Protecting Workers from the 

Hazards of Asbestos-Containing 

Flooring Material Maintenance

Many resilient flooring tiles contain asbestos, a mineral fiber used in numerous 

building materials before its dangerous health effects were discovered. A hazard 

exists for workers who buff or wax flooring material containing asbestos. Any 

floor tiles installed prior to 1980 should be presumed to contain asbestos — unless 

confirmed to be asbestos-free by a laboratory — and the proper protective actions 

should be taken. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has 

regulations to protect workers from asbestos.

What is the hazard?

The equipment used during the care or 

maintenance of asbestos-containing flooring tiles 

has an abrasive pad which runs at high speeds, 

and can release tiny asbestos fibers into the air.

The airborne fibers can then be inhaled by 

workers without knowing it, and become trapped 

in their lungs.

Asbestos is a known human carcinogen and 

can cause chronic lung disease as well as lung 

and other cancers.

How do I know if there is a hazard?

Airborne asbestos fibers are very small and 

cannot be seen by the naked eye.

Flooring materials installed prior to 1980 should 

be presumed to contain asbestos and should be 

treated as such, unless a piece of the material is 

sent to a reputable laboratory and analyzed for 

asbestos by transmission electron microscopy and 

found to contain a concentration of less than 1.0%.

What should be done to protect workers?

Workers caring for asbestos-containing 

flooring material (general industry) are 

protected by OSHA’s Asbestos standard, 

29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 

1910.1001. OSHA has separate asbestos 

standards for the construction and shipyard 

industries due to differing working conditions 

and asbestos exposures.

Training elements of OSHA’s 

Asbestos Standard

Initial and annual training must be provided 

in a manner and language that workers can 

understand. The training must include: health 

effects of asbestos; locations of asbestoscontaining and presumed asbestos-containing 

materials; recognition of damage and deterioration 

of asbestos-containing materials; and the proper 

response to fiber release episodes. The following 

elements should be included in this training:

Care of Asbestos-Containing Flooring Materials

• Do not sand asbestos-containing flooring 

material;

• Use only low-abrasion buffing pads;

• Operate buffers only at speeds lower than 

300 rpm;

• Use wet methods;

• If asbestos-containing flooring material has 

sufficient finish, brushing or dry buffing is 

permissible.

If these methods are properly implemented, 

personal protective equipment (PPE) should not 

be necessary.

Recordkeeping

A record of training and worker notification 

is necessary. If applicable, any exposure 

monitoring records and medical monitoring 

records must also be kept.

FactSheet
DTSEM FS-3693 11/2013

Workers’ Rights 

Workers have the right to: 

• Working conditions that do not pose a risk of 

serious harm. 

• Receive information and training (in a 

language and vocabulary the worker 

understands) about workplace hazards, 

methods to prevent them, and the OSHA 

standards that apply to their workplace. 

• Review records of work-related injuries and 

illnesses. 

• File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect their 

workplace if they believe there is a serious hazard 

or that their employer is not following OSHA’s 

rules. OSHA will keep all identities confidential. 

• Exercise their rights under the law without 

retaliation, including reporting an injury or 

raising health and safety concerns with their 

employer or OSHA. If a worker has been 

retaliated against for using their rights, they 

must file a complaint with OSHA as soon as 

possible, but no later than 30 days. 

For additional information see OSHA’s Workers 

page (www.osha.gov/workers). 

How to Contact OSHA 

Under the Occupational Safety and Health 

Act of 1970, employers are responsible for 

providing safe and healthful workplaces for 

their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these 

conditions for America’s workers by setting and 

enforcing standards, and providing training, 

education and assistance. For more information, 

visit www.osha.gov or call OSHA at 1-800-321- 

OSHA (6742), TTY 1-877-889-5627.

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or standards. 

It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance 

requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 

This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. The voice 

phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.