(319) 377-6655

ASBESTOS

It shall be the policy of ESCO Group to implement the various requirements of the asbestos protection regulation as required by the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

It shall be the policy of ESCO Group to fulfill its obligations under 29 CFR 1926.1101 to implement a hazard and accident prevention program which addresses all of the hazards present to the workplace. ESCO Group is committed to an effective asbestos protection program.

  1.  Scope and Application
    1. ESCO Group asbestos protection program applies to all construction work where an employee may be occupationally exposed to asbestos hazards. All work-related to construction, alteration, or repair (including painting and decorating) is included. Under our plan, construction includes but is not limited to the following:
      1.  Demolition or salvage of structures.
      2.  Removal or encapsulation of materials.
      3. New construction, alteration, repair, or renovation of structures or substrates.
      4.  Maintenance operations associated with construction activities described above.
  2. General Requirements
    1.  ESCO Group shall be responsible for the asbestos protection program to be followed throughout all phases of construction and will provide the safety equipment as required.
    2. ESCO Group will provide access to all available asbestos protection and prevention equipment and shall maintain equipment as per the appropriate standard.
    3. All asbestos protection equipment provided by ESCO Group shall be conspicuously located.
    4. All asbestos protection equipment shall be periodically inspected and maintained in operating condition. Defective equipment shall be immediately replaced.
    5. ESCO Group will conduct Annual Asbestos Awareness training for all employees with the potential of exposure to asbestos. The training will take into consideration the health and side effects of asbestos along with best practices while working around asbestos.
  3. Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL)
    1.  Time-Weighted Average (TWA). ESCO Group shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of asbestos in excess of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter of air as averaged over an 8-hour day.
    2. Excursion Limit. ESCO Group shall ensure that no employee is exposed to airborne concentration of asbestos in excess of 1.0 fibers per cubic centimeter of air (1 f/cc) as averaged over a sampling period of 30 minutes.
    3. Action Level. The action level for asbestos is 0.1 f/cc averaged over 8 hours. ESCO Group shall begin compliance activities, including air monitoring, employee training, and medical surveillance as soon as either the action level of the excursion level is reached or exceeded.
  4. Monitoring
    1.  ESCO Group shall perform additional monitoring for all employees who are or may be expected to be exposed to airborne concentration of asbestos at or above the action level or excursion level.
    2. ESCO Group will reinitiate monitoring whenever there has been a change in personnel or work practices which may result in new or additional exposure to asbestos above the action or excursion levels, or when The ESCO Group has reason to suspect that a change may result in new or additional exposures above the action level or excursion limit.
    3. ESCO Group will allow employees to observe monitoring and will post any result within 15 working days after the receipt of the results or monitoring.
    4. ESCO Group will identified potential areas of asbestos prior to employees going on site.
  5. Regulated Areas
    1. Whenever airborne concentration of asbestos exceeds the TWA and or excursion limit, only authorized personnel may enter a regulated area. All employees entering a regulated area must be supplied with, and be required to use an appropriate respirator.
  6. Controlled Methods
    1.  Engineering and work practice controls shall be used by ESCO Group to reduce and maintain employee exposure at or below the TWA and or excursion level. ESCO Group will supplement these controls by the use of respiratory protection when appropriate.
  7. Respiratory Protection
    1.  ESCO Group will use respirators in the following circumstances:
      1. While engineering and work practice controls are being installed.
      2. During maintenance activities where engineering and work practice controls are not feasible.
      3. In work situations, where engineering controls are not yet sufficient to reduce exposure levels.
      4. ESCO Group will use respirators jointly approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
  8. Protective Clothing
    1.  For employee exposed to airborne concentration of asbestos above the TWA, ESCO Group will provide, at no cost, protective clothing. Additionally, face shields, eye goggles and other appropriate protective equipment will be provided.
  9. Hygiene Facilities
    1.  Employees who are required to work regulated areas will be provided with changing rooms, shower facilities and lunch rooms with separate lockers for contaminated clothing.
  10. Medical Surveillance
    1.  ESCO Group will institute a medical surveillance program for all employees who are exposed to airborne concentrations of asbestos at or above the action level and or excursion level. Medical exams will be performed under the supervision of a licensed physician at a reasonable time and place and shall be provided at no cost to the employee.