FactSheet

What is the hazard?

Asbestos fibers are released into the air during 

activities that disturb asbestos-containing materials.

The asbestos fibers can then be inhaled without 

knowing and trapped in the lungs. If swallowed, 

they can become embedded into the digestive 

tract as well.

Asbestos is a known human carcinogen and can 

cause chronic lung disease as well as lung and 

other cancers. Symptoms and/or cancer may take 

many years to develop following exposure. 

Where is the hazard?

The hazard may occur during manufacturing of 

asbestos-containing products; performing brake 

or clutch repairs; renovating or demolishing 

buildings or ships; or cleanup from those 

activities; contact with deteriorating asbestoscontaining materials and during cleanup after 

natural disasters.

Some materials are presumed to contain 

asbestos if installed before 1981. Examples 

of these materials, as well as other presumed 

asbestos-containing materials are:

•	 Thermal system insulation 

•	 Roofing and siding shingles

•	 Vinyl floor tiles

•	 Plaster, cement, putties and caulk

•	 Ceiling tiles and spray-on coatings

•	 Industrial pipe wrapping

•	 Heat-resistant textiles

•	 Automobile brake linings and clutch pads

OSHA Standards

OSHA has three standards to protect workers 

from the hazards of asbestos depending on the 

type of workplace. For complete information on 

all of the requirements, see the standard specific 

to your type of workplace:

General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1001 covers work 

in general industry, such as exposure during 

brake and clutch repair, maintenance work, and 

manufacture of asbestos-containing products. 

Shipyards: 29 CFR 1915.1001 covers construction, 

alteration, repair, maintenance, renovation and 

demolition of structures containing asbestos 

during work in shipyards. 

Construction: 29 CFR 1926.1101 covers 

construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, 

or renovation and demolition of structures 

containing asbestos. 

What protections exist in the Standards?

•	 Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for asbestos 

is 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air as an 

eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA), with 

an excursion limit (EL) of 1.0 asbestos fibers 

per cubic centimeter over a 30-minute period. 

The employer must ensure that no one is 

exposed above these limits.

•	 Assessment of workplaces covered by the 

standards must be completed to determine 

if asbestos is present and if the work will 

generate airborne fibers by a specific method 

under each standard. 

•	 Monitoring necessary to detect if asbestos 

exposure is at or above the PEL or EL for workers 

who are, or may be expected to be exposed 

to asbestos. Frequency depends on work 

classification and exposure. The construction 

and shipyard standards require assessment and 

monitoring by a competent person.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber. It was used in numerous building 

materials and vehicle products for its strength and ability to resist heat and 

corrosion before its dangerous health effects were discovered. Individual asbestos 

fibers cannot be seen by the naked eye, which puts workers at an increased risk. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has regulations to 

protect workers from the hazards of asbestos.
•	 If the exposure has the potential to be above 

the PEL or EL, employers must use proper 

engineering controls and work practices to the 

extent feasible to keep it at or below the PEL and 

EL. Where feasible engineering controls and 

work practices do not ensure worker protection 

at the exposure limits, employers must reduce 

the exposures to the lowest level achievable 

and then supplement with proper respiratory 

protection to meet the PEL. The construction 

and shipyard standards contain specific control 

methods depending on work classification, 

and the general industry standard has specific 

controls for brake and clutch repair work. 

•	 Proper hazard communication and demarcation

with warning signs containing specified 

language in areas that have exposures above 

the PEL or EL is necessary. No smoking, eating, 

or drinking should occur in these areas and 

proper PPE must be provided and used to 

prevent exposure.

•	 Separate decontamination and lunch areas

with proper hygiene practices must be 

provided to workers exposed above the PEL 

to avoid contamination.

•	 Training requirements depend on the workplace 

exposure and classification. Training must be 

provided to all workers exposed at or above the 

PEL before work begins and yearly thereafter. 

All training must be conducted in a manner 

and language in which the worker is able to 

understand. Workers who perform housekeeping 

operations in buildings with presumed asbestoscontaining materials but not at the PEL must also 

be provided asbestos awareness training. 

•	 Medical surveillance requirements are 

different depending on the industry. Medical 

surveillance must be provided for workers 

who engage in certain classifications of work, 

or experience exposures at or above the PEL 

in construction and shipyards. In general 

industry, medical examinations must be 

provided for workers who experience exposure 

at or above the PEL. 

•	 Records must be kept on exposure monitoring 

for asbestos for at least 30 years, and worker 

medical surveillance records retained for the 

duration of employment plus 30 years. Training 

records must be kept for at least 1 year beyond 

the last date of employment. 

Contact OSHA

For more information on this and other healthrelated issues impacting workers, to report an 

emergency, fatality or catastrophe, to order 

publications, to file a confidential complaint, 

or to request OSHA’s free on-site consultation 

service, contact your nearest OSHA office, visit 

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

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

Worker 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. 

•	 Get copies of test results that find and 

measure hazards. 

•	 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 or discrimination. 

For more information, see OSHA’s workers page.

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.

DEP FS-3507 01/2014