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Section C.14 Introduction Asbestos is a generic term used to describe any of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals. Because of several desirable characteristics, asbestos was incorporated into a number of widely used products, including:
* this listing is not complete By the mid 1980’s most products containing asbestos had been removed from the market. When left intact and undisturbed, these materials do not pose a health risk to building occupants. There is potential for exposure only when the material becomes damaged (e.g., torn or missing pipe insulation coverings) If powdered or friable forms of asbestos are disturbed, fibers may become airborne resulting in a possible inhalation hazard. In nonfriable asbestos products (e.g., floor tiles, roofing materials, etc.) the fibers are bound in a matrix which prevents their release to the air unless the material is cut or abraded. Therefore, these materials present even less of an exposure hazard. In many cases it is not possible to readily distinguish between asbestos and non-asbestos forms of the same product (e.g., pipe insulation, fireproofing, etc.). In general, laboratory analysis is required to confirm whether or not a material contains asbestos.
Procedure USC departments and regional campuses that are responsible for management of renovation or demolition projects must develop and implement a written Asbestos Management Program (AMP). EHS has developed a template that can be downloaded and used as a basis for a written program. The purpose of this program is to establish internal procedure for compliance OSHA and SCDHEC requirements related to asbestos. Each regional campus is encouraged to have a campus-wide, comprehensive asbestos survey conducted. This information should be made available for all university personnel (particularly maintenance and custodial staff) and contractors. Damaged asbestos-containing material should be reported to the appropriate facility management department (if at USC-Columbia, contact Facility Services @ 777-4217. EHS is also available to assist in determining whether a suspect material contains asbestos and to perform hazard assessments. Renovations and Demolitions Renovation means altering a facility or one or more facility components in any way, including the stripping or removal of regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM) from a facility component. “Remodeling” is considered renovation. Demolition is the wrecking or taking out of any load-supporting structural member of a facility and any related handling operations. Structural burns are prohibited by State Open Burning Regulations. Prior to building renovation or demolition projects, the Project Manager is responsible for arranging for a survey to determine if asbestos-containing building material is present in the work area and if so, whether it will be impacted by the planned work. A building inspection is only acceptable if performed within three years prior to the demolition or renovation. If an inspection report is more than three years old, then it must be confirmed and verified by a licensed Asbestos Building Inspector or Management Planner. The removal of asbestos materials is highly regulated by OSHA and SCDHEC and may only be conducted by trained, licensed personnel using specific work practices and control measures. If you decide to hire an asbestos contractor, you are required to notify EHS before work begins. Complete an Asbestos Work Notification form and fax it to EHS @ 777-5275. Removing carpeting that has been installed over asbestos floor tiles can sometimes break the tiles, depending upon how tightly bonded the carpeting is to the tiles. If breakage occurs, this may cause the project to become regulated by OSHA and DHEC. Proper procedures, required by OSHA, for “intact” removal of asbestos flooring have been summarized by EHS in the document EHS has developed checklists to help evaluate regulatory compliance for a variety of classifications of asbestos work. Maintenance Activities Some maintenance activities may pose a risk of disturbing asbestos containing materials. For example, repairing fan coil units above a ceiling grid near spray-applied fireproofing may pose a risk of incidental disturbance. Using information from asbestos awareness training, maintenance personnel are expected to evaluate each maintenance task and assess the potential for the disturbance of asbestos materials. When in doubt, contact EHS (777-5269) or Facility Services (777-4217). All maintenance and custodial personnel at USC are required to attend Asbestos Awareness training annually. This training is included in the annual safety training program conducted by EHS, so employees who have attended this training have satisfied the requirement. EHS also holds four classes annually at the EHS Training Room at Benson School on the Columbia campus. A training schedule can be found on the EHS website. Upon request, EHS can also conduct this training at your worksite. Roles and Responsibilities Department/Regional Campus
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