Code of Maine Rules › 06 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › 096 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - GENERAL › Chapter 425 - SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES: ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS › Section 096-425-7 - Asbestos Abatement Work Practice Requirements

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
This section establishes minimum work practice requirements
				  for asbestos abatement activities. All asbestos abatement activities are
				  subject to these work practice requirements. All projects must be performed in
				  accordance with an applicable project design, as set forth in these
				  rules.
A.
General Work Practice
				Requirements.
Asbestos abatement activities, exclusive of asbestos
				associated activities, must comply with the following work practice
				requirements:
(1) A certified Asbestos
				Abatement Project Supervisor must be designated as the lead supervisor for the
				project and must be present at the work site at all times personnel are within
				the regulated area.
(2)
				Establishing the Regulated Area. Prior to starting an asbestos abatement
				activity, the Asbestos Abatement Contractor must establish the regulated area.
				For activities where containment is not required, the regulated area shall be
				demarcated with barrier tape marked "ASBESTOS HAZARD" (or equivalent wording)
				and OSHA warning signs, and located such that it protects persons from exposure
				to asbestos and minimizes the number of persons in the area. In facilities
				where plastic barrier tape may cause a safety hazard, red cloth tape may be
				used.
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Note: If establishing an exclusion zone, the exclusion zone
				  should be demarcated with barrier tape that is different from the tape used to
				  demarcate the regulated area.
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The regulated area must include the following:
(a) Except as allowed under the provisions of
				sections 7(B) and 7(D) of this rule, a work area containment meeting the
				following requirements:
(i) A
				polyethylene-enclosed structure formed by partitions or framing or by covering
				walls and ceilings with a minimum of 2 layers of 4-mil polyethylene sheeting or
				1 layer of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting, and by covering the floor with a
				minimum of 2 layers of (six) 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. The surface to be
				abated does not need to be covered with polyethylene sheeting. For suspended
				ceiling tile system removals, containment above the ceiling also is required
				for interior walls that do not extend from floor to ceiling; that is, a gap
				exists above the ceiling system where asbestos fibers could migrate to areas
				not being abated. Perimeter areas along interior walls therefore must be
				accessed and/or removed first and 2 layers of 4-mil polyethylene sheeting or 1
				layer of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting established as containment prior to
				removing interior portions of the ceiling system. Exterior walls must have
				critical barriers established in section 7(A)(2)(d) of this rule;
(ii) Fiber-tight seams in the polyethylene
				coverings; and
(iii) An access into
				the polyethylene-enclosed containment provided through the decontamination
				unit.
________________________________________________________________________
Note: When containment is not required, all other work
				  practice requirements, including all other requirements for the regulated area,
				  still apply.
________________________________________________________________________
(b) A decontamination
				facility consisting of aluminum, tin, fiberglass, preformed plastic, or other
				impervious surface, or two layers of (six) 6-mil polyethylene sheeting.
				Decontamination facilities must have (six) 6-mil polyethylene sheeting flaps or
				air-locks between each chamber. Remote decontamination facilities are exempt
				from the ventilation system required below. Where construction of a
				decontamination unit meeting minimum size requirements is not possible due to
				room size and configuration, HVAC system component locations, life safety code
				requirements or restriction of safe egress for residents, a smaller than
				standard decontamination facility may be constructed.
(c) A ventilation system meeting the
				following requirements:
(i) The exchange of
				at least 4 volumes of air per hour at a volume sufficient to establish and
				maintain a pressure differential within the ambient environment of negative
				0.02 inches of water column;
(ii)
				The ventilation units must be operated in accordance with US EPA
				recommendations set forth in Appendix J of US EPA Guidance Document EPA
				560/5-85-024 (effective June, 1985) or in Appendix F to
				29 CFR
				Part 1926.1101 (effective August 10,
				1994);
(iii) The make-up air
				entering the containment must pass through the decontamination system whenever
				possible, or through waste load-out and/or make-up air intakes specified by the
				project design; and
(iv) The
				exhaust air must be HEPA filtered before being discharged outside of the work
				area and must be discharged outside the facility to a location that is not near
				any intake for building ventilation. The HEPA-filtered exhaust air may be
				discharged inside the facility if access to the outside is not feasible because
				the distance from the regulated area to the outside of the building is too
				great (such as in large industrial building or warehouses), or when health and
				safety concerns, such as blocking egress from an area with limited access.. If
				the exhaust air is discharged inside the facility, the contractor shall
				demonstrate that the unit(s) is operating effectively by evidencing that air
				samples collected from the exhaust stream are less than 0.01 f/cc or that the
				audio alarm filter and/or filter change lamps and the unit(s) pressure
				differential filter monitoring meter is operational.
Ventilation units may be shut down overnight when the only
				  source of electrical power for the project is a portable generator that must be
				  removed at night for site safety and security reasons. The entry into the work
				  area must be sealed (fiber-tight) whenever ventilation units are shut
				  down.
(v) The exhaust air
				tubes or ducts associated with the work area ventilation system must be
				fiber-tight and must be securely attached to the HEPA unit exhaust
				port.
(d) Critical
				barriers. Critical barriers are required for all projects.
(i) Prior to suspended ceiling tile removals,
				the perimeter area above the ceiling must be accessed first, under negative
				pressure with properly protected employees to allow the sealing, as critical
				barriers, of penetrations and openings along the perimeter.
________________________________________________________________________
Note: Removal of perimeter ceiling tiles must be conducted as
				  an abatement activity subject to all applicable work practice
				  requirements.
________________________________________________________________________
(e) A waste load out,
				if applicable.
(3)
				Exclusion of Persons from the Regulated Area and Posting Signs.
(a) Individuals not directly involved in the
				asbestos abatement activity must be excluded from the regulated area.
(b) Warning signs, meeting the requirements
				set forth in
				29 CFR
				1926.1101 (effective August 10, 1994), shall
				be posted at all approaches to the regulated area, and at the decontamination
				and waste load out unit's outermost boundaries.
(4) Regulated Area Control. An Asbestos
				Abatement Project Supervisor must be present at the work site at all times
				during active abatement activities. The Supervisor must have the authority to
				initiate and implement corrective action should problems or deficiencies arise
				at the asbestos worksite.
(5)
				Physical Barriers. Physical barriers must be established if indicated in the
				project design.
(6) Personal
				Protective Equipment. An individual involved in an asbestos abatement activity
				or an individual who enters the regulated area, excluding the clean room, must
				be provided with and wear appropriate respiratory protection and personal
				protective clothing. Minimum respiratory protection shall be 1/2-faced negative
				pressure respirator equipped with HEPA filters. Minimum protective clothing
				shall be disposable full body suits, including head and foot coverings. Wearing
				a nylon brief type bathing suit underneath disposable full body suits is
				allowed. Gym shorts, "cut-offs" or underwear are not considered to be bathing
				suits.
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Note: OSHA also regulates asbestos activities involving
				  respirators and personal protective equipment. OSHA regulations may require a
				  higher degree of respiratory protection and/or protective clothing.
________________________________________________________________________
(7) Isolation of HVAC Systems. All
				intake openings, exhaust openings, and any holes in the building HVAC system
				and its components located within the regulated area must be fiber-tight and
				covered with two-layers of (six) 6-mil fiber-tight sheeting, and all seams in
				the system must be taped to be fiber tight.
(8) Covering of Movable and Immovable
				Objects.
(a) Movable objects within the
				regulated area must be removed or, if not feasible, treated as an immovable
				object below.
(b) Immovable or
				fixed objects within the regulated area must be wrapped with two layers of six
				(6) mil thick (minimum) polyethylene sheeting that is fiber-tight prior to the
				commencement of abatement activity.
(9) Air and Project Monitoring. All asbestos
				abatement activities are subject to the following air and project monitoring
				requirements:
(a) An air monitoring program
				that is developed by an Asbestos Air Monitor must be in place and be consistent
				with these rules; and
(b) A project
				monitoring program, if applicable, that is developed by an Asbestos Air Monitor
				must be in place and be consistent with these rules.
________________________________________________________________________
Note: An air monitoring program consists of air clearance
				  sampling at a minimum, and may include background and area samples. See
				  "Monitoring". OSHA requires personal sampling for most activities.
________________________________________________________________________
(10) Wetting of ACM.
				Prior to removal of ACM, including removal of components covered with thermal
				system insulation, all ACM must be adequately wetted with water, except as
				provided below. Throughout the removal, storage, transport, and disposal
				processes, ACM must be kept adequately wet.
(a) Wetting ACM not required under the
				following conditions:
(i) When the
				temperature inside the regulated area is below 32[DEGREE]F and heating the area
				is neither feasible nor practical (e.g., abandoned warehouse or
				roof);
(ii) When electrical
				conditions exist that are noted in the design plan and demarcated in the
				specific work area, and that would render that specified area hazardous to
				shock and/or electrocution hazards; or
(iii) When operational high-pressure steam
				lines are being abated or repaired.
(iv) Wetting metal jacketed piping during
				wrap and cut operations. ACM exposed during glove-bagging associated with the
				wrap and cut process must be wetted in accordance with standard glove-bag
				procedures.
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Note: When not wetting ACM during removal is allowed, the ACM
				  must still be adequately wet during storage, transport, and disposal.
________________________________________________________________________
(11)
				Containerization of Waste at Elevations Exceeding 10 Feet. Excluding removal of
				acoustical, sprayed-on, troweled-on, or fireproofing ceiling materials, ACM
				must be containerized at the height of removal if the elevation of the material
				is 10 feet or greater from the ground or floor. Roofing waste may be lowered to
				ground level in a closed cluster in a pan scale or similar equipment prior to
				packaging.
(12) Containerization of
				Asbestos Waste. Prior to removal from the regulated area, asbestos waste must
				be containerized in fiber-tight leak-proof packaging and properly labeled, in
				accordance with OSHA
				29 CFR
				Part 1926.1101 (effective August 10, 1994).
(a) Friable asbestos waste
				andasbestos-containing cementitious materials removed from inside of occupied
				facilities. Friable asbestos waste that does not contain components with sharp
				edges must be adequately wetted and then containerized in two (2) polyethylene
				bags with a six (6) mil minimum thickness for each bag. Bags shall be then
				individually sealed in a fiber-tight manner by first removing air from the bag,
				and then twirling the open end of the bag sufficiently enough to permit the
				twirled end to be folded over and wrapped securely with duct tape. Fiber-tight
				drums may be used in lieu of bags to package waste. Liners inside dumpsters and
				roll-offs can not be used to meet this containerization requirement. If,
				however, the configuration or shape of the asbestos waste is such that the
				containerization of the asbestos waste in bags is not feasible, then it shall
				be adequately wetted and thoroughly wrapped in a minimum of two (2) layers of
				six (6) mil polyethylene sheeting with all joints, seams and overlaps sealed in
				a fiber-tight manner. Asbestos-containing cementitious materials removed from
				inside of occupied facilities must be containerized in accordance with this
				section All friable asbestos shall be disposed of in a landfill licensed to
				accept friable asbestos waste.
(b)
				Non-friable asbestos waste. Non-friable waste may be packaged as set forth in
				section 7(A)(12)(a) of this rule. At a minimum, non-friable waste shall be
				wetted and containerized in leak proof containers for delivery to a landfill
				that is licensed to accept non-friable asbestos waste. Shredding, crushing, or
				any other form of volume reduction prior to placement in the landfill will
				render non-friable asbestos waste subject to the containerization requirements
				set forth in section 7(A)(12)(a) of this rule.
(c) Work area polyethylene waste. Once
				visually clean, work area polyethylene sheeting must be removed and disposed
				of, either as asbestos or non-asbestos waste.
(13) Asbestos Waste Storage Requirements.
				On-site storage of asbestos waste, defined to be storage at the street address
				of the abatement site, is subject to the following requirements:
(a) Waste must be stored in a secure
				container or area accessible to authorized persons only;
(b) Waste packaging must be free of visible
				debris prior to placement in the storage area or storage container;
(c) Waste must not remain on-site longer than
				five (5) days following completion of asbestos abatement activities;
				and
(d) Waste must be tracked by
				written documents, such as bill of lading or manifest, evidencing the current
				location of the waste at any time prior to final disposal.
(14) Personal Decontamination Requirements
(a) An individual must decontaminate prior to
				exiting the regulated area. Personal decontamination shall be achieved by
				removing all clothing and footwear except a bathing suit, if worn, and
				thoroughly showering with soap and water at a contiguous or remote
				decontamination facility. Respirators must be worn into the shower unit, and
				washed and cleaned as part of the decontamination procedure.
(b) Clothing or footwear used or worn in the
				regulated area must not leave the equipment room unless containerized for reuse
				inside a regulated area, cleaned, or disposed of. Clothing worn under
				protective suits and footwear must be designated for asbestos use only, be
				easily identifiable by sight and be permanently marked or labeled (minimum 3/4
				inch lettering) as "Asbestos Clothing" on the outside of the clothing or
				footwear. Containerized clothing or footwear must be opened only inside a
				regulated area, excluding the clean room.
(c) Only impervious materials such as rubber,
				polyethylene, etc., may be cleaned in the decontamination facility. Clothing
				and other pervious materials, such as leather boots, must be cleaned according
				to OSHA requirements.
(d) Personal
				decontamination requirements for use with a remote decontamination unit.
(i) Each worker/supervisor shall be provided
				with appropriate personal protective and respiratory equipment as required by
				OSHA 1926.1101 effective August 10, 1994, including but not limited to, a
				half-face respirator (at a minimum) and a protective suit (e.g., tyvek) or
				designated "Asbestos Clothing". Wearing a bathing suit underneath disposable
				full body suits is allowed.
(ii)
				Each worker/supervisor shall don their appropriate personal protective
				equipment in a manner such that the protective suit (e.g. tyvek) can be removed
				while the respirator is still being worn.
(iii) Before proceeding to and entering into
				a regulated area, each worker/supervisor shall remove all street clothes and
				footwear in the clean room of the remote decontamination facility.
(iv) Workers/supervisors wearing "Asbestos
				Clothing" as provided in section 7(A)(14)(b) of this rule shall change into
				their Asbestos Clothing in the equipment room, first donning their respirator
				in the clean room, before proceeding to the equipment room. In the equipment
				room they shall place a clean protective suit and booties over their Asbestos
				Clothing and shoes before proceeding to the regulated area. The protective suit
				and booties can then be removed once inside the regulated area.
(v) Each worker/supervisor shall be provided
				with a clean, unused suit to carry to the regulated area. This suit shall be
				left at the designated egress point into the regulated area to be used when
				exiting from the regulated area.
(vi) Exiting the regulated area. Each
				worker/supervisor shall first remove all visible debris from the protective
				suit and then shall put the new clean unused suit that was left at the
				designated egress point to the regulated area entryway over their contaminated
				suit before proceeding to either another work area or the decontamination
				facility equipment room where both suits shall be removed in unison.
				Respirators shall not be removed during this procedure and shall be worn at all
				times until they are removed in the shower room, during showering, as part of
				the decontamination process that must be performed at the conclusion of the
				day's shift or at any scheduled break period during the shift, including but
				not limited to, the lunch break.
(15) Equipment and Waste Decontamination
				Requirements
(a) All equipment, supplies, and
				materials, including properly containerized waste material, work area
				ventilation units, HEPA vacuums, vacuum hoses, water hoses, extension cords,
				ladders, etc., must be completely decontaminated and free of visible debris
				before removal from containment.
(b) Where the size and/or shape of the
				equipment, supplies, and materials is such that decontamination is neither
				possible nor feasible (e.g., wood), then the object shall be properly
				containerized or wrapped in a minimum of two (2) layers of fiber-tight 6-mil
				polyethylene sheeting for disposal or reuse in an active containment, and
				cleaned of visible debris prior to removal from the regulated area.
(16) Decontamination of Work Area
				Ventilation Units
(a) A work area ventilation
				unit must have the exterior filter(s) removed, immediately wetted, and disposed
				of as asbestos waste before the unit is taken out of containment.
(b) When the internal filter(s), including
				HEPA, of a work area ventilation unit are not changed upon project completion,
				the unit intake(s) and exhaust(s) must be wrapped fiber-tight with a minimum of
				two (2) layers of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting before removal from
				containment.
(c) Internal filters
				must be removed inside an active containment, adequately wetted immediately
				upon removal from the unit, and disposed of as friable asbestos
				waste.
(17) Emptying of
				Vacuums. HEPA vacuums must be emptied in an active containment that includes an
				operating work area ventilation system and decontamination facility.
(18) Project Housekeeping
(a) Sweeping of dry ACM is prohibited;
				and
(b) All removed ACM must be
				containerized by the end of each workday.
(19) Existing Asbestos-Containing Debris in
				the Regulated Area. Visible asbestos-containing debris that is present on
				surfaces upon which the contractor will place polyethylene sheeting to
				establish the regulated area shall be cleaned up prior to conducting set-up,
				removal, or repair activities. The Asbestos Design Consultant must demarcate
				the regulated area, incorporate into the design any existing debris within the
				regulated area, and consider debris part of the abatement activity. The
				Asbestos Abatement Contractor must remove existing asbestos-containing debris
				on all surfaces and components within the regulated area as part of abatement
				activity.
(20) Clean Up
				Requirements. All visible dust and debris must be removed from the regulated
				area. The regulated area must be cleaned and dry, and surface coatings must not
				be applied to any surface within the regulated area, prior to conducting the
				first visual evaluation and subsequent air clearance sampling.
(21) Teardown. Following the initial visual
				evaluation and receipt of acceptable air clearance sampling results, the
				contractor shall remove the containment, critical barriers, and the
				decontamination unit from the work site. The contractor shall clean up any
				visible dust or debris resulting from teardown activities prior to the final
				inspection after removal of containment in accordance with section 8(B)(3) of
				this rule.
(22) Project Completion.
				An asbestos abatement activity is not considered complete and acceptable for
				regulated area release until initial visual evaluation standard(s), standard(s)
				for visual evaluation at the final inspection, and final air clearance
				standards(s), (if applicable) have been met as set forth in these rules. All
				applicable work practice requirements set forth in this rule must continue to
				be implemented until the project is complete.