Appendix K: HEPA Vacuum Maintenance & Cleaning

General Maintenance & Daily Cleaning:

• The HEPA vacuum dedicated for use with ACM is maintained by the Facilities Services department.
• Maintenance and repair of the HEPA vacuum is performed as recommended by the manufacturer, using original manufacturer replacement parts, when possible.
• The below listed PPE must be worn while doing any vacuum maintenance.
• Records of use and maintenance are maintained by Facilities Services.
• Identification of defective or malfunctioning components must be immediately reported to the Manager, Facilities Services.
• The HEPA vacuum must be inspected before and after each use for broken or malfunctioning parts.
• The exterior of the HEPA vacuum must be cleaned with a damp cloth after each use (at the work site).
• The damp cloth used for cleaning the device must be discarded as asbestos waste.
• All hoses and tools are to be washed out after use at the end of each day of use.

Maintenance Procedures:

Note: See Figure 1 for a parts schematic of the Goodway® HEPA Vacuum

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,
• Use of protective clothing is not required however if a worker requests to wear protective clothing it shall be (at minimum) a disposable suit (Tyvek® or equivalent) with a hood,
• Protective gloves,
• Safety glasses with side shields and safety shoes/boots.

The following equipment shall be used:

• Polyethylene Sheeting (6 mil).
• Duct tape.
• Asbestos disposal bags (6 mil) with asbestos warnings clearly printed on the bag.
• Clean rags.

Removing ACM Contaminated Filters and Tank Cleaning

1. Eating, drinking, chewing gum, or smoking is not permitted in the work area.
2. Conduct the vacuum maintenance in an area of no occupancy.
3. Don Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
4. Unplug the power cord.
5. Place a sheet of polyethylene on the floor and position the vacuum over the sheet. Keep all materials used on top of the poly sheet.
6. Unlatch and slowly remove the lid, and gently place it on its side.
7. Pull the plastic bag up over the paper collection filter bag, enclosing it completely.
8. Wipe down the exposed surface inside the tank using a dampened cloth. Set cloth aside.
9. Reach into the tank and slowly and carefully remove the paper collection filter bag, inside the plastic bag, from the intake tube. Handle the paper bag by the cardboard collar around the bag opening.
10. Now take the damp wiping cloth and again wipe down all surfaces inside the tank, including the intake tube and the surfaces previously wiped and the lid. Place the cloth inside the plastic bag.
11. Reach into the tank and grasp the top of the plastic bag. Slowly and gently pull the liner up and around the paper filter bag until the bag is fully extended. Slowly squeeze the plastic bag closed as close to the paper filter bag as possible. Lift out the plastic bag.
12. Remove the pre-filter protector bag from the vacuum head and place it in the plastic bag, twist it shut and tie it in a knot.
13. Place sealed plastic bag in a secondary ACM 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.
14. If worn, clean all surfaces of protective clothing with a damp cloth. Remove protective clothing (with respirator still on) and place protective clothing in asbestos waste bag and seal waste bag with tape.
15. Repeat step 13 to dispose of protective clothing.
16. Remove respirator.
17. Proceed to wash-up area and thoroughly wash hands, face, and respirator.

Replacing Filters

1. Remove lid from the tank and place a fully opened plastic bag in the bottom of the tank.
2. Open a paper collections filter bag by pulling the folds apart, taking care not to tear the bag (never operate the vacuum with a torn filter bag or without a filter bag).
3. Place the paper collection filter bag inside the tank and carefully stretch the rubber gasket around the intake tube until it is beyond the raised ring of the intake tube.
4. Pull the plastic liner about half way up the paper collection filter bag.
5. Make sure the pre-filter protector bag is in place.
6. Place the lid on top of the tank and snap the lid latches in place.
7. Insert the pickup hose into the intake tube.