Prior to the start of the work the facilities management supervisor shall be notified of:
- The name of the worker performing work,
- The dates and the time of the work and,
- The location and type of the work to be conducted.
The following Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shall be used:
- Half-face air purifying respirator with N-100, R-100 or P-100 particulate (HEPA) filters,
- Protective disposable suit (Tyvek® or equivalent) with a hood,
- Disposable latex or nitrile gloves,
- Safety glasses with side shields and safety shoes/boots and,
- Boot covers (optional).
The following equipment shall be used:
- Pre-constructed polyethylene enclosure to prevent the spread of dust from the work area.
- Sprayer containing water and a wetting agent,
- Signs warning of the asbestos hazard (See Appendix OHS -015(N)),
- Polyethylene sheeting (6 mil),
- Duct tape,
- Vacuum equipped with a HEPA-filter,
- Negative air unit,
- Asbestos disposal bags (6 mil) with asbestos warnings clearly printed on the bag
- Utility knife,
- Clean rags,
- Flashlight and,
- Other tools as required.
Procedure
- Eating, drinking, chewing gum, or smoking is not permitted in the work area
- Ensure work is done during times of low or no occupancy
- Remove all contents from work area or cover and seal using polyethylene and tape
- Erect pre-constructed polyethylene enclosure to the underside of finished ceiling.
- Where a pre-constructed enclosure is not appropriate, construct a custom enclosure using polyethylene and tape.
- Construct polyethylene double flap or zipper doors at all entrances.
- Post asbestos warning signs at entrance(s) to the work area.
- Seal, using polyethylene and tape, all vents and grills etc. within the work area.
- Disable all ventilation serving the work area.
- Although negative pressure is not required for this work, it is recommended to aid in the dust control. If negative pressure is to be used, connect negative air unit to enclosure. Ensure that exhaust from negative air unit is exhausted to the building exterior using flex duct. Measure pressure differential between enclosure and adjacent area to ensure that 0.02 inches of water column or 5 pascal of pressure differential have been achieved.
- Don Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Enter enclosure and clean any existing debris/dust with a HEPA filtered vacuum.
- Do not use compressed air to clean up or remove any dust from any surface.
- Wet ceiling tiles to be removed unless they are to be re-installed,
- Carefully remove one ceiling tile without breaking, cutting, drilling, abrading, grinding, sanding, or vibrating.
- Using polyethylene and tape establish upper seals from false ceiling to ceiling deck.
- Clean any debris lying on top of ceiling tiles using a HEPA vacuum.
- Immediately place ceiling tiles in an asbestos waste bag if they are not to be reinstalled. Seal waste bag with tape when full.
- If tiles are to be re-installed, place them carefully on a polyethylene drop sheet and cover with another drop sheet.
- Immediately upon removal completion, thoroughly HEPA-vacuum all dust and debris from lay-in T-bar grid and other surfaces, items, and room contents.
- Immediately upon completion of the work, thoroughly clean all surfaces, tools, and other items, including enclosure within the work area using a HEPA filtered vacuum
- Using HEPA vacuum or damp wipe methods, clean exterior of the sealed waste bags.
- Place sealed waste bag in a secondary waste bag, seal second waste bag with tape and place ACM waste bags in the designated ACM waste storage area to await disposal at an appropriately licensed waste site.
- Clean all surfaces of protective clothing with HEPA filtered vacuum or damp cloth, remove protective clothing (with respirator still on) and place protective clothing in asbestos waste bag and seal waste bag with tape.
- Repeat steps 23 to dispose of protective clothing.
- Exit enclosure and remove respirator and,
- Proceed to wash-up area and thoroughly wash hands, face and respirator.
Proceeding with Non-asbestos Work:
Note: This section only applies if old asbestos ceiling tiles will not be re-installed.
- Dismantle enclosure.
- Proceed to wash facility and thoroughly wash hands, face and respirator.
- Return area and ventilation to service (if applicable).
- Proceed with non-asbestos work as required, provided work will not disturb or damage other asbestos.
- Use of respiratory protection is not required as removal of ACM is complete at this time (however employee may request to wear) and,
- Ensure updated information of activities have been made to Asbestos Management Program (AMP) including retaining hard copy of documents when required.
Re-installation of Asbestos Ceiling Tile:
Note: This section only applies if old asbestos ceiling tiles will be re-installed.
- Don Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Re-install removed asbestos ceiling tiles, without breaking, cutting, drilling, abrading, grinding, sanding or vibrating.
- Immediately upon completion of the work, thoroughly clean all surfaces, items, tools and things including enclosure within the work area using a HEPA filtered vacuum.
- Clean all surfaces of protective clothing with HEPA filtered vacuum or damp cloth, remove protective clothing (with respirator still on) and place protective clothing in asbestos waste bag and seal waste bag with tape.
- Place sealed waste bag in a secondary waste bag, seal second waste bag with tape and place ACM waste bags in the designated ACM waste storage area to await disposal at an appropriately licensed waste.
- Dismantle the enclosure.
- Proceed to wash–up area and thoroughly wash hands, face, and respirator.
- Return area and ventilation to service and,
- Ensure updated information of activities have been made to Asbestos Management Program (AMP) including retaining hard copy of documents when required.