbestos removal projects are generally performed by certified off-campus contractors. Only employees properly certified may enter an area where asbestos removal is taking place.  The EHRS Department will be notified of any asbestos project before removal commences.  Consult applicable regulations for the most up-to-date information regarding projects involving asbestos.

Small Asbestos Project:  any project involving the removal, enclosure, or encapsulation of or any renovation, repair or demolition work which disturbs or damages either:  (a) twelve  (12) square feet or less but more than five (5) square feet or less of friable asbestos material at one location; or (b)  three (3) linear feet or less but more than one (1) linear foot of asbestos pipe covering at one location.

Incidental Asbestos Project:  a project that disturbs or damages either a) five (5) square feet or less of friable asbestos material at one location or b) one (1) linear foot or less of asbestos pipe covering at one location.

Procedure for Small Asbestos Projects:
(City of Philadelphia's Asbestos Control Regulation)

Work Area Preparation
  • Appropriate caution signs shall be posted at all entrances to the asbestos project work area and the waste storage area at all times during the asbestos project until the re-occupancy standard has been met.

Re-Occupancy Standard:  A maximum allowable concentration of airborne asbestos fibers established by the Department of Public Health for re-occupancy of a building, private residence, or portion thereof following completion of an asbestos project.  (.01 fibers/cc)

  • All furniture, equipment, fixtures, and other movable objects shall be HEPA-vacuumed and, where feasible, wet-cleaned and removed from the work area.
  • All other objects that cannot be removed shall be HEPA-vacuumed and, where feasible, wet-cleaned and covered with plastic sheeting taped in place. 
  • A sealable barrier of plastic sheeting shall be constructed at the entrance to the work area.
  • All ventilation systems into and out of the work area shall be covered with plastic sheeting taped in place.
  • Occupants shall be removed from any floor where an asbestos project is in progress unless the work area is completely enclosed and sealed off from other areas.
General Procedures
  • No person shall enter the work area without proper equipment, clothing, and training.
  • The asbestos contractor or supervisor shall provide all authorized persons who enter the work area with the same protective clothing and equipment as is required for major asbestos projects and shall ensure that it is properly used.  (including full-body coveralls, head and foot covers, gloves and appropriate respirators).
  • The asbestos contractor or supervisor shall ensure that all workers remove asbestos debris from clothing and equipment before leaving the work area.
Removal Procedures
  • The supervisor shall ensure that all removal, enclosure, encapsulation, waste disposal, work area clean-up, and reinsulation procedures are followed in accordance with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health's Air Management Services, Asbestos Control Regulation, Section VI. C. 2 through VI. C. 9. (Regulations are available in the Safety Department and the Facilities Services Department)
  • Asbestos material shall be sprayed with amended water.

Amended Water:  Water to which a surfactant has been added.

  • The removal of asbestos by use of the containment bag technique shall be limited to asbestos insulation from pipe fittings, elbows, and pipe.   Containment bags are for single use and shall not be repositioned.
  • A minimum of two (2) persons are required to perform asbestos material removal by the containment bag technique.
Air Monitoring
  • Clearance samples shall be taken after all asbestos abatement and clean-up activities have been completed but before the critical barriers are removed.  Copies of air monitoring results must be sent to the EHRS Department.

Critical Barrier - Two (2) layers of plastic sheeting applied to openings occurring in a wall, the underside of ceiling construction, electrical outlets, non-removable lights, HVAC systems, windows, doorways, entrance-ways, ducts, grilles, grates, diffusers, floor drains, etc., that prevent the distribution of asbestos fibers to the surrounding area.

  • Air sampling and analysis for asbestos shall be conducted either according to the latest NIOSH methods for phase contrast microscopy (PCM) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
  • After the final clearance test results have been received, and the fiber count is at or below .01 fibers/cc, critical barriers and signs may be removed.   Re-occupancy is allowed.
Disposal
  • As asbestos materials are removed, they shall be thoroughly wetted and placed into six (6) -mil plastic disposal doubled bags or fiber drums.  Asbestos contaminated materials such as plastic sheeting, clothing and other items shall also be placed into six (6) -mil plastic bags or fiber drums.  All plastic disposal bags or drums shall be sealed and labeled properly.  The EHRS Department should be contacted for disposal.

Procedure for Incidental Asbestos Projects:
(City of Philadelphia's Asbestos Control Regulation)

Site Preparation
  • Appropriate caution signs shall be posted at all entrances to the asbestos project site and the waste storage area at all times during the asbestos project.
  • All surfaces having the potential to become contaminated shall be covered with plastic sheeting.
  • All ventilation intakes within ten (10) feet of the project site shall either be shut down or sealed with plastic sheeting.
  • Occupants shall be removed from any room where the incidental asbestos project is in progress.

General Procedures

  • No person shall perform or assist in an incidental asbestos project without wearing proper protective equipment and clothing.
  • All asbestos debris must be removed from clothing and equipment before the worker leaves the project site.

Other Procedures

  • Asbestos pipe covering shall be removed by containment bag techniques.
  • Asbestos materials shall be thoroughly wetted with an appropriate wetting solution before being removed.
  • Cutting, sawing, or other similar operations on asbestos materials shall be performed in conjunction with a HEPA vacuum system.
  • All encapsulation, waste disposal, and reinsulation procedures required for major asbestos projects shall be followed.
  • The project site shall be HEPA-vacuumed or wet-cleaned such that no visible residue remains.

Link to the University's Asbestos Operations and Maintenance Program.


University of the Sciences in Philadelphia • 600 South Forty-third Street • Philadelphia, PA 19104-4495 • phone: 215-596-8800 • email: safety@usip.edu