Guidelines for Maintenance Operation Involving Asbestos : NS Labour and Advanced Education, Health and Safety

Maintenance Operation Involving Asbestos Guidelines

March 26, 1998

Maintenance encompasses a variety of operations which may involve contact with asbestos containing materials. Exposure under these conditions can vary widely from very low exposure from handling vinyl asbestos floor tile to high exposure encountered during the sanding of asbestos carrying materials. Each undertaking must be assessed by a competent individual to determine appropriate job specific requirements. In general terms, maintenance requires attention to the following details.

Isolation

Where asbestos is contacted in a maintenance operation, efforts must be made to limit the disturbance of asbestos fibres. Protection from asbestos exposure can be accomplished utilizing managerial or engineering controls. Depending upon the extent of the operation, this could include:

  • using drop sheets to cover floor areas
  • using of glove bags
  • using local exhaust ventilation
  • restricting access to work area
  • using specific work practices (e.g., wet dusting)
  • using temporary polyethylene enclosures

Personal Protective Equipment in Hygiene

Where personnel may be exposed to an inhalation hazard, an acceptable respirator must be worn. The respirator selected must provide adequate protection for the airborne concentrations anticipated.

Where personnel may be exposed to asbestos such that skin or street clothing contamination may occur, they should be provided with and required to use appropriate protective clothing.

Employees must be made aware of hygiene requirements associated with the asbestos operations.

Equipment and Materials

The specific equipment and materials required for an asbestos maintenance job is a function of the operations conducted. As a minimum though, they should include:

  • respiratory protective equipment
  • protective clothing
  • wet cleaning equipment or high efficiency vacuum
  • hand tools appropriate for the operations conducted
  • warning signs
  • leak tight polyethylene bags
  • polyethylene sheeting

Code of Practice

A defined procedure indicating how the operation is to be conducted should be developed. All operators involved should be made aware of and adhere to the defined procedure, which should be posted in the work area.