State Asbestos Regulations and Guidance
NOTE:
Before starting a project that disturbs asbestos, first contact
the local
air authority for regulatory information. Most Western
Washington counties have a local air authority agency to contact
for information about local asbestos regulations.
The Department of Ecology maintains a map with links to local
air authorities on the Ecology Air Program web site.
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WARNING
Disturbed asbestos is very hazardous to building
occupants and visitors.
Non-friable asbestos that is left in place is not very
hazardous to building occupants.
Safe removal of asbestos usually requires respirators,
liquid wetting agents, a negative air pressure enclosure
and special training to prevent worker and building
occupant exposure to the microscopic fibers. Certified
abatement contractors have the training and equipment and
will do air monitoring to make certain asbestos is not
released during the project. Certified abatement
contractors are listed in the phone book under 'Asbestos
Abatement', 'Asbestos Consulting' and ' Environmental and
Ecological Services'.
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The
Air Program at the Department of Ecology protects the general
public and the environment from asbestos exposure. Ecology's Air
Program provides oversight and guidance to local state air
authorities. In some counties the Regional Ecology Air Program
acts as the local air authority.
The
Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program (HWTR) at
the Department of Ecology does not regulate asbestos as a
dangerous waste. However, if regulated dangerous wastes are mixed
with asbestos wastes the dangerous waste management and disposal
rules of Chapter
173–303 WAC (Washington Administrative Code) will
also apply. This is most likely when the asbestos has been mixed,
painted or coated with a substance that has regulated amounts of
lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium; or regulated solvents.
-
Dangerous waste generator status, RCRA Site ID Numbers,
Annual Dangerous Waste Reports, and P2 Planning requirements
do not apply to asbestos wastes unless they are mixed with
dangerous wastes.
-
Refer to the Home Page for
information about dangerous waste management of demolition
wastes.
- The web address for the HWTR program is
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/hwtr/index.html
Contact Ecology at one of the following numbers and ask to
speak to a hazardous waste specialist or a toxics reduction
specialist.
- Central Regional Office, Yakima 509 575-2490
- Eastern Regional Office, Spokane 509 329-3400
- Northwest Regional Office, Bellevue 425 649-7000
- Southwest Regional Office, Lacey 360 407-6300
If you have special accommodation needs or require this
document in alternative format, please contact the Hazardous
Waste and Toxics Reduction Program at:
360-407-6700 (voice)
711 (relay service)
800-833-6388 (TTY)Top
The state Department of Health
(DOH) Exit Ecology,
Office of Environmental Health & Safety, Indoor Air Quality
Program provides consultation, technical assistance, and training
to local health jurisdictions, school districts, and the public on
the health effects of exposure to indoor air contaminants such as
mold, asbestos, and formaldehyde.
The Department of Health's
Indoor
Air Quality Home Page Exit
Ecology has a web page providing
Resources
on Asbestos in Vermiculite Insulation Exit
Ecology.
Asbestos in vermiculite insulation has received recent media
attention raising questions regarding associated health risks by
workers and residents.
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The state Department of Labor
and Industries (L&I) Exit
Ecology, protects workers from dangerous materials
exposure. The rules were adopted under authority of the Washington
Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) Exit
Ecology, which is based, in part, on federal OSHA and
EPA regulations, and the state Health and Safety-Asbestos law.
Nearly all employers and employees in Washington are covered by
WISHA, including workers for the state, counties and cities. The
Department of Labor and Industries administers and enforces
WISHA through safety and health rules, called standards.
Asbestos removal regulations apply both to the site owner and
the owner's agents. Asbestos projects include any abatement,
renovation, demolition, removal, salvage, clean-up or disposal of
asbestos- containing material. It also includes actions that will
disturb asbestos.
Horizontal standards are general safety and health standards
that all employers must comply with. Industry-specific standards,
also known as vertical standards, apply to specific industries
such as construction. There are also administrative record keeping
and paperwork requirements that must be followed by all employers.
Dept. of Labor and Industries
Asbestos WISHA Policy and Technical Services Exit
Ecology lists L&I Certified Asbestos Abatement
Contractors, a list of approved Asbestos Training Course Sponsors,
and several asbestos safety videos available from the L&I /
WISHA library.
The best guide to the L&I / WISHA asbestos regulations is
found in Interim Interpretive Memorandum #99-1-C, January
19, 1999, Demolition
of Buildings With Asbestos-Containing Materials Exit
Ecology. The memo contains internet links to the
regulatory sections that it describes.
The following L&I and WISHA Standards applicable to
asbestos construction and demolition work can be read through the
Rules and Regulations section of either the L&I or the WISHA
general websites:
Labor and
Industry Field Offices are listed listed on the same website
under "In Your Community" at http://www.wa.gov/lni/home/inyourcom.htm
Exit Ecology
Chapter
296-62 WAC Exit Ecology,
Occupational Health Standards, Safety Standards for
Carcinogens. Part I-1 Asbestos, tremolite, anthophyllite,
and actinolite requires a survey by an accredited inspector
prior to demolition, identification of asbestos containing
materials, work practice controls, air monitoring, respirators and
protective clothing, decontamination facilities, and medical
surveillance.
"In the absence of a survey or if one cannot safely be
performed, all surfacing materials and thermal system insulation
in building constructed no later than 1980 must be presumed to
contain asbestos." Interim Interpretive Memorandum
#99-1-C, January 19, 1999, Demolition of Buildings With
Asbestos-Containing Materials.
Chapter
296-65 WAC Exit Ecology,
has Asbestos Removal and Encapsulation Standards.
These regulations are concerned with asbestos personnel training
and certification, notification requirements for asbestos
projects, and fees. L&I licenses and certifies asbestos
workers and supervisors. Asbestos worker training standards are
four days of training. Asbestos supervisor training consists of at
least five days of training.
The WISHA Asbestos Certification Program contact at Labor and
Industries is John Stebbins, 360.902.5514, fax 360.902.5438.
Chapter
296-155 WAC Exit Ecology,
Safety Standards for Construction Work. The
standards for construction include a section of standards for
demolition in Part S 296-155-775 through -830. Some requirements
are; an engineering survey, a written demolition plan or method of
operation, and a determination whether asbestos and other
hazardous materials are present at the work site. Apparent or
suspected asbestos-containing materials must be removed prior to
demolition. This applies to other hazardous substances as
well.
Please refer to Interim Interpretive Memorandum #99-1-C,
January 19, 1999, Demolition
of Buildings With Asbestos-Containing Materials Exit
Ecology, for policy and alternate procedures when a
building's structural integrity is damaged and asbestos cannot be
removed before demolition. The memo also has guidance on the
removal of vinyl asbestos floor tile and intact roofing materials
which are less dangerous than surfacing and thermal system
insulation materials.
It is possible to encounter hidden asbestos containing
materials that were not discovered in the survey. Therefore,
demolition and renovation workers and supervisors need to have
asbestos awareness training. If any suspect asbestos containing
materials are encountered, work which may disturb these materials
must stop until identification and abatement are accomplished. The
standard allows employers to omit testing if suspect materials are
assumed to contain asbestos, and all asbestos precautions are
followed.
Labor and Industries and generally the local air authority
require an asbestos hazard survey by a certified AHERA building
inspector. The resulting survey is called a "good faith
survey", an "AHERA survey" or a "Phase 1 or 2
site assessment".
At least 10 days prior to the project, formal notification must
be provided to the nearest L&I office and the appropriate
local air authority. Specific forms must be used and notification
fees may apply.
A copy of the notification and the asbestos survey results must
be posted at the worksite and given to any contractors or workers
who may came into contact with the asbestos. Refer to Local
Asbestos Regulations and Guidance for more information.
Asbestos removal must be done by certified asbestos workers in
most circumstances.
For more information about asbestos removal, worker safety and
handling contact L&I. Labor
and Industry Field Offices are listed under "In Your
Community" at http://www.wa.gov/lni/home/inyourcom.htm
Exit Ecology
- L& I Information and Receptionist at 360.902.5580
- FAX Number 360.902.5529
- Safety and Health Hotline is 800.423.7233.
To apply for a contractor license or training course
accreditation, contact:
Asbestos Certification Program
Department of Labor & Industries
P.O. Box 44614
Olympia, WA 98504-4614
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Homeowners may remove asbestos from their owner-occupied single
family home themselves. They may not remove asbestos from homes
that they own but do not occupy (rentals for example).
Homeowners should contact either their local Clean Air
Authority, or their regional Department of Ecology Air Program,
depending on the county before disturbing asbestos. Notification
is usually required before beginning a project. Non-friable forms
of asbestos such as roofing or caulking may not need notification.
An AHERA inspector or a 'competent person' must make the
determination that an asbestos containing material is not friable.
Home renovations and demolitions require an asbestos survey by
a certified AHERA building inspector. AHERA (the Asbestos Hazard
Emergency Response Act), is administered by the Regional
EPA Asbestos Office Exit
Ecology.
AHERA inspectors can be located in the Yellow Pages of
the local phone book under 'Asbestos Abatement', 'Asbestos
Consulting and Testing' or ' Environmental and Ecological
Services'.
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Last updated
07/05/08 |
