Asbestos exposure issues in the workplace falls under the Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules, 29 CFR 1910 Subpart Z. According to OSHA, there is no safe level of exposure to airborne asbestos. However, in the real world, the typical indoor concentrations of asbestos are very minor and can range from 0.000001 to 0.02 milligram per cubic meter. However, EPA’s “Action Level” also known as the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for airborne concentration of asbestos is 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter (f/cc) of air calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average, which is also cited in OSHA’s exposure requirements.

OSHA’s asbestos rules apply to all occupational exposures to provide protection to workers from asbestos through two industry standards. Primarily, the General Industry Standards on Asbestos, 29 CFR 1910.1001, applies to workers engaged in custodial as well as automotive brake and clutch repair (Appendix F) whose work is not in the performance of construction activity. OSHA asbestos exposure control information.

For those who perform housekeeping operations in areas with ACM or presumed ACM, employer provided training is required. The awareness training in the OSHA’s General Industry standard does not specify the training duration. The standard specifies only the specific topics that must be included in the training conducted at least once per year. The elements of this training should minimally contain: health effect of asbestos, locations in building/facility, recognition of damaged, deteriorated or asbestos-containing products, OSHA requirements relating to housekeeping, and response protocol to fiber release episodes.

Secondarily, OSHA’s construction standards covers workers involved in demolition, removal, repair, maintenance, installation, cleanup, transport, storage, and disposal of ACM. The Asbestos Standard for the Construction Industry Publication (PDF). The OSHA 80-slide power point presentation for CFR 1926.1101, Asbestos Standard for the Construction Industry is an excellent primer of the rules. On the state level, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) does not regulate the management of asbestos material, but does regulate asbestos removal actions.

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