ASBESTOS WORKER DESCRIPTION AND SYLLABUS

Prerequisite for those who wish to be fit tested is a medical approval form indicating the individual can wear a respirator and the respirator.

Individuals must be clean shaven in the area of the respirator seal to the face.

This is a four day training course which includes lectures, demonstrations, at least fourteen hours of hands-on training, individual respirator fit testing, course review, and a written examination. The course addresses the following topics:

(A) physical characteristics of asbestos:

identification of asbestos and its aerodynamic characteristics, typical uses, and physical appearance, and a summary of abatement control options;

(B) potential health effects related to asbestos exposure: the nature of asbestos-related diseases, routes of exposure, dose-response relationships and the lack of a safe exposure level, synergistic effect between cigarette smoking and asbestos exposure; latency period for related diseases and a discussion of the relationship of asbestos exposure to asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and cancers of other organs;

(C) employee personal protective equipment: Classes and characteristics of respirator types; limitations of respirators and their proper selection, inspection, donning, use, maintenance, and storage procedures for respirators; methods for field testing of the facepiece-to-face seal (positive and negative pressure fit checks); qualitative and quantitative fit testing procedures; variability between field and laboratory protection factors; factors that alter respirator fit (e.g., facial hair); the components of a proper respiratory protective program; selection and use of personal protection clothing; use; storage; and handling of non-disposable clothing and regulations covering personal protective equipment;

(D) state-of-the-art work practices: proper work practices for asbestos abatement activities including descriptions of proper construction and maintenance of barriers and

decontamination enclosure systems; positioning of warning signs, electrical and ventilation system lock-out; proper working techniques for minimizing fiber release; use of wet methods, use of negative pressure exhaust ventilation equipment; use of HEPA vacuums; proper clean-up and disposal procedures; work practices for removal, encapsulation, enclosure, and repair of ACM; emergency procedures for sudden releases, potential exposure situations; transport and disposal procedures and recommended and prohibited work practices;

(E) personal hygiene: entry and exit procedures for the work area; use of showers; avoidance of eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing (gum or tobacco) in the work area and potential exposures, such as family exposure.

(F) additional safety hazards: hazards encountered during abatement activities and how to deal with them, including electrical hazards, heat stress, air contaminants other than asbestos, fire and explosion hazards, scaffold and ladder hazards, slips, trips, and falls and confined spaces;

(G) medical monitoring: OSHA And EPA Worker Protection Rule requirements for physical examinations, including a pulmonary function test, chest X-rays and a medical history for each employee;

(H) air monitoring: procedures to determine airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers, focusing on how personal air sampling is performed and the reasons for it;

(I) relevant federal, state and local regulatory requirements, procedures, and standards: particular attention directed at relevant EPA, OSHA, and state regulations concerning asbestos abatement workers;

(J) establishment of respiratory protection programs; and

(K) course review: a review of key aspects of the training course.