ILO Codes of Practice

Safety in the use

of asbestos

International Labour Office Geneva

Copyright © International Labour Organisation 1984
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ISBN 92-2-103872-6

first published /984

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Preface

In accordance with the decisions taken by the Governing

Body of the ILO at its 2 19th (February-March 1982) Session,
a meeting of experts was convened in Geneva from 11 to 20
October 1983 to draw up a code of practice on safety in the
use of asbestos. The meeting was composed of five experts
appointed following consultations with governments, five
experts appointed following consultations with the Em-
ployers' group and five experts appointed following consulta-
tions with the Workers' group of the Governing Body.1
The Code is based on principles established by the
following Conventions and Recommendations adopted by the
International Labour Conference: the Occupational Cancer
Convention, 1974 (No. 139), and Recommendation, 1974

1
The following experts took part in the meeting:
Dr. G. Atherley, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Center for
Occupational Safety and Health, Hamilton (Canada).
Mr. R. S. Baloyi, Director, Occupational Health, Safety and Compensation,
Harare (Zimbabwe).
M. D. Bouige, Directeur, Association francaise de I'amiante, Paris (France).
Dr. E. Buringh, Safety and Health Department, Netherlands Trade Union
Confederation (FNV), Amsterdam (Netherlands).
Mr. E. Costa, Centro Nazionale Amianto, Genoa (Italy).
Dr. S. G. Domnin, Director, Institute of Industrial Hygiene and Occupation-
al Diseases, Sverdlovsk (USSR).
Dr. A. Fischbein, Environmental Sciences Laboratory, Department of Com-
munity Medicine, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York (United
States).
Mr. J. Hamilton, Assistant Secretary, Social Insurance and Industrial Welfare
Department, Trades Union Congress, London (United Kingdom).
Dr. Y. Hosoda, Chief, Department of Occupational Health, Central Health
Institute, Japanese National Railways, Tokyo (Japan).
Dr. M. Kohn, Doctor en Medicina Laboral, Eternit Uruguaya SA, Mon-
tevideo (Uruguay). (footnote continued overleaf)

V
Safety in the use of asbestos

(No. 147), the Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise

and Vibration) Convention, 1977 (No. 148), and Recom-
mendation, 1977 (No. 156), and the Occupational Safety and
Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), and Recommendation,
1981 (No. 164).
The practical recommendations of this code of practice
are intended for the use of all those, both in the public and
in the private sectors, who have responsibility for safety and
health in the use of asbestos. The code is not intended to
replace national laws or regulations or accepted standards. It
has been drawn up with the object of providing guidance to
those who may be engaged in the framing of provisions of
this kind and, in particular, governmental or other public
authorities, committees or management in related enterprises.
Local circumstances and technical possibilities will deter-
mine how far it is practicable to follow its provisions. Further-
more, these provisions should be read in the context of
conditions in the country proposing to use this information,

Dr. M. Lesage, Medical Adviser, Quebec Asbestos Mining Association,

Montreal (Canada).
Dr. S. S. K. Mundia, member of the Medical Council and of the Association
of Medical Practitioners of Zambia, Lusaka (Zambia).
Mr. J. S. Oliver, Deputy Superintending Inspector of Factories, HMFI, HQ.,
Health and Safety Executive, London (United Kingdom).
Mr. R. K. Sharma, General Secretary, Asbestos Cement Mazdoor Sangh,
Kymore (India).
Mr. A. Zverev, Chief, Department of Occupational Hygiene, Federation of
Construction Workers of the USSR, Moscow (USSR).
The following international governmental and non-governmental or-
ganisations were represented:
World Health Organisation.
United Nations Environment Programme.
Commission of the European Communities.
International Organisation of Employers.
Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
World Confederation of Labour.

VI
 Preface

the scale of operation involved and technical possibilities. In

this regard, the needs of the developing countries have also
been taken into consideration.
The text of the code was approved for publication by the
Governing Body of the ILO at its 224th (November 1983)
Session.

VII
Contents
Preface V

A. General
1. Objects, application and definitions
1.1. Objects
1.2. Application 2
1.3. Definitions 2

2. General duties 4
2.1. General duties of the competent authority 4
2.2. General duties of employers 5
2.3. General duties of workers 7
2.4. General duties of manufacturers and vendors 8
2.5. Co-operation and consuhation 9

3. Exposure limits 11

4. Monitoring in the workplace .

4.1. General
4.2. Static monitoring
4.3. Personal monitoring
4.4. Measuring methods
4.5. Monitoring strategy
4.6. Record keeping
4.7. Interpretation of data .
4.8. Application of monitoring data

5. General preventive methods 19

5.1. Alternative materials 19
5.2. Methods of control 19
5.3. Control programme 20
5.4. Design and installation 22
5.5. Local exhaust ventilation 23
5.6. General ventilation 25

Ix
Safety in the use of asbestos
26
Personal protection 26
6.1. Respiratory equipment 28
6.2. Protective clothing .

31
i. Cleaning of premises and plant 31
7.1. General 31
7.2. Floors 32
7.3. Walls 32
7.4. Machinery and equipment 33
7.5. Overhead structures 33
7.6.
equipment

8. Packaging, transport and storage

8.1. Initial packing of fibre
8.2. Packaging for transport
8.3. Transport
8.4. Damaged loads and bags
8.5. warehousing

9. The disposal of asbestos waste

9.1. Waste avoidance
9.2. Waste collection
9.3. Identificatioti and isolation of waste
9.4. Transport of waste
9.5. Disposal of waste
9.6. Personal protection and hygiene
9.7. Supervision

10. SupervisiOn of the health of workers .

46
io.i. General 47
10.2. OrganiSatiofl
training
11. InformatiOfl, labelling, education and 49
ii.i. General 49
11.2. Labelling of products and of risk areas 50
11.3. Education and training

x
 Contents

B: Control of asbestos exposure in specific activities

12. Mining and milling
12.1. Opencast mining
12.2. Underground mining
12.3. Crushing and screening
12.4. Chutes
12.5. Conveyors
12.6. Packing
12.7. Tailings

13. Asbestos cement

13.1. Fibre preparation
13.2. Handling finished products
13.3. Finishing operations within the factory
13.4. Work on site
13.5. Waste disposal

14. Textiles
14.1. Fibre preparation
14.2. Carding
14.3. Spinning, doubling and winding
144 A6

14.5. Braiding and plaiting

14.6. Packaging
14.7. Fabrication using asbestos cloth
14.8. Mattress making
14.9. Insulation cladding
14.10. Rope lagging
14.11. Waste

15. Encapsulation or removal of friable thermal and acoustic

insulation 71

15.1. Identification 71
15.2. Indications for removal 71
15.3. Enclosure of the work area 71
15.4. Monitoring of dust and enclosure efficiency 72
Safety in the use of asbestos

15.5. Hygiene
15.6. Respiratory protection
15.7. Supervision
15.8. Work site preparation
15.9. Encapsulation
15.10. Dry stripping
15.11. Wet stripping
15.12. Stripping by high-pressure water jets
15.13. Waste disposal
15.14. Decontamination procedure

16. Friction materials 81

16.1. Fibre preparation and mixing 81
16.2. Transfer of mixed compound to moulding and forming 81
16.3. Pre-forming, forming, curing and moulding machines 82
16.4. Finishing operations 82
16.5. Reclamation of materials 83
16.6. Processing friction materials in factory conditions 83
16.7. Use of friction materials in workshops 83
16.8. Servicing of brakes and clutches in garages
and workshops 84
16.9. Waste disposal 85

17. Handling of asbestos fibre in ports and container terminals 86

17.1. Packaging 86
17.2. Handling 86
17.3. Spillages 87

18. Construction, demolition and alteration work 89

18.1. Construction work 89
18.2. Demolition and alteration work 89

Appendices
A. Exposure limits in various countries 94
B. Principles of the membrane filter method for the determination
of airborne asbestos fibre concentrations by light microscopy . 97

XII
 Contents

C. Principles of gravimetric methods of measuring airborne dust

containing asbestos at the workplace 101
D. Recommendations concerning medical examinations 105
E. Glossary 109

Index 112

XIII
A. General
1. Objects, application and definitions

1.1. Objects
1.1.1. The objects of this code are:
(a) to prevent the risk of exposure to asbestos dust at work;
(b) to prevent harmful effects on the health of workers
arising from exposure to asbestos dust;
(c) to provide reasonably practicable control procedures and
practices for minimising occupational exposure to asbes-
tos dust.

Possible health consequences of exposure to asbestos dust

1.1.2. There are three main health consequences asso-
ciated with exposure to airborne asbestos:
(a) asbestosis: fibrosis (thickening and scarring) of the lung
tissue;
(b) lung cancer: cancer of the bronchial tubes;
(c) mesothelioma: cancer of the pleura or peritoneum.
In asbestos workers, other consequences of asbestos exposure
can be the development of diffuse pleural thickening and
circumscribed pleural plaques which may become calcified.
These are regarded as no more than evidence of exposure to
asbestos dust. Other types of cancer (e.g. of the gastro-intesti-
nal tract) have been attributed to asbestos exposure though
the evidence at present is inconclusive.
Safety in the use of asbestos

1 .2. Application

1.2.1. This code applies to any situation or operation

involving a risk of occupational exposure to airborne asbestos
dust including:
(a) mining and milling asbestos;
(b) manufacture of materials or products containing asbes-
tos;
(c) use or application of asbestos-containing products;
(d) stripping, repair or maintenance of products containing
asbestos;
(e) demolition of plant or structures containing asbestos
materials;
(f) transportation, storage and handling of asbestos or as-
bestos-containing materials;
(g) other operations involving a risk of exposure to airborne
asbestos dust.
1.2.2. The provisions of this code should be considered
as the basic requirements for protecting workers' health.
Competent authorities are encouraged to adopt additional
protective measures, based on their experience, and are also
encouraged to decide when these should come into effect.

1 .3. Definitions

1.3.1. For the purposes of this code:

(a) asbestos is defined as the fibrous form of mineral silicates
belonging to the serpentine and amphibole groups of
rock-forming minerals, including: actinolite, amosite
(brown asbestos, cummingtonite, grunnerite), anth-
ophyllite, chrysotile (white asbestos), crocidolite (blue

2
 Objects, application and definitions

asbestos), tremolite, or any mixture containing one or

more of these; 1
(b} asbestos dust is defined as airborne particles of asbestos
or settled particles of asbestos which may become air-
borne in the working environment;
(c) respirable asbestos fibre is defined as a particle of asbestos
with a diameter of less than 3 pm and of which the length
is at least three times the diameter;
(d) workers covers all employed persons;
(e) workplace covers all places where workers need to be or
need to go by reason of their work and which are under
the direct or indirect control of the employer;
(f} regulations covers all provisions given force of law by the
competent authority or authorities.

1
For further information consult American Chemical Society: Chemi-
cal Abstracts Service Registry Handbook, Chemical Abstracts Service, P0
Box 3012, Colombus, Ohio 43210, United States.

3
2. General duties

2.1. Genera' duties of the competent authority

2.1.1. In the light of national conditions and practice,
the competent authority should, in consultation with the most
representative organisations of employers and workers, issue
or approve and periodically update regulations or other
suitable provisions for the protection of workers' health
against hazards due to occupational exposure to asbestos
dust.
2.1.2. The competent authority should have the exper-
tise to supervise the enforcement of such regulations or
provisions and to supply relevant advice and information.
2.1.3. The regulations on the prevention of airborne
asbestos in the working environment should clearly define the
agencies and persons responsible for carrying them out.
2.1.4. (1) The competent authority should establish
those procedures which it considers necessary for the notifica-
tion by the employer of working operations and workplaces
where asbestos or materials containing asbestos are or will be
produced, handled, processed, stored or used and any other
work situations where asbestos or materials containing asbes-
tos are being used or handled in such a manner as to cause
dust.
(2) This notification may include the following informa-
tion:
(a) nature and place of work;
(b) type and quantity of asbestos or materials containing
asbestos;
(c) total number of workers exposed;
(d) duration or anticipated duration of the work period;
(e) protective and preventive measures to be taken.

4
 General duties

2.1.5. Where appropriate, the competent authority

should determine those dangerous working operations or
techniques which should be prohibited or made subject to
specific authorisation and which will require compliance with
particular measures of prevention and protection.
2.1.6. The competent authority should establish
procedures for:
(a) the setting up of airborne asbestos exposure limits in the
working environment;
(b) the standardisation of methods for monitoring airborne
asbestos in the working environment;
(c) the approval of personal protective equipment.
2.1.7. The competent authority should:
(a) endeavour to promote close co-operation between em-
ployers and workers on matters of prevention;
(b) assist in providing safety and health committees, em-
ployers and workers with information on the hazards
and on safety in the use of asbestos.

2.2. General duties of empioyers

2.2.1. The employer is responsible for the control and
prevention of exposure to airborne asbestos in the working
environment; the employer should therefore equip and main-
tain buildings, installations, machines and workplaces and
organise work in such a way that the working environment
is contaminated as little as possible and that the exposure of
workers is limited as far as is reasonably practicable and is
at least within the asbestos exposure limits.
2.2.2. The employer should notify the competent auth-
ority of those working operations and workplaces where
asbestos or materials containing asbestos are present accord-
ing to the terms of any authorisation procedures.

5
Safety in the use of asbestos

2.2.3. (1) When buildings and installations are being

designed and when any technical change occurs which may
affect the content of asbestos dust in the air at the workplace,
the employer should stipulate and take appropriate measures
to prevent, as far as is reasonably practicable, the presence
of asbestos dust in the working environment.
(2) Similarly, when purchasing equipment or plant
(machines, materials, vehicles, etc.), the employer should
stipulate that such equipment or plant should comply with
occupational safety and health standards or should be desig-
ned and safeguarded in such a manner as not to contaminate
the working environment with asbestos dust.
2.2.4. (1) The employer should investigate asbestos
health hazards before any production or use so as to identify
the preventive measures appropriate to the hazard; without
such measures, asbestos should not be produced, used or
handled.
(2) The employer should establish and implement a
general control programme to reduce the workers' exposure
to asbestos dust.
2.2.5. (1) The employer should provide the necessary
equipment and services for monitoring the working environ-
ment.
(2) All such equipment should be maintained and cali-
brated properly.
2.2.6. The employer should ensure the surveillance
necessary to enable workers to perform their tasks in the best
possible conditions with respect to occupational safety and
health; in particular, provision should be made for the regular
inspection and maintenance of installations, machinery and
equipment to prevent the contamination of the working
environment with asbestos dust.
2.2.7. (1) The employer should ensure that all workers
are suitably and periodically informed of the asbestos hazards

6
 General duties

associated with the tasks assigned to them and of the mea-

sures to be taken to prevent damage to their health.
(2) This information should also be transmitted to sub-
contractors and their workers.
(3) In particular, provisions may be needed for newly
recruited workers, foreign workers who may encounter lan-
guage difficulties and for all other workers who may have
difficulties in understanding written instructions.
(4) The employer should ensure that all members of the
managerial staff are steadily trying to improve prevention,
that they are fully aware of their duties with regard to
occupational hazards from asbestos dust exposure and, in
particular, that they are appropriately trained and are con-
stantly updating their knowledge in this field so that they may
thoroughly instruct the workers regarding the precautions to
be taken in their jobs and in the event of unexpected circum-
stances giving rise to asbestos dust.
2.2.8. The employer should provide and maintain with-
out cost to the workers such personal protective equipment
and clothing as are necessary when airborne asbestos hazards
cannot be otherwise prevented or controlled.
2.2.9. The employer should inform subcontractors of
the appropriate regulations and safety precautions and should
ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons
present at the workplace who are not under his direct control
follow such regulations and take the necessary safety precau-
tions.

2.3. General duties of workers

2.3.1. Within the limits of their responsibilities, workers
should do everything in their power to prevent the presence
of airborne asbestos in the working environment.

7
Safety in the use of asbestos

2.3.2. (1) Workers should abide by any instructions

given to them in connection with the prevention of airborne
asbestos in the working environment.
(2) Workers should submit themselves to medical sur-
veillance according to national practice.
(3) Workers should wear personal samplers when neces-
sary to measure personal exposure to asbestos dust.
(4) Workers should wear the personal protective equip-
ment and clothing provided when either other methods for
the control of asbestos dust cannot be applied or it is necess-
ary to wear personal protective equipment and clothing in
addition to other methods of control.
2.3.3. Workers should draw to the attention of man-
agement any change of circumstance in the work process
which might give rise to asbestos dust exposure.

2.4. General duties of manufacturers and vendors

2.4.1. Manufacturers and vendors of equipment used
in processing asbestos or materials containing asbestos should
ensure that machines and equipment are provided with de-
vices to collect asbestos dust where it is produced and has
settled.
2.4.2. Manufacturers and vendors of asbestos materials
or products containing asbestos should provide purchasers
with instructions concerning safety in their use and should
draw their attention to the hazards which may occur when
these instructions are not followed.
2.4.3. When supplying, leasing or selling machinery and
other equipment to developing countries for the processing
of asbestos, the occupational safety and health standards
should be at least equivalent to those in the country of origin
and in accordance with national requirements.

8
 General duties

2.5. Co-operation and consultation

2.5.1. There should be full co-operation at all levels
between the competent authority, scientific research in-
stitutions, employers, workers and their representatives and
occupational safety and health personnel.
2.5.2. The appropriate occupational safety and health
personnel according to national practice should be consulted
at the design stage of new buildings and installations and
before the introduction of any substantial constructional or
technical change.
2.5.3. Joint safety and health committees of employers
and workers should give due attention to the prevention of
health hazards due to asbestos.1
2.5.4. (1) There should be regular consultations at plant
level between the employers' and workers' representatives.
(2) These consultations should include frank and full
exchanges of information on, for example:
(a) the nature of the harmful asbestos fibres to which
workers are exposed and the risks which such exposure
entails;
(b) the results of monitoring the working environment;
(c) the preventive action to be taken;
(d) the results of any epidemiological studies carried out,
even in other countries, in similar working conditions;
(e) the results of plant inspections; and
(f) asbestos waste disposal.
2.5.5. Safety and health committees should endeavour
to ensure the application of the regulations on the prevention
of airborne asbestos and should acquaint themselves regularly

See ILO: Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No,

155), and Recommandation, 1981 (No. 164).
Safety in the use of asbestos

with the results of the monitoring of the working environ-

ment.
2.5.6. In accordance with national legislation or prac-
tice, employers' and/or workers' representatives should be
permitted to accompany inspectors when they are checking
the application of the regulations concerning the prevention
of airborne asbestos in the working environment.

10
3. Exposure limits
3.1.1. The concentrations of airborne asbestos in the
working environment should not exceed the exposure limits
approved by the competent authority after consultation with
recognised scientific bodies and with the most representative
organisations of the employers and workers concerned.
3.1.2. The aim of such exposure limits should be to
eliminate or to reduce, as far as is practicable, hazards to the
health of workers exposed to airborne asbestos fibres.
3.1.3. In accordance with national legislation and prac-
tice, the exposure levels of airborne asbestos in the working
environment should be established:
(a) by legislation; or
(b) by collective agreement or by any other agreements
drawn up between employers and workers; or
(c) by any other channel approved by the competent author-
ity after consultation with the most representative em-
ployers' and workers' organisations.
3.1.4. The exposure limits should be periodically re-
viewed in the light of technological progress and advances in
technical and medical knowledge concerning the health
hazards associated with exposure to asbestos dust and par-
ticularly in the light of results of workplace monitoring.1

1
The exposure limits for airborne asbestos in the working environment
adopted in various countries are presented in Appendix A.

11
4. Monitoring in the workplace

4.1. General

4.1 .1. Airborne concentrations of asbestos should be

measured in all places of work where a risk of exposure to
asbestos dust might occur.
4.1.2. (1) In order to identify the sources of asbestos
dust emission and to determine the extent of asbestos dust
exposure, static and persona' monitoring should be carried
out when asbestos or products containing asbestos are
produced, handled or used in such a manner as to be liable
to emit airborne dust.
(2) Bulk analysis of the materials should be performed
if data on composition are not otherwise available.
4.1.3. Manufacturers of asbestos-containg products
should make available results of detailed monitoring of rep-
resentative exposures which could result from the main
foreseeable uses (including misuse) of their products; such
monitoring data should be available to the users and, if
appropriate, could remove the need for them to conduct their
own monitoring.

4.2. Static monitoring

4.2.1. In order to obtain indications of the spatial and

temporal distribution of airborne asbestos throughout the
general atmosphere of the working area, air samples should
be taken:
(a) close to sources of emission in order to evaluate dust
concentrations or the standard of engineering controls;

12
 Monitoring in the workplace

(b) at various places in the working area to ascertain disse-

mination of asbestos dust; and
(c) from working areas which represent typical exposure.

4.3. Personal monitoring

4.3.1. In order to evaluate the risk to the individual
worker, air samples should be collected in the worker's
breathing zone by means of personal samplers. Sampling
should be carried out while the work process is in operation.
4.3.2. Where concentrations of airborne asbestos may
vary from one work operation or phase to another, dust
sampling should be done in such a manner that the average,
and in any case the maximum, level of exposure of each
individual worker can be determined.
4.3.3. (1) Personal sampling should be carried out at
various times throughout the work shift and, where necessary,
should be supplemented by short-term sampling during
periods of peak emission.
(2) Exposure profiles of particular jobs or occupational
categories should be constructed from the air-sampling data
of different operations and from the workers' exposure time
in these jobs.

4.4. Measuring methods

4.4.1. Concentrations of airborne asbestos should be
measured according to standardised procedures in fibres per
millilitre of air or in milligrams per cubic metre (mg/rn3).
4.4.2. Laboratory modifications of the method should
be validated by reference to quality control programmes.
4.4.3. In so far as is possible, the methods and instru-

13
Safety in the use of asbestos

ments used for monitoring the working environment should

be the same as those used for establishing or revising the
exposure limits. If different methods are used, the results
should be appropriately amended.
4.4.4. The measurement of airborne asbestos fibre con-
centrations in fibres per millilitre in the workplace air should
be made by the membrane filter method using phase contrast
light microscopy as described in Appendix B. All respirable
fibres over 5 in length should be counted by this method.
4.4.5. The measurement of airborne dust concentra-
tions (mg/rn3) in the workplace air should be made by
gravimetric method as described in Appendix C. The mass of
the collected total dust should be determined and, by analysis,
the type of asbestos and its mass percentage.
4.4.6. In general, direct-reading instruments such as
particle counters and dust photometers should be used only
for static monitoring and engineering applications. For reli-
able evaluation of working conditions, these instruments
should be carefully calibrated with the workplace dust in
question and the results should be related regularly to the
membrane filter method.

4.5. Monitoring strategy

4.5.1. (1) A systematic measuring programme should

be drawn up to evaluate whether exposure of workers to
asbestos dust is being kept under control. Preferably, personal
monitoring should be included in the programme in order to
measure fibre concentration. In addition, static sampling is
necessary where relevant.
(2) The aims of this programme should be:
(a) to ensure that the health of the workers is efficiently
protected;

14
 Monitoring in the workplace

(b) to ensure that the preventive actions which have been

taken are still effective;
(c) to ensure that the levels, as measured previously, remain
unchanged or fall;
(d) to ensure that any changes made in manufacturing
processes or work practices will not lead to an excessive
exposure to asbestos dust; and
(e) to promote the implementation of more efficient preven-
tive measures.
4.5.2. (1) When an initial occupational safety and
health survey is to be carried out, a preliminary visit to the
workplace should be made in order to determine the possible
sources of exposure to airborne asbestos, to decide whether
a major survey or a continuous monitoring programme is
needed and, in particular, to establish the place and time at
which samples are to be taken.
(2) The representatives of the workers assigned to the
work in question, the supervisor and occupational safety and
health personnel should be consulted.
4.5.3. (1) The monitoring of airborne asbestos con-
centrations in the working environment should be performed
only by skilled personnel with adequate equipment and tech-
nical training.
(2) It should be the duty of the employer to arrange for
regular inspection, maintenance and calibration of the meas-
uring equipment.
4.5.4. The service responsible for monitoring the work-
ing environment should be kept informed about any change
in plant, equipment, process, materials or work practices
likely to bring about any substantial alteration in levels of
exposure to asbestos dust.

15
Safety in the use of asbestos

4.6. Record keeping

4.6.1. Records should be kept by the employer on

aspects of asbestos dust exposure. Such records should be
clearly marked by date, work area and plant location.
4.6.2. (1) All relevant data from measurements of air-
borne asbestos in the working environment should be syste-
matically recorded.
(2) The workers, or their representatives, should have
access to these records.
(3) Besides the numerical results of measurements, the
monitoring data should include, for example:
(a) the composition and trade names of materials containing
asbestos;
(b) the location, nature, dimensions and other distinctive
features of the workplace where static measurements
were made; the exact location at which personal mon-
itoring measurements were made and the names and job
titles of the workers involved;
(c) the source or sources of airborne asbestos emission, their
location and the type of work and operations being
performed during sampling;
(d) relevant information on the functioning of the process,
engineering controls, ventilation and weather conditions
with respect to emission of asbestos dust;
(e) sampling instrument used, its accessories and the method
of analysis;
(f) the date and exact time of sampling;
(g) the duration of the workers' exposure, the use or non-use
of respiratory protection and other comments relating to
the exposure evaluation;
(h) the names of the persons responsible for the sampling
and for the analytical determinations.

16
 Monitoring in the workplace

4.6.3. Individual results of concentration measurements

should be recorded and in appropriate cases the time-
weighted averages (TWAs) of exposure concentration should
be calculated and presented.
4.6.4. Access to records of asbestos dust exposure
should be available to exposed workers and, except where
such access infringes on trade secrets, to trade unions and
government agencies.
4.6.5. Records regarding all aspects of asbestos dust
exposure should be maintained, as far as is practicable, for
a 30-year period following termination of employment.
Records dealing with asbestos sources, product composition
and asbestos content, environmental concentrations in the
workplace and medical information may be reduced to micro-
film for storage. All chest radiographs should be retained as
originally collected.

4.7. Interpretation of data

4.7.1. Any purely numerical exposure estimates should
be interpreted only when considered in relation to duration
of exposure and other circumstances of work.

4.8. Application of monitoring data

4.8.1. When asbestos dust exposure limits are exceeded,
the necessary remedial action should be taken as rapidly as
possible in consultation with the workers' representatives.
4.8.2. The relevant monitoring procedures should con-
tinue to be applied even if previous results did not exceed the
exposure limits.
4.8.3. In the event that monitoring discloses levels
17
Safety in the use of asbestos

which are in excess of the exposure limits, employers should

inform the workers of the excess and of the action to be taken.
4.8.4. Warning signs and instructions for appropriate
means of protection should be provided at each location
where concentrations of airborne asbestos fibres may exceed
the exposure limits.

18
5. General preventive methods

5.1. Alternative materials

5.1.1. Whenever possible, harmful substances should be

replaced by substances which offer the same technical advan-
tages but which are harmless or less harmful.
5.1.2. When safety considerations call for alternative
materials, account should be taken of all health hazards
associated with the manufacture, handling, use, transporta-
tion, storage and disposal of the alternatives proposed.
5.1.3. When alternative materials for asbestos are being
chosen, primary consideration should be given to their asso-
ciated health hazards; and regard should also be paid to the
technological and economic circumstances which determine
the need for the alternatives.

5.2. Methods of control

5.2.1. All appropriate and practicable measures of en-
gineering, work practice and administrative control should
be taken to eliminate or to reduce the exposure of workers
to asbestos dust in the working environment to the lowest
possible level.
5.2.2. Engineering controls should include mechanical
handling, ventilation and redesign of the process to eliminate,
contain or collect asbestos dust emissions by such means as:
(a) process separation, automation or enclosure;
(b) bonding asbestos fibres with other materials to prevent
dust generation;
(c) general ventilation of the working areas with clean air;

19
Safety in the use of asbestos

(d) local ventilation of processes, operations, equipment and

tools for the prevention of dust dissemination;
(e) use of wet methods where appropriate;
(f) separate workplaces for certain processes.
5.2.3. Appropriate work practices should be followed
where materials or processes are used which may give rise to
asbestos dust in the working environment. Such work prac-
tices should include:
(a) requirements to use and maintain process machinery,
installations, equipment, tools, local exhausts and ven-
tilation systems in accordance with instructions;
(b) damping where appropriate of asbestos products and
materials at workplaces before processing, handling,
using, machining, cleaning, stripping or removing;
(c) regular cleaning of machinery and work areas by appro-
priate methods;
(d) proper use of personal protective equipment.

5.3. Control programme

5.3.1. Each employer, after consultation with workers'
representatives, should establish and implement a general
control programme to reduce the exposure of workers to
asbestos dust.
5.3.2. Where appropriate, the programme should take
due account of the specific features based on the evaluation
of each workplace and should include in written form at least
the following:
(a) a description of each operation in which airborne asbes-
tos is emitted, the processes and machinery used, the
materials handled, the control devices, the number of
exposed workers, the job responsibilities of each worker,
the operating procedures and the maintenance practices;

20
 General preventive methods

(b) a description of the specific means for controlling ex-

posure to asbestos dust;
(c) engineering plans, safety data sheets, study reports or
other relevant technical information;
(d) air monitoring data on the efficiency of control mea-
sures;
(e) a description of the work practices or administrative
controls needed; and
(f) a detailed schedule for implementation of the control
programme.
5.3.3. (1) Upon request, the written programme should
be made available at the workplace to the labour inspector
and the workers' representatives.
(2) The written programme should be regularly revised
and updated to reflect the current status of technical and other
developments.
(3) The employer should define and assign technical
responsibilities in this connection.
5.3.4. Where appropriate in large enterprises, specified
departments, branches or persons should have special duties
in the implementation of the control programme, particularly
in connection with:
(a) the design of new buildings, equipment, processes and
materials;
(b) the purchase of materials, products, machinery or equip-
ment;
(c) the contracts for the supply and maintenance of ventila-
tion systems and other engineering controls;
(d) the information and training given to the workers; and
(e) the purchase and maintenance of personal protective
equipment and the provision of instructions in regard to
its use.

21
Safety in the use of asbestos

5.4. Design and installation

5.4.1. The materials, processes and equipment should
be so designed that the exposure of workers to asbestos dust
is eliminated or reduced to the lowest practicable level.
5.4.2. Manufacturers of machinery, equipment and
materials should provide information concerning the nature
and level of asbestos dust emissions as well as the means of
control.
5.4.3. Workrooms should be designed, built and main-
tained in such a manner as to:
(a) separate the hazardous operations from the remainder
of the premises;
(b) reduce as far as possible surfaces on which asbestos dust
and waste may accumulate;
(c) facilitate the cleaning of floors, walls, ceilings and
machinery; and
(d) facilitate the collection of asbestos dust which may
escape in the event of an incident.
5.4.4. (1) Direct handling of asbestos or materials con-
taining asbestos should be avoided by the use, where practic-
able, of automatic processes or by remote control systems.
(2) Where practicable, total process enclosures which
prevent the emission of asbestos dust should be designed and
constructed.
(3) These enclosures should be supplemented with inter-
nal exhaust ventilation to create negative pressure inside the
enclosure.
5.4.5. Where practicable, building materials such as
boards, sheets and plates should be so designed, prefabricated
and packed in the factory that no further cutting, drilling or
other machining is needed by the user.

22
 General preventive methods

5.4.6. Measurements of asbestos dust emission and of

the exposure of workers to asbestos dust should be made as
soon as the machinery and equipment have been installed in
order to establish that the standard required by the competent
authority in those respects has been achieved.

5.5. Local exhaust ventilation

5.5.1. (1) Where total enclosure of the dust-producing

process is not practicable, local exhaust ventilation equipment
should be provided and maintained.
(2) For efficient operation, the exhaust ventilation should
be located as close as possible to the source of dust emission
by the use of captor hoods, booths or enclosures.
(3) The local exhaust systems should be designed to
collect and remove all dust-laden air.
(4) Openings in the enclosures should be as small as
possible while still allowing access to the necessary work
operation.
(5) In the case of captor hoods and booths, the ventila-
tion equipment should be so constructed that air turbulence
and eddies created by the work process or by the workers do
not prevent the effective removal of dust.
5.5.2. Local exhaust ventilation (or other effective
methods) should be used for such factory operations as, by
way of example:
(a) feeding, conveying, crushing, milling, screening, mixing
or bagging of asbestos materials;
(b) carding, spinning, weaving, sewing and cutting of asbes-
tos textiles; and
(c) cutting, punching, drilling, sawing, grinding or machin-
ing of asbestos cement and friction materials.

23
Safety in the use of asbestos

5.5.3. (1) The design of local exhaust ventilation

systems for any particular process requires special expertise
and should therefore be referred to a suitably qualified person.
(2) The nature and quantity of dust emission should be
taken into consideration when:
(a) enclosures are designed;
(b) equipment for air movement, ducting and dust filtration
is selected;
(c) air flow rates and capture velocities are calculated; and
(d) monitoring instruments are chosen.
5.5.4. (1) The supplier of the exhaust ventilation system
should test the installation in the presence of the workers'
representative and provide the purchaser and the workers'
representative with a copy of the test figures obtained.
(2) Checks on the performance of the exhaust system
should be made periodically with smoke tests or air flow
measurements or by comparing the static pressure readings
in the system with the readings recorded at the same points
upon commissioning.
(3) A certificate of effectiveness should be issued and
made available for inspection.
(4) Asbestos dust collected by the filtration equipment
should be removed regularly under conditions which have
strict regard to occupational safety and health.
5.5.5. All types of dust control equipment should be
inspected by a technically competent person under conditions
specified by the competent authority.
5.5.6. It should also be the duty of the employer to
ensure that such equipment is at all times operated, main-
tained and serviced in the prescribed manner.

24
 General preventive methods

5.6. General ventilation

5.6.1. Where appropriate in conjunction with local ex-
haust ventilation the entire work area should be supplied with
clean air to replace the air as it is exhausted and to reduce
airborne asbestos concentrations.
5.6.2. The flow rates of general ventilation should be
sufficient to change the air of the workplace according to
safety and health requirements.
5.6.3. The exhausted air should be efficiently filtered
and should not be recirculated back to the working environ-
ment, except when the following provisions are fulfilled:
(a) the airborne asbestos concentration is substantially less
than the exposure level and does not add to the ex-
posure;
(b) the filtration and ventilation system is regularly checked
and maintained;
(c) the air quality is monitored by adequate instruments;
(d) the process has been approved by the competent author-
ity according to national practice.

25
6. Personal protection

6.1. Respiratory equipment

Provision and use

6.1.1. The use of respiratory equipment should be re-
garded only as a temporary or emergency measure and not
as an alternative to technical control.
6.1.2. A sufficient and suitable supply of equipment
should be available in the workplace.
6.1.3. Such equipment should be provided for all
workers employed in any situation where levels of airborne
asbestos fibre exceed or are liable to exceed the exposure
limits.
6.1.4. Workers should be informed when concentra-
tions of airborne asbestos fibre reach such levels.
6.1.5. When workers have been so informed, they
should use the equipment provided.
6.1.6. Workers required to wear protective equipment
should be fully instructed in its use.
6.1.7. Employers should provide supervision to ensure
that the equipment is properly used.
6.1.8. All respiratory equipment should be provided
and maintained by the employer without cost to the worker.

Selection
6.1.9. Only those types of respiratory equipment which
have been tested and approved by the competent authorities
should be worn.

26
 Personal protection

6.1.10. (1) The competent authorities should provide

guide-lines for classifying the range of concentrations for
which each type of respiratory equipment is recommended.
For example:
(a) air-purifying respirators of the negative pressure (half
face mask) type;
(b) positive pressure respiratory equipment;
(c) direct air-line breathing apparatus.
(2) The equipment should be selected, in consultation
with workers' representatives, on the basis of the maximum
concentration of airborne asbestos likely to be encountered.
6.1.11. Where alternative respirators providing the
same standard of protection are available, employers should
offer workers a choice to ensure maximum comfort in use.
6.1.12. Where an adequate facial seal cannot be en-
sured (e.g. as in the case of bearded workers), a positive-
pressure respirator should be worn, but full protection will
not be achieved.

6.1.13. All workers required to use respiratory equip-

ment should be instructed in its use.
6.1.14. Instruction should be given on the following
points:
(a) the reasons for the use of the equipment, and the import-
ance of using it conscientiously;
(b) the circumstances in which it should be used and how
these circumstances should be recognised;
(c) the manner in which the equipment operates;
(d) the correct method of use and of checking the fit;
(e) the method of checking for correct operation;
(f) the need for regular servicing.
27
Safety in the use of asbestos

Cleaning, maintenance and storage

6.1.15. Respirators should be issued for the exclusive
use of the workers to whom they are supplied.
6.1.16. Respirators should be regularly cleaned and
serviced by appropriately trained operators before reissue.
6.1.17. A suitable container, such as a metal box or
plastic bag, should be provided for the storage of individual
respirators when not in use.
6.1.18. Cleaning should be undertaken weekly or more
often when the respirator is in regular use. Pre-filters on
filtered air respirators should be changed and filters should
be checked on each occasion.
6.1.19. A record should be kept for each respirator or
air-line apparatus showing the worker to whom it is issued
and the dates on which it is cleaned and serviced.
6.1.20. A record of training and instruction in the use
of respiratory protective equipment should be made for each
worker concerned.
6.1.21. Where respiratory protection is used, this fact
should be recorded on the monitoring records of dust ex-
posure for the particular job.

6.2. Protective clothing

Provision and use
6.2.1. Where personal clothing may become contami-
nated with asbestos dust, the employer, in accordance with
national regulations and in consultation with workers' rep-
resentatives, should provide appropriate works clothing.
6.2.2. Where airborne asbestos levels necessitate the use

28
 Personal protection

of respirators, special protective clothing should also be

provided and worn.
6.2.3. Such special protective clothing should cover
completely all works clothing so that no asbestos dust is
retained when the protective clothing is removed. Suitable
head covering should also be provided.
6.2.4. When re-usable protective or works clothing is
provided, separate locker rooms should be available so that
contaminated clothing can be stored separately from personal
clothing.
6.2.5. (1) Vacuum cleaners for preliminary de-dusting
of protective or works clothing should be provided at the
entrance to the locker room in which such clothing is removed
and stored.
(2) Where a respirator has been worn, it should be
removed only after de-dusting.
6.2.6. (1) Shower or washroom facilities should be
provided and should be sited between the contaminated and
clean locker rooms.
(2) Such facilities should be cleaned regularly.
6.2.7. Personal clothing should be removed, stored or
put on only in the clean locker room. -

6.2.8. Regular cleaning and inspection of the contami-

nated locker room should be undertaken to ensure that no
accumulation of asbestos dust occurs.
6.2.9. Special protective clothing should not be worn
outside the workplace or contaminated locker room.

Laundering
6.2.10. Provision should be made by the employer for
the laundering of protective clothing and works clothing by
the undertaking.

29
Safety in the use of asbestos

6.2.11. Such clothing should be laundered under con-

trolled conditions to prevent the emission of airborne asbestos
during handling, transport and laundering.
6.2.12. Where contaminated clothing is sent for laun-
dering outside the factory, it should be packed in dust-proof
containers, such as plastic bags, and such containers should
be secured at the neck.
6.2.13. Such containers should be clearly and suitably
identified as containing asbestos-contaminated clothing.
6.2.14. When a contract laundry is employed, care
should be taken that the contractor fully understands the
precautions necessary for handling asbestos-contaminated
clothing.
6.2.15. The laundering of protective or works clothing
in workers' homes should be strictly prohibited.

30
7. Cleaning of premises and plant

7.1. General

7.1.1. Every employer should ensure, as far as is prac-

ticable, that the work premises are maintained in a clean state
and are free of asbestos waste.
7.1.2. All machinery, plant and equipment should be
kept free from dust, together with all external surfaces of
exhaust ventilation equipment and all internal surfaces of the
building.
7.1.3. (1) Cleaning should be carried out as far as is
practicable by vacuum-cleaning equipment or by some other
means in such a way that asbestos dust neither escapes nor
is discharged into the air of the workplace.
(2) Where required, suitable extension hoses should be
fitted to the vacuum-cleaning equipment.
7.1.4. (1) Where cleaning by a dustless method is im-
practicable, workers undertaking the cleaning should wear
appfopriate protective clothing arid respiratory equipment.
(2) Such cleaning should be carried out as far as is
practicable when no other workers are present. If it is necess-
ary for other workers to be present, they should also wear
protective equipment.

7.2. Floors
7.2.1. Floors should be regularly cleared of accu-
mulated dust and waste material.
7.2.2. Floor cleaning should be carried out by vacuum
equipment or by some other means that causes no secondary
dust generation. Where mechanical sweepers are used, they

31
Safety in the use of asbestos

should if necessary be modified to ensure that the cleaning

operation does not generate airborne dust.
7.2.3. (1) Floor surfaces should be kept in good repair
and cracked or broken surfaces should be repaired.
(2) Concrete surfaces should, where practicable, be
treated to produce a surface which can be satisfactorily
cleaned of dust.

7.3. WaDs

7.3.1. New buildings should be constructed in such a

way that their walls have smooth surfaces. Walls of existing
buildings should be rendered smooth as far as is practicable.
7.3.2. Walls should be cleaned annually or more fre-
quently should this be necessitated by the nature of the
building or the process.
7.3.3. (1) Walls should be cleaned either by vacuum
cleaner or by washing.
(2) If washing is undertaken, the asbestos-containing
waste water should be disposed of suitably.
(3) Care should be taken that waste water containing
asbestos fibres does not dry out on the floor below.

7.4. Machinery and equipment

7.4.1. Where machinery is fitted with exhaust equip-

ment, the exhaust ventilation should be in operation while
cleaning is in progress.
7.4.2. Cleaning should be carried out, wherever practic-
able, by vacuum cleaner.
7.4.3. Parts of equipment inaccessible to the vacuum
cleaner should be cleaned out with oiled brushes, where
32
 Cleaning of premises and plant

practicable, and vacuum equipment should be used to take

up the material so removed.
7.4.4. Machinery and equipment should, where practic-
able, be cleaned at the end of each shift. The interval between
cleaning should never exceed one week.

7.5. Overhead structures

7.5.1. The overhead structures of new buildings should
be constructed with smooth surfaces and high ledges should
be avoided.
7.5.2. Where practicable, dust should be removed by
vacuum cleaner, with extension hoses being used as required,
or by some other means that causes no secondary dust
generation.
7.5.3. Where dustless methods of cleaning are not prac-
ticable, protective clothing and respiratory equipment should
be worn by all present in the building.
7.5.4. When overhead cleaning is taking place, equip-
ment should be covered by plastic sheeting.

7.6. Vacuum-cleaning equipment

7.6.1. Only vacuum equipment with appropriate filters
should be used for collecting asbestos dust and waste and such
equipment should be so designed that the dust cannot escape
from the equipment back into the workplace.
7.6.2. Since portable equipment necessarily involves
locating the collecting unit within the workplace, a suitable
high-efficiency filter should be used.
7.6.3. The collection bags within the vacuum-cleaning
units should be disposable.

33
Safety in the use of asbestos

7.6.4. (1) If a collection bag within a portable cleaner

bursts during use, the unit should be removed from the
workplace, if possible into the open.
(2) The burst bag and its contents should be removed and
placed inside an impermeable bag by an operator wearing
protective clothing and respiratory equipment.
(3) The interior of the cleaner should then be cleared of
dust, where practicable with the use of another vacuum
cleaner.
7.6.5. The collected material should be disposed of in
accordance with the provisions of this code of practice.

34
8. Packaging, transport and storage

8.1. Initial packing of fibre

8.1.1. Asbestos fibre should always be packed in im-
permeable bags.
8.1.2. Where water-soluble bags are used, they should
not be transferred from one container to another but should
be transported in closed containers.
8.1.3. Plastic material used for bags should incorporate
an ultra-violet inhibitor to protect the bags from sunlight and
thus prevent deterioration during trans-shipment.
8.1.4. Bags should be closed by either heat-sealing or
stitching. If stitched, the stitching should be at not less than
two stitches per centimetre.
8.1.5. All bags should be printed with an approved
label identifying the contents as asbestos and carrying a health
warning.

8.2. Packaging for transport

8.2.1. Packaging for transport should eliminate the
handling of individual bags as far as is practicable and should
minimise damage to bags which could result in spillage.
8.2.2. Before being transported, bags should be
assembled as unit loads.
8.2.3. Unit loads should be stabilised and protected
from damage by the use of plastic covers. These should be
applied as shrink or stretch wrapping, or should be strapped
into position.
8.2.4. The top of the unit as well as the four sides
35
Safety in the use of asbestos

should be covered by plastic which should incorporate an

ultra-violet inhibitor.
8.2.5. Where small tonnages are being carried in mixed
cargo vessels, the bags should be stacked on pallets where
practicable in an interlocked fashion.
8.2.6. The bags should be securely attached to the pallet
by the shrink wrapping, or other technique, used to form the
unit load.
8.2.7. The size of the pallet should be such that the bags
overhang on all sides to prevent adjacent bags from being
damaged during the course of loading.
8.2.8. (1) Where very large shipments are to be stowed,
pallets should not be used because of the risk of damage to
bags during loading or unloading or from cargo movement
during the voyage.
(2) An alternative is to support the unit load on a base
of plastic sheeting with disposable. webbing straps which are
then secured over the top of the load for use in lifting. Once
removed from the ship, these unit loads should be placed on
pallets for further handling.

8.3. Transport
8.3.1. Where practicable, unit loads other than in very
large shipments should be stacked on pallets and carried in
closed road vehicles or railway wagons for overland shipment
and in closed containers for overseas shipment.
8.3.2. Where practicable, loading and unloading should
be carried out by forklift truck or by some other equally
effective method, to prevent the handling of single bags and
therefore the risk of damaging bags.
8.3.3. Hooks and other sharp equipment should not be
used on bags or unit loads.

36
 Packaging, transport and storage

8.3.4. Loads carried in containers should be so stacked

as to reduce the risk of damage to bags from the wooden
pallets.
8.3.5. All vehicles used for the transport of asbestos
should be properly cleaned after they have been unloaded.
8.3.6. A vacuum cleaner should be used for cleaning.
Where this is not practicable, surfaces should be thoroughly
wetted before being swept.
8.3.7. Where the wrapping of a bag is damaged and
spillage of asbestos is likely, suitable protective clothing and
respiratory equipment should be provided and worn.

8.4. Damaged loads and bags

8.4.1. Suitable adhesive tape should be available for the
repair of damaged loads.
8.4.2. Damaged loads should be repaired immediately.
8.4.3. Damaged bags which are not part of unit loads
should be repaired with tape and, if need be, placed in a
second impermeable bag which should be sealed and clearly
identified before being forwarded.

8.5. Warehousing
8.5.1. Before final storage, all units should be carefully
inspected for cleanliness and for damage.
8.5.2. All bags should be stacked on pallets.
8.5.3. All damaged bags should be repaired imme-
diately.
8.5.4. (1) All units having loose asbestos or other debris
on them should be cleaned as soon as possible by vacuum

37
Safety in the use of asbestos

equipment or by some other means that causes no secondary

dust generation.
(2) The worker should be provided with appropriate
protective clothing and respiratory equipment.
8.5.5. Final storage should be in a warehouse. If out-
side storage cannot be avoided, units should be protected by
tarpaulins, black plastic sheeting or other suitable covering.

38
9. The disposal of asbestos waste

9.1. Waste avoidance

9.1.1. The creation of asbestos waste should be mini-

mised by the adoption of the most effective production techni-
ques.

9.2. Waste collection

Dust

9.2.1. The measures outlined below should be carried

out or other equally effective means should be used.
9.2.2. Bagging of outlets from dust collection hoppers
should be designed to make bag-changing easy and to mini-
mise dust leakage.
9.2.3. Bag-changing should be carried out only by
persons who have been properly trained for this operation.
9.2.4. Bags of translucent material such as polyethylene
should be used wherever practicable so that the dust level can
be seen and overfilling can be avoided.
9.2.5. Water-soluble paper sacks should not be used
where any risk exists of deterioration by wetting before final
disposal.
9.2.6. (1) When filled, the bags should be sealed to
prevent the escape of dust during subsequent handling.
(2) Plastic bags should be twisted tightly and folded over
and the neck should be secured in the folded position by a
wire tie, adhesive tape or some other effective method.

39
Safety in the use of asbestos

(3) Paper sacks should be folded over twice and stapled

along the folded edge.
9.2.7. Suitable protective clothing and respirators
should be worn when bags on a dust collector are changed.

Loose fibre, swarf, floor sweepings

9.2.8. Loose fibre handled by fixed extraction systems
should, wherever practicable, be returned to the production
process.
9.2.9. Swarf accumulating around and under machin-
ery should be cleaned by suitable vacuum cleaners.
9.2.10. Loose materials collected by other means
should be placed in impermeable bags and the bags should
be sealed.

Waste materials from fixing or removing insulation

9.2.11. Where fixing or stripping operations are being
carried out, floor surfaces should be covered with plastic
sheeting which can be folded to form sealed containers.
9.2.12. Wherever practicable, provision should be made
in the design of machines for the automatic removal of offcuts
and for their collection in disposable receptacles which can
be sealed and removed.
9.2.13. Where automatic removal and collection is not
practicable, suitable receptacles which can be closed should
be provided.
9.2.14. The supply of receptacles should be sufficient to
prevent receptacles from being overfilled.
9.2.15. Receptacles should be sited to minimise asbes-
tos dust emissions in use. Material should be placed in the
receptacles in a controlled manner.

40
 The disposal of asbestos waste

9.2.16. If asbestos dust emissions from the receptacle

occur during use, a dust-extraction hood should be provided
to prevent the escape of asbestos dust into the workplace.
9.2.17. Where offcuts and rejects need to be broken
down before disposal, this should be done mechanically under
suitable exhaust ventilation, wherever practicable.
9.2.18. (1) If breakage by mechanical means is not
practicable, the work should be performed in a separate area
so that asbestos dust cannot escape to other work areas.
(2) If appropriate, the material should be wetted in order
to minimise asbestos dust emission and workers engaged in
this task should wear suitable protective clothing and res-
pirators.

Offcuts, broken pieces and rejects of high-density materials

9.2.19. Hard waste, such as bonded asbestos, asbestos

cement, jointings and bitumastic rubber residues, should be
stored in such a manner as to ensure that it will not be
abraded or crushed while awaiting disposal.

Sacks or bags which have contained asbestos

9.2.20. (1) Sacks or bags which have contained loose
asbestos fibres should be disposed of by grinding, melting or
bagging.
(2) Grinding or melting should be carried out under
closed conditions adjacent to the bag-opening station.
9.2.21. Where bagging is employed, the used sacks or
bags should be collected under strict dust control conditions
in impermeable containers, such as unused plastic bags, and
such containers should be closed and sealed.
9.2.22. Bags which have contained asbestos fibre
41
Safety in the use of asbestos

should not be reused for this purpose, but such bags can be
recycled.

Wet waste: asbestos sludge or slurry

9.2.23. Asbestos waste in the form of sludge or slurry
should preferably be recycled or loaded into specially de-
signed carriers or other containers in such a way as to ensure
that no spillage which may subsequently dry out occurs.

9.3. Identification and isolation of waste

9.3.1. All asbestos waste awaiting disposal should be

adequately identified by markings on the bag or receptacle.
9.3.2. Asbestos waste awaiting disposal should be
stored in such a way that it is not exposed to damage likely
to cause spillage.
9.3.3. Asbestos waste should not be mixed with other
waste for which there are no special disposal requirements.
Where practicable, a special area should be set aside for its
storage.

9.4. Transport of waste

9.4.1. Asbestos waste, whether loose or in sealed con-
tainers, should be transported to the disposal point in such
a way that no asbestos dust is emitted into the air during
transport.
9.4.2. In the event of accidental spillage (for example,
as the result of a road accident) during transport to the
disposal site, action appropriate to the extent of the spillage
should be taken immediately.

42
 The disposal of asbestos waste

9.4.3. Where the amount of spilled material is small,

the waste should be collected into its original receptacle and
reloaded without delay.
9.4.4. If the spillage is substantial and the material
dusty, it should be wetted if practicable and covered im-
mediately. The material should then be removed and during
this process appropriate safety precautions, which may in-
clude the use of protective clothing and respiratory equip-
ment, should be taken.
9.4.5. Written instructions on the action to be taken in
the event of accidental spillage should be issued to drivers of
vehicles carrying asbestos waste.

9.5. Disposal of waste

9.5.1. Before a site is used for the disposal of asbestos

waste, care should be taken to establish that the site is both
suitable and acceptable for the purpose.
9.5.2. The disposal site chosen should have vehicular
access to the working face, or to a hole or trench dug to
receive the asbestos waste.
9.5.3. The waste should wherever practicable be de-
posited at the foot of the working face of the landfill site or
at the bottom of an excavation dug for it.
9.5.4. Where the waste has to be deposited from above
the working face, or into an excavation, care should be taken
to prevent spillage from bags.
9.5.5. When deposited, all waste other than high-
density waste should be covered to an acceptable depth (for
example 20-25 cm (8-10 in)) as soon as possible. No asbestos
waste should be left uncovered at the end of a working day.

43
Safety in the use of asbestos

9.5.6. Final covering of asbestos waste should be to a

minimum depth of 2 metres (6 ft 6 in).
9.5.7. If wet waste is deposited, it should be covered in
the same way as dry waste to prevent the escape of asbestos
dust on drying out.
9.5.8. Wet pits should not normally be used for the dis-
posal of any asbestos waste other than high-density material.
9.5.9. Where high-density waste is deposited on a dry
site, care should be taken to ensure that it is not ground to
dust by the passage of vehicles over it.

9.6. Personal protection and hygiene

9.6.1. Workers occupied in the collection, transport or
disposal of asbestos waste who may be at risk of exposure to
airborne asbestos should be provided with suitable protective
clothing and respiratory equipment.
9.6.2. Where vehicles and reusable receptacles and
covers have been in contact with asbestos waste, they should
be cleaned after use by means of a vacuum cleaner or by an
alternative dustless method.

9.7. Supervision
9.7.1. (1) Where an undertaking disposes of its own
asbestos waste, written instructions should be issued to the
workers concerned.
(2) Periodic supervision should be undertaken to ensure
that the necessary safety precautions are being followed.
9.7.2. If a waste disposal contractor is employed, the
relevant sections of the code should be incorporated in the
contract.

44
 The disposal of asbestos waste

9.7.3. The contract should state that the contractor is

responsible for ensuring that safety measures are observed at
the disposal site.
9.7.4. Periodic checks should also be made by the
undertaking to ensure that the contractor is observing the
code.
9.7.5. Besides what has already been stated, appro-
priate measures should be taken to prevent pollution of the
soil, subsoil, air and water.

45
10. Supervision of the health of workers

10.1. General

10.1.1. Workers whose jobs involve exposure to asbes-

tos dust should be provided with health supervision.1
10.1.2. This supervision is designed for the individual
and collective benefit of workers.
10.1.3. Workers submitting themselves to supervision
of their health should have the following rights:
(a) confidentiality of personal and medical information;
(b) full and detailed explanations of the purposes and results
of the supervision;
(c) the right to refuse invasive medical procedures which
infringe the integrity of their bodies.
10.1.4. A medical examination of the worker potenti-
ally exposed to asbestos dust should take place upon recruit-
ment or prior to assignment to a place of work involving
exposure to asbestos dust.
10.1.5. Supervision of health should be provided at no
expense to the exposed worker, and medical examinations
should, so far as is practicable, be conducted during working
hours.
10.1.6. Results of medical examinations should not be
used to discriminate unfairly against the worker or prospec-
tive employee.

1
Recommendations concerning medical examinations are given in
Appendix D.

46
 Supervision of the health of workers

10.1.7. Health supervision should also include:

(a) advice to and care of individual workers;
(b) health education;
(c) identification of workers requiring workers' compensa-
tion;
(d) statistics of occupational disease;
(e) research.

1 0.2. Organisation
10.2.1. Workers' health supervision should include:
(a) pre-assignment medical examinations;
(b) periodic medical examinations;
(c) medical examination on, and where practicable follow-
ing, cessation of employment.
10.2.2. The objectives of the pre-assignment medical
examination should be:
(a) to determine any condition which would be a contra-
indication to occupational exposure to asbestos dust;
(b) to establish baseline records for the future supervision
of the health of workers;
(c) to educate and advise workers about the risks associated
with exposure to asbestos dust.
10.2.3. The objectives of the periodic medical examina-
tion should be:
(a) to detect the earliest signs of asbestos-related disease;
(b) to detect any significant change in health status relative
to the baseline examination;
(c) to continue to educate and advise workers about health
risks and to ensure that appropriate preventive measures
are being taken to minimise risk.
10.2.4. (1) Workers should be informed of the results

47
Safety in the use of asbestos

of their medical examination. They should be informed if, in

the occupational physician's opinion, they are suffering from
an asbestos-related disease.
(2) Copies of the worker's medical record should be
made available to the worker or, upon the request of the
worker, to his physician.
10.2.5. (1) The medical records of workers should be
maintained by the appropriate physician.
(2) It is recognised that governmental agencies which
have authority and responsibility for occupational health
research, and which will maintain the confidentiality of the
medical record, may be given access to such records for
specific research investigations.

48
11. Information, labelling,
education and training
11.1. General
11.1.1. Because of the importance as a risk factor of
cigarette smoking interacting with asbestos, particularly in
relation to bronchogenic carcinoma, specific information re-
garding the importance of cigarette smoking as a risk factor
in this disease and in causing other health effects should be
provided to all groups concerned with occupational exposure
to asbestos dust.

11 .2. Labelling of products and of risk areas

11.2.1. All asbestos-containing products should have
an internationally recognised warning symbol designating the
product as asbestos-containing and warning the user that
inhalation of asbestos dust may cause serious damage to
health.
11.2.2. Where practicable, asbestos-containing prod-
ucts should be accompanied by a safety data sheet or other
approved form, containing such information as:
(a) the product designation on both front and back of the
sheet or form to facilitate filing and retrieval;
(b) the name and address of the manufacturer or supplier
of the product;
(c) the chemical or widely recognised common name of all
asbestos ingredients;
(d) the approximate percentage by weight or volume (in-
dicate basis) which asbestos bears to the whole mixture;
(e) health hazard data including dangerous properties of
asbestos;

49
Safety in the use of asbestos

(f) detailed procedures for the cleaning up and safe disposal

of leaked or spilled asbestos, including procedures for the
proper labelling and disposal of containers retaining
residues or contaminated materials;
(g) requirements for personal protective equipment, such as
respirators and protective clothing;
(h) any other general precautionary information on handling
the product.
11.2.3. All workplaces where asbestos dust may cause
a hazard should be clearly indicated as an asbestos dust
exposure area through the use of a well-displayed sign which
identifies the hazard and the associated health effects.
11.2.4. The information on warning labels and signs
should be written in the vernacular language understood by
the workers.

11 .3. Education and training

11.3.1. (1) All workers should, on employment and
periodically, be provided with education and training in
regard to sources of asbestos dust exposure, potential health
effects, risks associated with asbestos dust exposure and
smoking, and methods of prevention.
(2) This education and training should be provided by
the employer and written, oral, visual and worker participa-
tion approaches should be used in order to ensure adequate
awareness of health risks, methods of prevention and proper
work practices.
11.3.2. All categories of personnel involved in the
prevention of the asbestos-related diseases — such as man-
agers, technicians, trade union representatives, labour inspec-
tors, administrators, safety and health personnel, etc. —
should be given appropriate training.

50
 Information, labelling, education and training

11.3.3. Specialised training in sampling, in analytical

methods and in engineering aspects of asbestos dust exposure
should be provided for occupational hygienists and for other
occupational safety and health workers.
11.3.4. Occupational physicians and other occupational
health personnel should have specialised training in the health
effects associated with asbestos dust exposure, chest radio-
graphy, the technical aspects of carrying out and interpreting
pulmonary function tests and the principles of screening.

51
B. Control of asbestos exposure
in specific activities
The list of acceptable measures, as detailed below, is not
necessarily exhaustive. Only fully acceptable measures may be
taken.

12. Mining and milling

12.1. Opencast mining
12.1.1. Dust generated by drilling operations should be
controlled by extraction equipment mounted on the drills.
12.1.2. Dust emissions from blasting should be mini-
mised by the use, wherever practicable, of multiple small
blasts rather than one large blast.
12.1.3. Roadways should be regularly wetted in order
to reduce to a minimum the creation of asbestos dust.

12.2. Underground mining

12.2.1. Mining should be carried out only when an
adequate water supply is available.
12.2.2. Underground workplaces should be kept wet
continuously during work shifts.
12.2.3. The floor of every main travelling road under-
ground should be kept wet.
12.2.4. Hanging and foot walls should be regularly
washed down to prevent the accumulation of dust.

53
Safety in the use of asbestos

12.2.5. Ore discharged into bins or ore passes and at

conveyor transfer points should be wetted.
12.2.6. After blasting, workings should be entered only
after time has been allowed for dust, smoke and fumes to be
cleared by ventilation.
12.2.7. The rock walls and broken ore should be
properly wetted before the area is entered.
12.2.8. All underground dead ends should be effectively
ventilated.

12.3. Crushing and screening

12.3.1. Control of dust during ore crushing and screen-
ing should be by exhaust ventilation to a cyclone and bag-
house.
12.3.2. Where new plant is installed, the higher effi-
ciency of bag extraction is to be preferred.
12.3.3. Owing to their higher potential for dust genera-
tion, vibrating screens should be in leak-proof enclosures,
with nylon or other suitable flexible connections to the feed
chutes.

1 2.4. Chutes

12.4.1. Chutes which feed belts either from other belts

or from other equipment should always be enclosed.
12.4.2. Chutes should feed axially where practicable.
12.4.3. (1) Because long vertical drops cause puffing of
dust, they should be avoided.
(2) Chutes should be run at angles to reduce the velocity
of the material fed to the conveyor.

54
 Mining and milling

12.4.4. Chute design should enable sufficient quantities

to be carried without plugging; chutes should therefore be
adequate in cross-section and should run at angles which
minimise liability to blockage.
12.4.5. (1) The chute enclosures should be leak-proof
and yet allow ready access.
(2) Access doors should be leak-proof.
12.4.6. Where ore-containing rocks are being conveyed
and bolted steel plate is used, the unions should be fitted with
gaskets.
12.4.7. Where fibre only is conveyed, seams may be
welded but should be leak-proof.

1 2.5. Conveyors

12.5.1. All conveyors should be totally enclosed.

12.5.2. Belt width and speed should be adequate to
carry the material within the rubber skirting at each side, so
that material is not forced out of the conveyor.
12.5.3. The return belt should in all cases be cleaned
by scrapers or rotating brushes.
12.5.4. Where practicable, the return belt should also
be enclosed.
12.5.5. Dust exhaust connections should be installed at
intervals along belt conveyor enclosures.
12.5.6. Exhaust connections should be sited particular-
ly at chute feeding points and conveyor junction points, since
air pressure is generated there by movement of material.
12.5.7. They should also be sited at the exits from the
conveyor enclosure, where dust would otherwise be pumped
into the mill.

55
Safety in the use of asbestos

12.5.8. Dust connections should normally be attached

to the conveyor enclosures by means of a settling box to
reduce the exhaust velocity and to minimise the extraction of
materials.
12.5.9. The exhausted air should be passed to a bag-
house, possibly preceded by a cyclone separator or an elec-
trostatic precipitator.
12.5.10. The air used in aspiration and pneumatic con-
veying of fibre, after passing through cyclone collectors,
should also pass to the main baghouse.
12.5.11. Final emissions to atmosphere should be
within the prescribed control limits for the general atmo-
sphere.

1 2.6. Packing

12.6.1. Separation, grading and mixing should be car-

ried out without manual intervention as part of the totally
enclosed milling operation.
12.6.2. The finished fibre should also be weighed, com-
pressed and packed automatically.
12.6.3. These processes should take place in enclosed
booths with adequate dust exhaust ventilation.
12.6.4. Fibre should be packed in impermeable bags.
12.6.5. Filled bags should be assembled in unit loads
which should be securely fastened for mechanical handling.
12.6.6. Unit loads should, where practicable, be further
enclosed in a cover of impermeable material.

56
 Mining and milling

12.7. Tailings
12.7.1. For the disposal of tailings, wider conveyor
belts operating at slower speeds should be used in preference
to high-speed belts.
12.7.2. Conveyors should operate close to the dump to
minimise windborne dust. This may be facilitated by the use
of swing conveyors.
12.7.3. High-speed conveyor-fingers should not be
used.
12.7.4. Where practicable, tailings should be wetted at
or before the point of deposit.
12.7.5. Baghouse dust should be adequately damped
before it is deposited with the tailings.

57
13. Asbestos cement

13.1. Fibre preparation

13.1.1. Where asbestos fibre is supplied in paper or

plastic bags, the bags should be opened and emptied automat-
ically whenever practicable.
13.1.2. If the bags are opened by hand, this should be
carried out in the enclosed booth of a dust extraction system
under negative pressure.
13.1.3. The bags should be placed as close as possible
to the hopper or feed chamber.
13.1.4. The contents of the bag should be discharged
without the bag being shaken.
13.1.5. Empty bags should be disposed of immediately
within the same dust extraction system to prevent the release
of asbestos dust to the atmosphere.
13.1.6. Where the booth enclosure and exhaust ventila-
tion are insufficient to prevent the release of asbestos dust to
the air of the workplace, the workers present should wear
respiratory protective equipment.
13.1.7. The delivery of the fibre to the storage chamber
and any subsequent weighing and mixing with other materials
should be carried out under enclosed conditions with auto-
matic control.
13.1.8. Exhaust ventilation with negative pressure
should be maintained within the enclosure to prevent leakage
of asbestos dust.

58
 Asbestos cement

1 3.2. Handling finished products

13.2.1. At the final stage of manufacturing, or wherever
asbestos-cement products are being handled in large quan-
tities, mechanical handling equipment should be used when
practicable.
13.2.2. (1) Individual boards, sheets or other products,
when moved manually, should be placed with care on the
stack or other resting site.
(2) Dropping and dragging of finished products should
be avoided.
13.2.3. (1) All storage of asbestos-cement products on
site should be within a designated area.
(2) The designated area should be maintained in a clean
condition.

13.3. Finishing operations within the factory

13.3.1. (1) All power-sawing, drilling, sanding or mill-

ing machines should be fitted with efficient dust extraction
equipment.
(2) Low-volume, high-velocity air systems are usually the
most suitable for this purpose.
(3) It is recommended that slow-running tools with hard
metal teeth be used.
13.3.2. The equipment should be designed to remove
loose dust and swarf from the cut edges.
13.3.3. Where appropriate, boards should be treated
with a sealing solution for the suppression of dust on surfaces
and edges.
13.3.4. Boards should be cut singly where practicable.

59
Safety in the use of asbestos

13.3.5. The surfaces of all dry sheets which require

finishing should be vacuum-cleaned before stacking, where
there is a risk of airborne asbestos.
13.3.6. (1) Dust and swarf should be removed from the
workplace by vacuum cleaning.
(2) Where this is not practicable, the material should be
thoroughly wetted before removal.
13.3.7. Where maintenance work is carried out within
enclosures, on dust filters or in other situations of higher dust
exposure, protective clothing and respiratory equipment
should be provided and worn.
13.3.8. (1) The provision of personal protective equip-
ment should be accompanied by training in its use.
(2) Changing rooms, storage lockers and laundering
should also be provided in accordance with this code of
practice.

1 3.4. Work on site

13.4.1. Asbestos-cement products should, where prac-

ticable, be delivered to the site ready for use and should not
need further processing which may generate dust.
13.4.2. Hand tools or slow-running tools producing
coarse dust or chips should be used where practicable rather
than high-speed machines or those which cut by abrading the
material.
13.4.3. When high-speed power tools are used, they
should be fitted with efficient dust extraction equipment
designed for the purpose.
13.4.4. Abrasive or masonry discs should not be used
for cutting asbestos material.

60
 Asbestos cement

13.4.5. (1) Sheets to be fixed in an overhead position

should be drilled, trimmed or rasped before they are in place.
(2) Where it is necessary to work on sheets in an over-
head position, a respirator should be worn.
13.4.6. (1) Workplaces should be kept clean from cut-
ting dust by the use of portable vacuum-cleaning equipment.
(2) Where this is not practicable, floors should be
thoroughly wetted before sweeping.

13.5. Waste disposal

13.5.1. Broken pieces and off-cuts of asbestos-cement
material should be collected and disposed of in a manner
which does not generate dust.
13.5.2. Loose swarf and dust collected from fabrication
processes should be wetted, where practicable, and placed in
sealed impermeable bags or dealt with in another approved
manner in accordance with national regulations.

61
14. Textiles

14.1. Fibre preparation

14.1.1. Where asbestos fibre is supplied in paper or
plastic bags, the bags should be opened and emptied either
automatically or in an enclosed booth connected to a dust
extraction system.
14.1.2. In either case there should be provision for the
collection and disposal of empty bags within the same dust
extraction system to prevent the escape of dust into the
workplace.
14.1.3. The delivery of fibre from the hopper to the
machine employed for opening and for the elimination of
non-fibrous material should be fully enclosed and provided
with a hood.
14.1.4. The fibre should be fed into the machine mech-
anically and discharged, within enclosed conditions under
negative pressure, into the storage chamber.
14.1.5. (1) Where blending is required with other grades
of asbestos fibre or with cotton or man-made fibres, input and
output should be automatically controlled, the blending itself
taking place within an enclosed chamber.
(2) Blending should not be carried out by hand-mixing
or in open spaces.

14.2. Carding
14.2.1. Where practicable, direct mechanical or pneu-
matic feed from the blending operation to the card input
should be used. Alternatively the fibre should be transported
in a dust-proof container.

62
 Textiles

14.2.2. Where a container is used, it should be dis-

charged into the card in a way which minimises the escape
of dust. This may be achieved by joining the container outlet
with the entry aperture of the hopper.
14.2.3. The card or group of cards between the fibre
hopper and condenser should be interlocked with the working
of the machine.
14.2.4. (1) Wherever possible, dust should be collected
and should not be allowed to escape into the card enclosure
or into the general atmosphere.
(2) Negative pressure should be maintained within the
enclosure by means of the exhaust ventilation system.
14.2.5. Where entry into the enclosure is required while
the machines are running, appropriate respiratory protection
should be worn.
14.2.6. Specific dust extraction points should be located
close to the working surface of the card, particularly where
pressure points are created by the carding action.
14.2.7. Where laps and rope lagging are being
produced, the delivery conveyor from the doffer cylinder
should deliver [he malerial for subsequent processing and
packing within an enclosed and ventilated chamber.
14.2.8. (1) Where rovings are being produced, opera-
tors engaged in removing them from the card should be
protected by ventilation which directs the air away from them
and into the card enclosure.
(2) Such ventilation should be in addition to the negative
pressure within the enclosure.
14.2.9. Rovings should be transferred to the spinning
section in a way which minimises dust generation.
14.2.10. Where it is necessary to remove dry waste from
the roving package, this operation should be carried out
under a ventilated hood.

63
Safety in the use of asbestos

14.2.11. Hand stripping of cards should not be per-

mitted.
14.2.12. (1) Cards should be stripped by the use of a
revolving cylindrical brush mounted on a traversing mechan-
ism in turn mounted onto the cylinder by means of the
grinding brackets.
(2) The brush should be connected to the dust extraction
system, which should be of the low-volume, high-velocity
type.
14.2.13. Small card rolls should be cleaned and ground
on frames fitted with an enclosed hood provided with dust
extraction.

14.3. Spinning, doubling and winding

14.3.1. Where practicable, the primary control of dust

should be by wetting. This may be accomplished either:
(a) by wetting packages for the machine feed; or
(b) by applying moisture to the roving ends by passing them
through water as they are fed to the spinner.
14.3.2. Dust extraction should also be employed for
additional control.
14.3.3. Automatic stop spindles or other means should
be used and dry waste should be removed by vacuum to
minimise the generation of dust from broken or loose ends.
14.3.4. Where pot spinning frames are employed, the
pot should be maintained under negative pressure.
14.3.5. Where flyer frames are used, low speeds and
good maintenance should be observed in addition to wetting
and dust extraction.
14.3.6. Dust control of doubling operations should also

64
 Textiles

be achieved by wetting packages for the machine feed or by

applying moisture to yarn ends, together with dust extraction,
the use of automatic stop spindles and the removal of dry
waste by vacuum.
14.3.7. Cops should be wound wet by applying mois-
ture to the yarn.
14.3.8. (1) Traverse winding and cheese winding equip-
ment should be enclosed and fitted with a means of dust
extraction.
(2) Where practicable, dust control in this operation
should be made easier by the use of a temporary enclosure,
such as overlapping transparent plastic strips which cover the
working entrance of the enclosure, thereby minimising the
volume of air to be extracted while maintaining easy operator
access and vision.

14.4. Weaving

14.4.1. Where practicable, dust should be controlled by

both moisture and dust extraction.
14.4.2. In warp beaming, heavy humidification by
means of spray nozzles should be used, with wet feed pack-
ages as an addition or an alternative.
14.4.3. (1) In creel warping, wet packages should be
used where practicable.
(2) Where this process has to be carried out with dry
materials, the creel should be partially enclosed by curtains.
(3) Local exhaust ventilation of the reed and winding
point on the beam should be installed.
14.4.4. (1) In fabric weaving, wet packages, spray
nozzles or wet rolls should be used wherever practicable.
(2) Dust extraction should also be employed.

65
Safety in the use of asbestos

14.4.5. (1) Dust control in finishing processes, such as

inspection, calendering and drying, may be helped by the
application of a dust-suppressant treatment or finish to the
material.
(2) Violent manual or mechanical handling should be
avoided.
(3) Woven materials should be cut, not torn.
(4) Dust extraction and, where practicable, water sprays
should also be employed.

14.5. Braiding and plaiting

14.5.1. Wherever practicable, moisture or dust-

suppressant treatment should be applied.
14.5.2. (1) Where this is not possible, the equipment
should be enclosed.
(2) A portion of the enclosure should be of transparent
plastic to allow the operator to see the process.

14.6. Packaging

14.6.1. Rolls of cloth and coils of tape should be

packaged by the low-speed application of plastic wrapping.
14.6.2. Yarns, rope and rovings may be packed in
cartons. These should be dust-proof with tape seals.
14.6.3. Where practicable, shrink-wrapping should be
employed to give total encapsulation of individual units such
as fabric or spools of yarn.

66
 Textiles

14.7. Fabrication using asbestos cloth

14.7.1. Where practicable, only cloth which has been
specially treated to reduce dust emission should be used.
14.7.2. Handling of cloth and cut pieces should be
reduced to a minimum.
14.7.3. When not in use, all rolls of cloth should be
stored in impermeable wrapping and partly used rolls should
be replaced in their wrapping.
14.7.4. After being unwrapped for use, the rolls should
have a mandrel inserted through their centre to facilitate
handling.
14.7.5. (1) On the cutting table the mandrel should be
mounted on brackets at the end, clear of the table surface,
and the cloth should be unrolled from the top of the roll.
(2) Cloth should not be pulled from a free-standing roll
across the surface of the table.
14.7.6. Backed cloth should be unrolled with the asbes-
tos face downwards.
its. i. i. vv OH WLIILII LIULII IS II4HUIeU,
1

or sewn should be smooth to minimise abrasion.

14.7.8. Asbestos cloth should be cut with shears, a guil-
lotine or a mechanical cutter. It should not be torn or frayed.
14.7.9. If rotary cutters are used, they should be fitted
with dust extraction equipment.
14.7.10. When cutting or sewing untreated cloth, the top
surface should be well damped.
14.7.11. Off-cuts retained for later use should be stored
in closed containers.
14.7.12. Finished products should be sealed in imper-
meable wrapping before dispatch.

67
Safety in the use of asbestos

14.8. Mattress making

14.8.1. After marking out the mattress pattern, the

cloth should be thoroughly damped in the areas to be cut.
14.8.2. Electrically operated rotary knives fitted with
dust extraction equipment should be used where practicable.
14.8.3. Both cloth and yarn should be damped before
stitching.
14.8.4. Stitched mattress covers should be housed in
suitable closed receptacles during transfer to the filling area.
14.8.5. Asbestos fibre used for mattress filling should
be dispensed within enclosures under exhaust ventilation.
14.8.6. (1) Workers employed in filling mattresses with
asbestos fibre should be equipped with protective clothing and
respiratory equipment unless dust measurements indicate that
the enclosure and extraction control the dust adequately.
(2) A transparent window in the exhaust hood will
facilitate handling the fibre from outside the enclosure.

14,9. Insulation cladding

14.9.1. When asbestos cloth is used for insulation on

site, special care should be taken to ensure that the procedures
concerning handling of materials and collection of waste are
followed.
14.9.2. Dust suppression by thorough damping before
cutting and stitching should be employed wherever practic-
able.
14.9.3. When asbestos cloth is used extensively for
lagging, protective clothing and respiratory equipment should
be worn.

68
 Textiles

14.10. Rope lagging

14.10.1. Asbestos rope lagging which has been treated

to reduce asbestos dust emission should be used whenever
practicable.
14.10.2. (1) Rope lagging should be supplied, transpor-
ted and stored in impermeable wrapping.
(2) Damaged bags should be repaired with adhesive tape
or should be put inside new bags.
14.10.3. (1) Handling of rope lagging should be mini-
mised where possible by planning in advance the number and
length of pieces required for the work in hand.
(2) When lengths have been cut from a coil, the rope ends
should be resealed.
14.10.4. Partly used coils should be put back into bags
and the bags should be securely sealed between working
periods.
14.10.5. When cutting and pipe-wrapping, the laggers
should wear protective clothing and respiratory equipment.
14.10.6. When extensive rope-lagging is being carried
out, the work area should be separated from other areas, or
the work should be carried out at times when workers without
respiratory protection are absent.

14.11. Waste

14.11.1. Waste material should not be allowed to accu-

mulate. It should be placed in identified impermeable bags.
14.11.2. Controlled wetting of waste should also be
employed where practicable to reduce asbestos dust emission
during bag sealing or in the case of bag rupture.

69
Safety in the use of asbestos

14.11.3. Bags should be sealed before removal from the

workplace for disposal.
14.11.4. Workplaces should be kept clean by the re-
gular use of suitable vacuum equipment.

70
15. Encapsulation or removal of friable
thermal and acoustic insulation

1 5.1. Identification
15.1.!. Before the repair or replacement of thermal or
acoustic insulation thought to contain asbestos is planned, the
presence and type of asbestos should be positively identified.

15.2. Indications for removal

15.2.1. Asbestos insulation should be removed:
(a) when it is breaking away from the base; or
(b) when the insulation is likely to be abraded or otherwise
damaged; or
(c) when the surface is very friable; or
(d) when the resultant concentration of airborne asbestos
dust is above the exposure limit.

1 5.3. Enclosure of the work area

15.3.1. Where dust is liable to escape from the work
areas, all external openings from the work area, including
windows and doors, should be adequately sealed with ad-
hesive tape or isolated by sealed plastic sheeting to prevent
the escape of asbestos dust.
15.3.2. Where the work area forms only part of the
building, it should be enclosed or isolated by impervious
plastic sheeting which is of adequate strength and firmly
supported.

71
Safety in the use of asbestos

15.3.3. Care should be taken to ensure that asbestos

dust cannot escape at points where pipes and conduits pass
out of the working area.
15.3.4. (1) To prevent asbestos dust leakage, ventilation
which maintains the whole work area under negative pressure
should be provided.
(2) The extracted air should pass through an appropriate
filtration mechanism before being exhausted to atmosphere.
15.3.5. Exit/entry airlocks should be constructed at
points of access to the work enclosure.
15.3.6. All entry points should carry prominently dis-
played warning notices which forbid entry to anyone not
wearing suitable protective equipment.
15.3:7. At the end of each work period, the air extrac-
tion equipment should remain in operation for at least 15
minutes after stripping has ceased.

15.4. Monitoring of dust and endosure efficiency

15.4.1. Before stripping is begun, a smoke generator
should be used within the enclosure to test the efficiency of
the enclosure.
15.4.2. (1) A visual inspection of the enclosure should
be carried out at the beginning of each work period.
(2) Enclosure efficiency should be confirmed at longer
intervals by further smoke testing.
15.4.3. Any defect found on inspection or testing
should be remedied immediately.
15.4.4. (1) Air monitoring for respirable asbestos fibre
should be carried out just outside the work area.
(2) A first count should be taken before starting work
to provide a baseline and then a count should be taken
72
 Friable thermal and acoustic insulation

between one and two hours after starting the asbestos strip-
ping to test the efficiency of the enclosure.
15.4.5. (1) Where visual examination of the enclosure
indicates, or where any one fibre count taken outside the
working area is found to exceed permitted exposure limits,
stripping work should at once be stopped until any defect in
the enclosure has been remedied.
(2) A further air sample should then be taken after the
same interval following the resumption of work.
15.4.6. Further asbestos dust monitoring should be
carried out at intervals as work proceeds and after each move
of the enclosure when this occupies only part of the total area
to be stripped.

15.5 Hygiene
15.5.1. Provision should be made for decontamination
which should include:
(a) protective clothing as provided for in section 6.2 of the
code;
(b) shower facilities;
(c) storage for clean and contaminated clothing;
(d) provision for the collection and cleaning or disposal of
contaminated clothing.
15.5.2. The decontamination unit should be sited im-
mediately adjacent to the work site or as close as is reasonably
practicable.
15.5.3. The decontamination unit should consist of a
contaminated area, a shower area and a clean area.
15.5.4. The contaminated area should have provision
for:
(a) the vacuum dusting or hosing down of contaminated
clothing and footwear;

73
Safety in the use of asbestos

(b) the storage of contaminated clothing and footwear;

(c) exhaust ventilation creating negative pressure.
15.5.5. The shower area should be heated (except where
inappropriate) and should provide an adequate supply of
warm water.
15.5.6. The clean area should have provision for:
(a) the storage of clean clothing;
(b) ventilation under positive pressure.
15.5.7. Where the decontamination unit is at a distance
from the work site and where walking between the two
necessitates passing through a closed clean area, a further
overall should be provided.
15.5.8. Neither food nor tobacco should be taken
within the work site.

15.6. Respiratory protection

15.6.1. All persons entering the work site should wear
approved respirators.
15.6.2. Workers engaged in stripping by dry methods
should, where practicable, use positive pressure respirators
operated in the continuous flow mode.
15.6.3. Positive pressure respirators should also be used
by any worker whose beard prevents an effective seal between
face and mask.

1 5.7. Supervision
15.7.1. All workers should receive careful instruction in
the maintenance of workplace cleanliness and personal hy-
giene and in the importance of adherence to decontamination
procedure.

74
 Friable thermal and acoustic insulation

15.7.2. A competent supervisor should be designated

who will be responsible for ensuring:
(a) that all dust control procedures are adhered to; and
(b) that air samples are taken as necessary to ensure that
airborne asbestos fibre levels outside the work site are
below the prescribed exposure limits.

1 5.8. Work site preparation

15.8.1. Before starting work, suitable barriers and "no

access" warning notices should be set up at a distance from
the work site.
15.8.2. Within the work site, movable equipment
should be cleaned with vacuum equipment to prevent the
transfer of loose asbestos and such equipment should then be
moved outside the area.
15.8.3. Fixed plant should be vacuum cleaned and
covered, as far as is practicable, with impermeable sheeting
sealed with tape.
15.8.4. Floors and walkways should be covered with
impermeable sheeting sealed with tape to facilitate collection
of loose asbestos and final cleaning.

15.9. Encapsulation

15.9.1. Total enclosure and sealing of the work site

should be carried out:
(a) where the surface is liable to cause airborne dust when
the sealant is applied;
(b) where the surface has to be broken, e.g. to remove loose
surface debris or to provide anchorage for new cladding.

75
Safety in the use of asbestos

15.9.2. The surfaces to be sealed should be cleaned with

a vacuum cleaner fitted with a high-efficiency filter to remove
all debris and dust particles so that good adhesion of the
coating to be applied can be ensured.
15.9.3. All damaged areas should be repaired where
necessary to ensure a suitable profile for the encapsulation
system.

15.10. Dry stripping

15.10.1. Dry stripping is associated with very high

levels of asbestos dust. It should therefore be used only:
(a) where wet methods cannot be used;
(b) where live electrical apparatus might be made dangerous
by contact with water;
(c) where hot metal is to be stripped and the use of water
may be damaging.
15.10.2. Where dry stripping is employed, as effective
a standard of separation as possible should be preserved
between the work site and the adjacent areas to prevent the
escape of asbestos dust.
15.10.3. All workers within the separated area should
be provided with, and should use, suitable respiratory equip-
ment and protective clothing.
15.10.4. Surfaces from which the insulation has been
removed should be sealed to prevent the later release of
remaining fibres into the air.
15.10.5. As far as is practicable, waste should be re-
moved in small pre-cut sections with as little disturbance as
possible in order to minimise the release of airborne asbestos.
15.10.6. Waste should be either placed immediately
76
 Friable thermal and acoustic insulation

into suitable wetted containers or removed with the aid of

high-power vacuum suction.
15.10.7. Waste containers should be sealed and should
be identifiable.

15.11. Wet stripping

15.11.1. Areas in which wet stripping is being carried
out should be separated from other work areas.
15.11.2. All workers within the separated area should
use suitable respiratory protective equipment and protective
clothing.
15.11.3. Electrical equipment in the area should be
isolated from the entry of water.
15.11.4. At the end of the work a competent person
should ensure that it is safe for the electrical supply to be
restored.
15.11.5. Before removal is started, care should be taken
that the asbestos material is saturated with water. This may
be made easier by the addition of a water-wetting agent.
15.11.6. (1) Where cladding has to be removed, it
should first, where practicable, be punctured and the asbestos-
containing material within the cladding should be thoroughly
wetted.
(2) The cladding should then be removed carefully within
the enclosure and all surfaces should be vacuumed or sprayed
with water.
15.11.7. The water-saturated material should be re-
moved in small sections and placed immediately in labelled
containers which should then be sealed.
15.11.8. Any slurry produced should be contained and
not discharged into drains without adequate filtration.

77
Safety in the use of asbestos

15.11.9. Slurry should not be permitted to dry out on

surfaces, but should be completely removed while still wet.
15.11.10. Surfaces from which insulation has been re-
moved should be sealed to prevent the later release of remain-
ing fibres into the air.

15.12. Stripping by high-pressure water jets

15.12.1. This specialised method should be carried out
only by trained personnel and all precautions relevant to the
operation should be taken. Special safety precautions, includ-
ing those given in this section of the code, are required.
15.12.2. The safety provisions concerning high-pressure
water jetting should be fully observed.
15.12.3. Warning notices marked: "Danger. High-
pressure spraying" should be displayed in addition to the
other stripping warning notices.
15.12.4. The work area should be isolated as for other
stripping techniques.
15.12.5. All electrical equipment should be isolated.
15.12.6. At the end of the work, electrical supply
should not be restored until passed as safe by a competent
person.
15.12.7. (1) The slurry produced should be collected by
pump into suitable containers for disposal.
(2) Such slurry should not be allowed to enter the
drainage system.

15.13. Waste disposal

15.13.1. Asbestos waste should be placed in suitable
containers immediately on removal.

78
 Friable thermal and acoustic insulation

15.13.2. Waste should not be permitted to remain on

floors or other surfaces of the workplace at the end of the
working period.
15.13.3. Suitable containers should be impermeable.
15.13.4. When such containers are filled, they should
be sealed to prevent the escape of asbestos dust.
15.13.5. The external surface of such containers should
be cleaned and then the containers should be removed to an
area set aside for such waste.
15.13.6. Either the containers or the separate storage
area should be clearly identified as containing asbestos.

1 5.14. Decontamination procedure

15.14.1. When starting work, workers should:
(a) enter the clean end of the decontamination unit, remove
all clothing, store it in the lockers provided and fit on
clean, appropriate respiratory equipment;
(b) pass through the shower-room to the contaminated area
and put on work clothing (overalls, footwear, gloves,
etc., as appropriate);
(c) leave the contaminated area and enter the work site.
15.14.2. At the end of work, workers should:
(a) enter the contaminated area of the decontamination unit,
with the use of a vacuum cleaner remove all loose
asbestos fibre from their work clothing (overalls, foot-
wear, gloves, etc.) and from their respiratory equipment,
remove all clothing and store it in the lockers provided;
(b) pass through the shower-room and shower thoroughly;
(c) pass through to the clean area, dry themselves, dress and
leave through the clean area door.

79
Safety in the use of asbestos

15.14.3. (1) Where the decontamination unit is situated

at a distance from the work site and passage through a clean
zone is necessary, a two-stage airlock should be provided at
the work site.
(2) Both airlocks should be provided with lockers; the
contaminated airlock should be provided with vacuum-clean-
ing equipment.
15.14.4. In the case provided for in paragraph 15.14.3,
workers should, when starting work:
(a) proceed as indicated in paragraph 15.14.1 but put on
clean overalls (instead of work clothing) in order to cross
the clean zone;
(b) enter the first (clean) airlock, remove their overalls and
store them in the lockers provided;
(c) pass through to the second (contaminated) airlock, put
on work clothing and enter the work site.
15.14.5. In the case provided for in paragraph 15.14.3,
workers should, at the end of work:
(a) enter the contaminated airlock, with the use of a vacuum
cleaner remove all loose asbestos dust from their work
clothing and from their respiratory equipment, remove
all work clothing and place it in the lockers provided;
(b) move to the clean section of the airlock and put on their
overalls;
(c) return to the decontamination unit, enter the contami-
nated area of the decontamination unit, remove their
overalls and store them in the lockers provided, and then
follow the procedure outlined in paragraph 15.14.2 (b)
and (c).
15.14.6. The decontamination unit and, where this is
required, the two-stage airlock should be regularly cleaned
and serviced.

80
16. Friction materials

16.1. Fibre preparation and mixing

16.1.1. (1) Raw fibre should be supplied only in closed
containers, such as impermeable paper or plastic bags.
(2) Where practicable, these containers should be opened
by automatic means and discharged directly into enclosed
mixing systems.
16.1.2. Where bags of fibre have to be opened manu-
ally, this operation should be carried out only within a partial
enclosure equipped with air extraction ventilation sufficient
to control all asbestos dust emissions during bag opening.
16.1.3. Dry mixing operations should be undertaken
only in enclosed systems under negative pressure.
16.1.4. Local exhaust ventilation (dust extraction)
should be provided at feed points for additives and at dis-
charge openings.
16.1.5. Where wet mix or plasticised materials are used
in open systems, waste and dried out residues should be
cleared by vacuum-cleaning equipment or by other dustless
methods.

16.2. Transfer of mixed compound

to moulding and forming
16.2.1. Wherever practicable, totally enclosed systems
should be provided for the transfer of compounds from the
mixing area to the processing machinery.
16.2.2. Where manual methods of transfer have to be
employed, closed containers should be used and arrangements
should be made for coupling the containers direct to the
81
Safety in the use of asbestos

processing machinery in a manner which eliminates dust

emission.
16.2.3. If tipping or manual transfer of compounds
from transit containers to the processing machinery is necess-
ary, suitable dust extraction equipment should be provided
to prevent the dispersion of dust into the workplace.

16.3. Pre-forming, forming, curing

and moulding machines
16.3.1. Automatic systems for dispensing fibre com-
pounds to press moulding boxes should be used where practic-
able.
16.3.2. Suitable dust extraction equipment should be
fitted to all points of possible asbestos dust emission.
16.3.3. Fettling of moulded components should be car-
ried out only under local exhaust ventilation.
16.3.4. When goods which are being processed are in
transit from one machine or section to another, they should
be conveyed in closed systems or containers.
16.3.5. High-pressure jet lubrication of moulding plates
and tools in curing presses should be designed to minimise
over-spray and air movement.

16.4. Finishing operations

16.4.1. Suitable dust extraction equipment should be
fitted to all finishing machines which drill, bore, grind, finish
or otherwise abrade friction components.
16.4.2. Wet pads or aerosol sprays should, where prac-
ticable, be used to remove or suppress dust adhering to
components.

82
 Friction materials

16.4.3. Finished components should, where practicable,

be dipped or sprayed with a suitable dust suppressant.
16.4.4. Inspection of finished components for quality
control purposes should be carried out on tables equipped
with a dust extraction system.
16.4.5. Finished components should be shrink-wrapped
or otherwise sealed in dust-proof packaging before final
dispatch.

16.5. Reclamation of materials

16.5.1. Disintegrators, milling machinery or grinding
plant used to reclaim waste material should operate in an
enclosed booth under negative pressure ventilation.
16.5.2. Reclaimed material should be transferred back
into the process either automatically within an enclosed
system or in sealed containers.

1 6.6. Processing friction materials

in factory conditions
16.6.1. Asbestos dust generated by asbestos friction
materials delivered in bulk should be removed by vacuum
cleaning prior to handling.
16.6.2. Suitable dust extraction equipment should be
fitted to every cutting, drilling or grinding machine. The
extraction equipment should be of the low-volume, high-
velocity type.

1 6.7. Use of friction materials in workshops

16.7.1. Where practicable, friction materials should be
supplied already cut, machined or drilled to requirements.

83
Safety in the use of asbestos

16.7.2. Where practicable, hand tools or slow-running

tools producing coarse dust or chips should be used rather
than high-speed machines or those which cut by abrading the
material.
16.7.3. Fixed working points or machines should have
a suitable dust extraction system installed.
16.7.4. (1) Portable tools should be fitted with an in-
built dust extraction unit.
(2) Low-volume, high-velocity systems are usually the
most appropriate for this purpose.
16.7.5. Where linings, blocks and clutch facings are
riveted, dust extraction equipment should be installed.
16.7.6. (1) All exhaust ventilation equipment should be
inspected and tested by a competent person at regular inter-
vals not exceeding seven days.
(2) A record of every inspection should be made and
retained.

16.8. Servicing of brakes and clutches

in garages and workshops

16.8.1. Compressed air or dry brushing should not be

used to remove accumulated dust from brake and clutch
assemblies when worn friction materials are being removed,
except when this is carried out within an extraction box
equipped with exhaust ventilation.
16.8.2. (1) Dust should be removed by a vacuum
cleaner fitted with a high-efficiency filter.

84
 Friction materials

(2) If such a vacuum cleaner is not available, dust should

be removed with a damp cloth or one moistened with light
mineral oil.
16.8.3. (1) Where practicable, friction material should
be cut to length with shears.
(2) Power saws or abrasive discs should not be used
unless exhaust ventilation is in operation.
16.8.4. Where products are machined, dust extraction
equipment should be fitted.
16.8.5. (1) Before applying adhesive to bond segments
to brake shoes, surface dust should be removed with a damp
cloth or one moistened with light mineral oil.
(2) Dust should not be removed by tapping or by com-
pressed air.
16.8.6. (1) Loose swarf and dust should be removed
from the workplace by vacuum cleaning.
(2) Where such vacuum cleaning is not practicable, the
material should be thoroughly wetted before removal.

1 6.9. Waste disposal

16.9.1. Loose swarf and dust collected from fabrication

processes, and broken and worn linings, should be placed in
an impermeable container, such as a plastic bag, and the
container should then be sealed.
16.9.2. The sealed bags should be disposed of in
accordance with the provisions of this code of practice.

85
17. Handling of asbestos fibre in ports
and container terminals

17.1. Packaging

17.1.1. All asbestos fibre to be handled by waterside or

terminal workers should be packed in airtight bags.
17.1.2. The packages should be made up into unit loads
securely fastened by banding.
17.1.3. The unit loads should be securely fastened in
packages on suitable pallets or straps which can be moved by
hoist, fork-lift truck or other mechanical handling equipment
without damage.
17.1.4. When standard international containers are
used, the shipper should ensure that all projections inside the
container are adequately shielded to prevent damage to the
packages in transit.

17.2. Handling
17.2.1. Each shipment should be inspected before
handling to ascertain if any breakages or spillages of asbestos
have occurred in transit.
17.2.2. Hooks or other sharp equipment should not be
used on bags or unit loads.
17.2.3. Unit loads should be lifted intact into and out
of ships' holds and on and off land transport by hoists,
fork-lift trucks or other mechanical handling equipment.
17.2.4. The equipment should be properly engaged in
the pallets or other forms of joint packages.
17.2.5. Unstable loads should be stabilised before lift-
ing.

86
 Handling of asbestos fibre

17.2.6. Stowing of loaded pallets should be carried out

without damage to the pallets.
17.2.7. Except where the packages of asbestos are car-
ried in sealed containers, suitable vacuum-cleaning equipment
of sufficient capacity should be available on site at all times
when asbestos is being handled.

17.3. Spillages
17.3.1. Suitable adhesive tape should be available for
the repair of damaged loads.
17.3.2. Damaged bags which are not part of unit loads
should be repaired with adhesive tape.
17.3.3. Where practicable, unit loads which have been
damaged to a minor extent should be sealed with adhesive
tape.
17.3.4. Where extensive damage to a unit load has
occurred, the load should be broken down and the damaged
bags should be repaired and repacked. The pallet should then
be restowed.
17.3.5. All spilt material should be cleaned up by the
use of vacuum equipment.
17.3.6. Collected waste should be placed in imper-
meable bags for disposal.
17.3.7. Containers, cargo holds, decks, vehicles and
storage areas which may have been contaminated by spillage
should be cleaned by vacuum equipment or by some other
dustless method.
17.3.8. All workers engaged in the collection and rebag-
ging of loose asbestos resulting from spillage should be
provided with protective clothing and appropriate respirators.

87
Safety in the use of asbestos

17.3.9. (1) Overalls or other protective clothing should

be used for one shift only.
(2) Changing facilities should be provided.
17.3.10. Facilities should be available to ensure that
protective clothing is suitably cleaned and laundered, and that
respirators are properly maintained and serviced.

88
18. Construction, demolition and
alteration work

18.1. Construction work

18.1.1. All material to be used on site and containing
asbestos should be labelled in such way as to alert the user
to the potential health hazards involved and to the appro-
priate precautions to be taken.
18.1.2. (1) Where a large amount of work has to be
carried out on materials containing asbestos, such work
should be done on a portion of the work site set aside for the
purpose.
(2) Where practicable, a shed or a separate part of a
building should be allocated for such work.
18.1.3. The provisions of this code should be followed
for all work on asbestos-cement materials and also on all
other products containing asbestos, such as asbestos boards
and tiles.
18.1.4. Materials containing asbestos in bonded form,
such as caulking compounds and bituminous damp coursing,
should, when sanded or otherwise abraded, be subject to
appropriate precautions.
18.1.5. At regular intervals, and at the end of each
work period, the provisions on waste disposal of this code
should be followed.

18.2. Demolition and alteration work

18.2.1. (1) Where it has been previously identified that
buildings or fixed or movable structures contain substantial
amounts of asbestos-containing insulation materials liable to

89
Safety in the use of asbestos

become airborne, only persons or bodies acceptable to the

competent authority in accordance with national practice
should carry out their demolition or alteration.
(2) Where it is subsequently discovered that such asbes-
tos-containing materials are present, or where such materials
are present only to a limited extent, specialised contractors
acceptable to the competent authority in accordance with
national practice should undertake that part of the work.
18.2.2. It should be the responsibility of these auth-
orised persons or bodies to identify asbestos-containing in-
sulation or lagging before demolition commences and to
ensure the safe removal and disposal of the material in
accordance with the provisions of the national regulations.
18.2.3. All sprayed thermal or acoustic insulation, lag-
ging and loose insulation of a fibrous nature should be
regarded as containing asbestos until otherwise established.
18.2.4. (1) For positive identification the samples taken
to identify the possible presence of asbestos should be
analysed in a suitably equipped laboratory.
(2) The result of such material identification should be
reported to the competent authority and, where the material
has been identified as containing asbestos, the report should
detail the proposed removal programme.
18.2.5. The persons or bodies authorised to perform the
demolition or alteration work should ensure that the require-
ments of the competent authority have been fully satisfied
before proceeding with demolition or alteration.
18.2.6. (1) All workers engaged in the work of demoli-
tion or alteration should be informed of any areas where
asbestos-containing insulation remains.
(2) The authorised persons or bodies should ensure that
this material is not accidentally disturbed.

90
 Construction, demolition and alteration work

18.2.7. All workers engaged in the work of demolition

or alteration should be made aware of the health hazards and
should be made aware that the work should be performed in
accordance with the prescribed safety and health regulations.

91
Appendices
 C,,
CD
-I.
CD

A. Exposure limits in various countries

(as at October 1 983)
CD

Country Regulations Limit values Cs)

(f = fibre) CD

0
CD
Australia National Health and Amosite 1.0 f/mI Cs)

Medical Research Chrysotile 1.0 f/rnl

Council Crocidolite 0.1 f/ml 0
Cs)
Austria July 1980 1,250 particles/cm3 (dust containing < 2.5% asbestos)
600 particles/cm3 (dust containing 2.5-15% asbestos)
300 particles/cm3 (dust containing 1 asbestos)
150 particles/cm3 (dust containing > 50% asbestos)
Belgium January 1980 Arnosite 2.0 f/mI
Chrysotile 2.0 f/mI
Crocidolite 0.2 f/mI
Canada Special regulation in In 1982 the Province of Ontario adopted:
each province 1 Arnosite 0.5 f/rnl
Chrysotile 1.0 f/mI
Crocidolite 0.2 f/mI
Cyprus Amendment 1981, All types of asbestos 2.0 f/mI
No. 1705
Czechoslovakia Ministry of Health, Dust containing asbestos:
Czechoslovak Socialist (a) below 10%: 4 mg/m3
Republic, Guide-lines (b) over 10%: 2 mg/rn3
No. 46, Il May 1978
Denmark Crocidolite 0.1 f/mI
All other types of asbestos 1.0 f/mI
Finland 23 September 1976 All types of asbestos 2.0 f/mI
rrancc INO. I lidS types ui asoesLos L.U 5/1151
17 September 1977
Federal Republic
of Germany 1 July 1982 All types of asbestos 1.0 f/ml
India Model Rule 123-A Amosite 0.5 f/ml
under section 112 Chrysotile 2.0 f/mI
of the Factories Act Crocidolite 0.2 f/mI
Other forms 2.0 f/ml
Indonesia 2 Amosite 1.0 f/ml
Chrysotile 1.0 f/mI
All other types of asbestos 4.0 f/ml
Ireland 1972, 1975 Amosite 2.0 f/ml
Chrysotile 2.0 f/mI
Crocidolite 0.2 f/ml
Israel January 1980, March 1982 All types of asbestos 1.0 f/ml
Italy All types of asbestos 2.0 f/ml
Japan Japan Industrial Health Crocidolite 0.2 f/ml
Society, 1981 All other types of asbestos 2.0 f/mI
Netherlands October 1983 Chrysotile 2.0 f/ml
Crocidolite forbidden
New Zealand 24 August 1981 Actinolite, Amosite, Anthophyllite,
Chrysotile, Tremolite:
(a) 1.0 f/mI for any 4 hours' exposure
(b) 6.0 f/mI for any 10 minutes' exposure
Crocidolite:
0.2 f/mI over any 10 minutes' exposure
Nigeria Draft Code of Practice All types of asbestos 2.0 f/ml
I Other provinces including Quebec still have a time-weighted average (TWA) of 'less or equal" to 2.0 f/mI for asbestos in general.
.5
Crocidolite given no standard but understood to be banned. .5
 'a)
Country Regulations Limit values
(f = fibre)

Norway May 1983 Amosite 0.5 f/mI

Tremolite 0.5 f/mI
Crocidolite 0.2 f/mI
All other types of asbestos 2.0 f/mI
Spain August 1982 All types of asbestos 2.0 f/mI
Sweden All types of asbestos (except crocidolite) 1.0 f/mI
Thailand 30 May 1977 All types of asbestos 5.0 f/mI
United Kingdom 1 January 1984 As from 1 August 1984:
Amosite 0.2 f/mI
Chrysotile 0.5 f/mI
Crocidolite 0.2 f/mI
United States 1 July 1976, OSHA All types of asbestos 2.0 f/mI (currently under
revision
USSR GOST, 12-1-005-76 Dust containing over 10% asbestos: 2 mg/rn3
Asbestos cement: 6 mg/rn3
Asbestos bakelite: 8 mg/rn3
Zambia
is adopting
the following 1 January 1984 Amosite 0.2 f/mI
Chrysotile 0.5 f/rn!
[Crocidolite 0.2 f/mI]
All other types of asbestos 1.0 f/mI
Threshold limit values (TLV5) recommended by ACGIFI (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists), 1982: Amosite
0.5 f/mI, Chrysotile 2.0 f/mI, Crocidolite 0.2 f/mI, all other forms of asbestos 2.0 f/mI.
Crocidolite is not imported into Zambia.
B. Principles of the membrane filter method for the
determination of airborne asbestos
fibre concentrations by light microscopy
1. A sample is collected by drawing a measured quantity of air
through a membrane filter by means of a battery-powered sampling
pump. The filter is later transformed from an opaque membrane into
a transparent optically homogeneous specimen. The fibres are then
sized and counted using a phase contrast microscope. The result is
expressed as fibres per millilitre of air, calculated from the number
of fibres on the filter and the measured volume of air sampled.
2. Personal samples are taken within the worker's breathing
zone, i.e. within a hemisphere of 300 mm (12 in) radius extending
in front of the face and measured from a line bisecting the ears.
3. An open-faced filter holder fitted with a cylindrical cowl is
fastened to the jacket lapel of the worker with the cowl pointing
downwards.
4. Static samples are taken at fixed locations.
5. Membrane filters (mixed esters of cellulose or cellulose
nitrate) of 1.2 pore size with printed grids and a diameter of
25 mm (1 in) should be used.
6. A portable battery-operated pump — carried on the worker's
belt or in a pocket for personal sampling — must be used. The flow
rate should be adjusted to 1 1/mm ±5 per cent, i.e. approximately
4 cm/s face velocity. The difference of the flow rates before and after
sampling should not be greater than 10 per cent.
7. The minimum filter loading should exceed 50 fibres/mm2 (i.e.
approximately 40 fibres/lOO Walton-Beckett graticule areas).
8. The maximum filter loading should normally not exceed
5 area (average value for all counted fields), but
fibres/graticule
should never exceed 10 fibres/graticule area.
9. Sampling time should be measured accurately.
10. It is preferable to mount the total filter on a microscope
slide using the acetone-glycerol triacetate (acetone-triacetin) method.

97
Safety in the use of asbestos

11. A binocular microscope in phase-contrast should be used

for counting and should be assessed by means of detection limit test
slides. As reference method, the United Kingdom Health and Safety
Executive Test Slide I should be used and Block 5 should be
achieved.
12. The microscope should have the following features:
(a) Koehler illumination;
(b) Abbé or achromatic phase-contrast condenser incorporated
into a substage unit;
(c) built-in mechanical specimen stage fitted with slide clamps and
x-y displacement;
(d) rotating nose-piece fitted with 10 x and 40 x parafocal phase-
contrast achromatic objectives. The 40 x objective must have
a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.65, achromatic. The phase ring
absorption should be in the range 65-85 per cent. Either
positive or negative phase-contrast is suitable;
(e) binocular eyepieces of the compensating type giving a total
magnification of between 450 x and 500 x, preferably 500 x.
At least one eyepiece must permit the insertion of a graticule
and be of the focusing type;
(f) a Walton-Beckett circular eyepiece graticule with an actual
diameter — when using the 40 x phase objective and an
appropriate eyepiece — of 100 j.tm ± 2 checked against a
stage micrometer.
13. Counting and sizing fibres:
(a) a countable fibre is any object having a diameter less than 3
and a length greater than 5 j.tm and a length to diameter
ratio greater than 3 : 1, and which does not appear to touch
any particle with a diameter greater than 3 I.tm;
(b) a countable fibre with both ends within the graticule area shall
count as one fibre; a fibre with only one end within the area
shall count as half a fibre;

Health and Safety Executive (United Kingdom) and National Physi-

cal Laboratory (United Kingdom): HSE/NPL test slide (mark II) for the
determination of detection limit when using phase-contrast microscopy.

98
 Appendix B

(c) graticule areas for counting shall be chosen at random within

the exposed area of the filter;
(d) an agglomerate of fibres which at one or more points on its
length appears to be solid and undivided but which at other
points appears to divide into separate strands (a split fibre) is
regarded as a single countable fibre if it meets the definition
in 13(a), the diameter being measured across the undivided
part, not the split part;
(e) in any other agglomerate in which fibres touch or cross one
another (a bundle), these fibres shall be counted individually
if they can be distinguished sufficiently to determine that they
meet the definition in 13(a). If no individual fibres meeting
the definition can be distinguished, the bundle is a countable
fibre if the bundle as a whole meets the definition in 13 (a);
(f) if more than one-eighth of graticule area is covered by
agglomerate of fibres and/or particles, the graticule area must
be rejected and another counted;
(g) at least 100 fibres shall be counted with a minimum of
20 graticule areas examined; no more than 100 graticule areas
need to be examined.
14. The mean number of fibres per graticule is calculated by
dividing the number of fibres counted by the number of graticule
areas examined.
15. The contribution to the count due to contamination shall
be kept below 3 fibres! 100 graticule areas or 10 per cent of the actual
sample fibre count/100 graticule areas and shall be assessed using
blank — unused — filters.
16. Concentration in air in fibres per millilitre equals:
effective filter X
mean number of fibres
c = area (mm2) per graticule area
graticule area (mm2) x volume of air collected (ml)
17. All calculated values less than 0.1 f/ml should be reported
only as "less than 0.1 f/mI". All higher values should be rounded
off to the first decimal place.
For practical purposes, it is recommended to consider further
details which may be obtained from: Asbestos International Associa-

99
Safety in the use of asbestos

tion: Reference met hod for the determination of airborne asbestos fibre
concentrations at workplaces by light microscopy (Membrane filter
method), AlA health and safety publication, Recommended techni-
cal method No. 1 (RTM1), (January 1982), available from 68
Gloucester Place, London WIH 3HL, United Kingdom.

100
C. Principles of gravimetric methods of measuring
airborne dust containing asbestos at the work-
place

1. General
1.1. Airborne dust concentrations should be measured in the
vicinity of various items of equipment.
1.2. Airborne dust concentration measurements must be effec-
ted in the breathing zone, account being taken of the main technical
processes which could produce such asbestos-containing dust. In
making such measurements, samples are to be taken at a height of
1.5 m (5 ft) from the floor or the ground.
1.3. Airborne dust samples are taken by drawing air through
an analysis filter. Two samples are simultaneously taken at each
point of measurement. The filters should be placed vertically or
slightly inclined.
1.4. Where a team of workers is employed in an area where
airborne dust concentrations are being monitored, a sufficient
number of samples must be taken to enable an accurate determina-
tion of the airborne dust to be made, i.e. at least five samples.
1.5. Measurements of airborne dust concentrations should be
accompanied by measurements of environmental temperature, rela-
tive humidity and air flow rate. Five sets of measurements should
be taken in a working day.
1.6. When airborne concentrations of dust at workplaces are
monitored periodically, one sample may be taken at each workplace
in order to determine the overall maximum concentration. In such
cases, the sampling period should not exceed 30 minutes.
1.7. Where air flow rates are in excess of 3 m/s, as may occur
when monitoring airborne dust concentrations in factories, quarries,
etc., special nozzles should be used to ensure equal air velocities and
rates of aspiration. Deviations should not exceed ±20 per cent.
1.8. Measurements shall be considered to be correct if the
difference in airborne dust concentrations between two samples
taken at the same time and the difference between the average

101
Safety in the use of asbestos

characteristics of any two samples taken during a given working day

do not exceed 25 per cent. Should the variation be greater, additional
measurements shall be taken in order to determine the reasons for
such variations.

2. Materials and equipment for measuring

airborne dust concentration
2.1. In gravimetric monitoring of airborne dust, synthetic or
glass fibre filters are used. Membrane and ash-free paper filters may
also be used. Preferably, filters with a moisture content not in excess
of 0.5 per cent should be used. Analysis filters should retain at least
95 per cent of the dust. The margin of error in measurements of the
air volume sampled should not exceed ± 10 per cent.
2.2. The instruments used for monitoring should enable con-
centrations of airborne dust to be determined with a precision of 0.3
of the permitted concentration, sampling time not being limited.
2.3. Instruments used for monitoring airborne dust con-
centration shall meet the following requirements:
(a) errors in the measurement of dust collected on the analysis filter
shall not exceed ± 10 per cent;
(b) errors in measurements of the quantity of air passing through
the filter shall not exceed ± 10 per cent;
(c) the total error in the measurement of airborne dust shall not
exceed ±25 per cent.
2.4. Other instruments used for monitoring shall meet the
following requirements:
(a) error in determining temperature shall not exceed ±0.5 °
(± 1.06°F);
(b) error in determining relative humidity shall not exceed ± 5 per
cent in any sampling time up to five minutes;
(c) error in determining air flow rates shall not exceed ± 0.05 rn/s
when measured indoors and ±0.5 rn/s when measured out-of-
doors.

102
 Appendix C

3. Order in which measurements shall be taken

3.1. The mass of a clean filter should be ascertained and the
volume of air passing through the filters should be adjusted to the
maximum in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations.
3.2. Analysis filters should be numbered. The mass of each
filter, before and after sampling, should be entered in the laboratory
registers. The registers should also show the mass of the airborne
dust deposited on the filter.
3.3. Analytical filters, properly weighed, should be kept in
smooth paper envelopes or special cassettes.
3.4. Once the filters have been inserted, the aspirator is
connected and the rate of air flow for each filter is set. An even rate
should be maintained throughout the sampling process. At the same
time, temperature, relative humidity and the velocity of the air at
the sampling point should be measured. Having completed the
sampling, the filter should be folded in half (with the dust deposit
inside) and placed in an envelope or a cassette.
3.5. The mass of the airborne dust collected on the filter
should not be less than 1.5 mg, if the total weighing error does not
exceed ±0.15 rng and, if the total weighing error is ± 0.05 mg, the
mass of the dust collected should be at least 0.7 rng.
3.6. The method of dust sampling should always be so selec-
ted as to enable the mass of dust collected to be in excess of the
minimum. The sampling time should not exceed 30 minutes and the
airborne dust concentration should be 50 per cent of the permitted
maximum. Minimum air sampling time should be five minutes.
Comment: Aspirators with an air flow of 20 1/mm may be used.
When the minimum weight of the dust collected is 1.5 rng, the
airborne dust concentration will be mg/rn3. When the minimum
weight of the dust collected is 0.7 mg, the airborne dust concentra-
tion will be ?2 mg/rn3. The most suitable aspirators are those with
an air flow of 50 1/mm or more, as these enable airborne dust
concentrations to be measured over a wide range with a sampling
time of not more than 30 minutes.

103
Safety in the use of asbestos

4. Calculation of airborne dust concentration

4.1. Airborne dust concentration is calculated using the fol-
lowing formula:
= — in0) 1,000 mg/rn3

where in0 and m1 in milligrams represent the mass of the filter before
and after sampling, and where V in litres represents the quantity of
air sampled.
4.2. Before effecting the analysis, all of the results of the
airborne dust concentration monitoring have to be converted to
normal conditions, i.e.:
— air temperature 20 °C (68 °F);
— relative humidity 50 per cent; and
— barometric pressure 103 kPa.
4.3. The results obtained from airborne dust concentration
measurement shall be analysed to obtain average and maximum
values for a given workplace, a given work area and a given
operation.
4.4. For measuring the size and number of asbestos fibres the
rate of aspiration should be of 1 1/mm. The filters shall firstly be
mounted using the acetone-glycerol triacetate (acetone-tracetin)
method. The fibres shall then be measured using optical microscopy
followed by counting.

104
D. Recommendations concerning medical examina-
tions
1. General

1.1. The recommendations of this appendix are intended as

medical guide-lines. Occupational physicians may wish to supple-
ment these provisions to meet local needs and to assist in proper
evaluation of individual cases.
1.2. The health personnel responsible for the medical exam-
ination of workers shall have free access to their workplaces and to
the data on monitoring of the level and duration of exposure to
asbestos dust. When necessary, they may require additional measure-
ments of exposure.

2. Structure of the medical examination

2.1. The pre-assignment medical examination of workers

whose work is likely to involve them in exposure to asbestos dust
should include:
(a) a case history which includes the occupational history of the
worker with an emphasis on the respiratory system, previous
occupational exposures and smoking history; 1
(b) a general physical examination, with an emphasis on the
respiratory system;
(c) a full-sized postero-anterior chest radiograph to be obtained
and interpreted using the most recent ILO guide-lines;2

1 The ILO publication entitled Respiratory Function Tests in Pneumoco-

nioses, Occupational Safety and Health Series, No. 6 (Geneva, 1966), pp.
141-144, provides a copy of the MRC (United Kingdom, Medical Research
Council) Short Questionnaire on Respiratory Symptoms. This remains a
useful questionnaire with which to assess respiratory symptoms, occupational
history and smoking history.
2 Guidelines for the use of ILO international cation of radiographs
of pneumoconioses, Occupational Safety and Health Series, No. 22 (Revised
(footnote continued overleaf)

105
Safety in the use of asbestos

(d) spirometry, in order to obtain representative forced vital capac-

ity (FVC) measurements and forced expiratory volume in one
second (FEy1);
(e) additional tests as necessary for diagnostic purposes, par-
ticularly in high-risk groups of workers.
2.2. The periodic medical examination for asbestos dust ex-
posure should include:
(a) a brief medical and occupational history including smoking
habits;
(b) a physical examination, with an emphasis on the respiratory
evaluation;
(c) a full-sized postero-anterior chest radiograph to be obtained
and interpreted using the most recent ILO guide-lines;
(d) spirometry to obtain a representative FYC and FEy1;
(e) additional tests as necessary for diagnostic purposes, par-
ticularly in high-risk groups of workers.
2.3. Medical examinations following sickness will depend
largely upon the nature of the sickness. Should the sickness be
thought possible to be work-related, further documentation is in-
dicated.
2.4. Upon the cessation of employment, a full medical evalua-
tion, which would include a review of all medical tests previously
obtained, should be performed. A decision should be made whether
further follow-up of the health conditions of the worker is advisable,
taking into account the duration and level of the past asbestos dust
exposure and the health conditions of the worker. If so, the fre-
quency of examinations should also be recommended.
2.5. Workers who have developed possible asbestos-related
disease should, if appropriate, be referred to medical specialists for
detailed diagnostic evaluation, assessment of the work-relatedness of
the disease and assessment of health impairment.

edition, 1980), (Geneva, Third impression 1983), provides a detailed descrip-

tion of the international classification, standard films, guidance notes on
radiographic equipment and technology, and a suggested reading sheet.
See note 2, p. 105.

106
 Appendix D

2.6. The competent authority should establish a registry to

which all cases of asbestos-related diseases should be reported.

3. Frequency of medical examinations

3.1. The frequency of periodic medical examinations should

be established by the competent authority, according to national
practice, taking into account the duration and level of asbestos dust
exposure and health status. In the absence of established national
practice, the competent authority should draw up a medical sur-
veillance programme based on the most recent medical knowledge.

4. Results and interpretation

4.1. The results of all medical examinations and supplemen-
tary examinations and tests should be placed in the individual
worker's medical file and be held in medical confidence.
4.2. Fitness for any particular job should be certified by a
suitable certificate containing no medical data.
4.3. Under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to
prescribe appropriate measures or conditions in order to certify the
worker's fitness for a particular job.

5. Radiographic evaluation

5.1. Radiographic evaluation of the worker exposed to asbes-

tos dust should be based on the "JLO 1980 International classifica-
tion of radiographs of the pneumoconioses",' or any subsequent
revision.
5.2. Additional radiographic examination may be required
for diagnosis in individual cases.

ibid., p. 1 if.

107
Safety in the use of asbestos

6. Pulmonary function evaluation

6.1. For recording FVC and FEy1, a device which provides
a tracing of volume-time or volume-flow during the entire forced
expiration is recommended. The tracing should be stored and avail-
able for recall.
6.2. Additional examination of respiratory function may be
necessary for appropriate diagnosis, particularly in subjects with
evidence of respiratory symptoms or functional impairment on
spirometry.

108
E. Glossary
In this code of practice the following terms have the meaning
shown:
adequate or suitable: quantitatively or qualitatively appropriate
method used to protect the worker;
asbestosis. a fibrosis (thickening and scarring) of the lung tissue
which develops slowly, usually after many years of exposure;
competent authority: minister, official service or any other
public authority having the power to issue, approve or implement
decrees, orders, regulations or other provisions having the force of
law concerning the prevention of airborne asbestos in the working
environment;
contamination: the air pollution of the working environment
by a harmful substance or agent;
dust: airborne solid particulate matter, the particle size being
greater than a fume; dusts are usually produced by the mechanical
cutting, abrasion or erosion of a solid; asbestos dust: airborne or
settled fibrous particles which may become airborne; total dust: all
types of airborne dust particles which are collected during sampling;
respirable dust: the fraction of the total inspirable dust which can
enter the respiratory tract; respirable fibres: any organic or inorganic
structure with a geometric diameter less than 3 p.m and of which the
length is at least three times the diameter;
exposure limit: that concentration in air, commonly expressed
in terms of 8 hours/day and 40 hours/week, which is considered
acceptable by the competent authority responsible for setting such
limits and is considered to minimise or to prevent the hazard to
health. The exposure limit does not constitute an absolute dividing
line between harmless and harmful concentrations. This term covers
the various expressions employed in the national lists such as "max-
imum allowable concentration", "threshold limit value", "permiss-
ible level", "limit value", "average limit value", "permissible limit",
"time-weighted average", etc.;
forced expiratory volume in one second (FEy1): volume of gas
which can be exhaled from the lungs in one second by forced
expiratory effort starting from a position of full inspiration;

109
Safety in the use of asbestos

forced vital capacity (FVC): volume of gas which is exhaled

during a forced expiration starting from a position of full inspiration
and ending at complete expiration;
hazard: probability of impairment of health following exposure
to a harmful substance or agent; occupational hazard: probability
of impairment to health following exposure to a harmful substance
or agent in the working environment;
health: state of complete physical, mental and social well-being
and not merely an absence of disease or disablement;
lung cancer (cancer of the bronchial tubes): this is a similar type
of cancer to that associated with cigarette smoking and there is
evidence to suggest that the two factors of asbestos exposure and
cigarette smoking are synergistic;
mesothelioma. this is a cancer of the pleura or peritoneum
which, while rare in the general population, is much more common
among asbestos workers after a latency period of 20 to 40 years or
longer. No relationship has been found between mesothelioma and
the smoking habit;
monitoring: systematic surveillance of the hazards to which
workers are exposed; it may be carried out by measuring certain
parameters of the working environment, particularly the concentra-
tions of airborne toxic substances, or by measuring biological par-
ameters; personal monitoring: sampling the air and/or carrying out
measurements in the worker's breathing zone, whatever his move-
ments during the period of duty, by means of a light and compact
portable sampling instrument; static monitoring. samples taken at
fixed locations;
pleural changes: the development of diffuse thickening of the
pleura sometimes associated with impairment of lung function or
circumscribed pleural plaques which may become calcified and are
unlikely to have adverse health effects in themselves;
screening has been defined as the presumptive identification of
unrecognised disease or defect by the application of tests, examina-
tions or other procedures which can be applied rapidly. Screening
helps to identify apparently healthy individuals who have a disease
or some defect from those who probably do not have it. It may be
used selectively for a special purpose (e.g. chest radiography) or for

110
 Appendix E

special groups (age, occupation, etc.); mass screening means examin-

ing or testing a large number at one time or from time to time, or
where the tests are undertaken in series over a longer or shorter
period of time;
spirorneter: instrument for measuring the vital capacity of lungs
and its subdivisions;
waste: solid or liquid residue from industrial, commercial,
research, or any other activities;
work clothing: the clothing put on by the worker on arriving
at the factory and taken off on leaving; protective clothing: the
additional special clothing required for particular jobs.

111
Index1

Acoustic insulation see Insulation Chutes 12.4

Alteration work 18 Cigarette smoking 12.1.1
Alternative materials, replacement Cleaning of premises
of asbestos 5.1 floors 7.2, 9.2
Application of the Code 1.2 general 7.1
Asbestos, definition 1.3 machinery and equipment 7.4
overhead structures 7.5
Asbestos cement walls 7.3
construction work 18.1
fibre preparation 13.1 Clutches, servicing 16.8
finishing operations 13.3. Competent authority E
handling products 13.2 general duties 2.1
waste disposal 13.5 Construction work 18.1
work on site 13.4 Containers 8.3, 17
Asbestos cloth 14.7 Control measures and
Asbestos dust methods 2.2.1-2.2.4, 5.2
collection of waste 19.2 Control programme 5.3
control measures 5 Conveyors 12.5
definition 1.3, E
exposure limits 3, A Co-operation 2.5
health consequences of ex- employers and workers 2.1.7,
posure 1.1.1 2.5
measuring of concentrations see safety and health commit-
Monitoring of airborne asbes- tees 2.5.5
tos Crushing of ore 12.3
Asbestos textiles see Textiles
Asbestos waste see Waste Damaged loads and bags
Asbestosis 1.1.1, E repair 8.4, 14.10
Authorisation of work with asbes- Data sheets 11.2
tos 2.1.5 Decontamination
procedure 15.14
Braiding 14.5 Definitions 1.3
Brakes, servicing in garages 16.8 Demolition work 18.2
Design of workrooms and equip-
Carding 14.9 ment 2.2.3, 5.4

1 Numbers refer to the sections or paragraph of the code and letters refer to the
appendices.

112
 Index

Developing countries 2.4.3 Garages, servicing of brakes and

Direct-reading instruments for cluthes 16.8
measuring airborne asbestos con- Gravimetric methods, measuring
centration 4.4.6 airborne asbestos concentra-
Disposal of asbestos waste see tion 4.4.5, C
Waste
Handling of asbestos fibres
Doubling 14.3 general 8
Dry stripping 15.10 in shipping 17.2
Dust see Asbestos dust Health of workers
health effects of asbestos 1.1.2
Duties, general medical surveillance 2.3.2
competent authority 2.1 supervision of, general 10.1
employers 2.2 supervision of, organisa-
manufacturers and tion 10.2
vendors 2.4 record keeping 10.2
workers 2.3 see also Medical examinations
Education 2.2.7, 11.3 Information for workers 11
Employers, general duties 2.2 Installation of workrooms and eq-
Engineering control 5.2.2 uipment 5.4
Exposure limits 2.1.6, 2.2.1, 3, Insulation cladding 14.9
4.8, E Insulation, thermal and acoustic,
in various countries A encapsulation or removal
decontamination 15.14
Fibre preparation dry stripping 1510
asbestos cement 13.1 encapsulation 15.9
friction materials 16.1 enclosure of the working
textiles 14.1 area 15.3
hygiene at work 15.5
Floors, cleaning 7.2 identification of asbestos con-
Foreign workers, education 2.2.7 tent 15.1
Friction materials indications for removal 15.2
fibre preparation and mix- monitoring of dust and enclosure
ing 16.1 efficiency 15.4
finishing operations 16.4 respiratory protection 15.6
forming, curing and mould- stripping by high-pressure water
ing 16.2, 16.3 jets 15.12
processing 16.6 supervision 15.7
reclamation of materials 16.5 waste disposal 15.13
servicing in garages and work- wet stripping 15.11
shops 16.8 work site preparation 15.8
use in workshops 16.7 Insulation, waste material 9.2

113
Safety in the use of asbestos

Labelling 11.2 measuring, gravimetric

Laundering of protective and method 4.4.5, C
works clothing 6.2 measuring, membrane filter
Locker rooms 6.2 method 4.4.4, B
Lung cancer 1.1.1, E Monitoring strategy 4.5
personal monitoring 4.3
record keeping 4.6
Machinery and equipment, clean- static monitoring 4.2
ing 7.4
Manufacturers, general duties 2.4, Notification of work with asbes-
4.1.3 tos 2.1.4, 2.2.2
Mattress making 14.8
Measuring methods for asbestos Objects of the code 1.1
dust concentration 4.4, B, C Overhead structures, cleaning 7.5
Medical examinations
frequency D.3 Packaging of asbestos
general D. 1 for transport 8.2, 17.1
periodic examinations 10.2.3, initial 8.1
D.2.2 mining and milling 12.6
pre-assignment examina- textiles 14.6
tion 10.2.2, D.2.l
pulmonary functions D.6, E Personal monitoring 2.3.2, 4.1.2,
radiographic evaluation D.5 4.3, 4.5.1
results and interpretation D.4 Personal protection 6
see also Health of workers, see also Protective equipment,
Supervision Waste
Membrane filter method, measur- Personal protective equipment see
ing airborne asbestos concentra- Protective equipment
tion 4.4.4, B Plaiting 14.5
Mesothelioma 1.1.1, E Pleural plaques 1.1.1, E
Milling 12 Ports
handling of asbestos 17.2
Mining packaging 17.1
opencast 12.1 spillages 17.3
underground 12.2
Preventive methods
Monitoring, airborne asbes- alternative materials 5.1
tos 2.1.6, 2.2.5, 4, 15.4, E control measures arid
application of data 4.8 methods 2.2.3, 5.2
general 4.1 control programme 2.2.4, 5.3
interpretation of data 4.7 design and installation 5.4
measuring, direct reading instru- design and installation, automat-
ments 4.4.6 ic processes 5.4.4

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 Index

design and installation, process Static monitoring 4.1.2, 4.2, 4.5.1,

enclosures 5.4.4 E
duties of employers 2.2.1 Storage 8
ventilation, general 5.6
ventilation, local exhaust 5.5 Stripping
dry 15.10
Prohibition of work with asbes- high-pressure water jets 15.12
tos 2.1.5 wet 15.11
Protective clothing 2.2.8, 2.3.2, Subcontractors 2.2.7, 2.2.9
6.2, E Substitution of asbestos see Alter-
Protective equipment, per- native materials
sonal 2.1.6, 2.2.8, 2.3.2, 6 Supervision
see also Protective clothing, Res- health of workers 10
piratory protective equipment, workplace surveillance 2.2.6
Waste, Works clothing
Tailings 12.7
Records of Textiles
asbestos exposure 4.6 braiding and plaiting 14.5
measurement of airborne asbes- carding 14.2
tos 4.6 fabrication using asbestos
medical examinations 10.2 cloth 14.7
Regulations fibre preparation 14.1
definition 1.3 insulation cladding 14.9
provisions 2.1 mattress making 14.8
Repair of damaged loads and packaging 14.6
bags 8.4, 14.10 rope lagging 14.10
spinning, doubling and wind-
Respirable asbestos fibre 1.1.1, E ing 14.3
Respiratory protective equipment waste 14.11
maintenance and storage 6.1 weaving 14.4
provision and use 6.1 Thermal insulation see Insulation
selection 6.1 Training 11.3
training in use 6.1
Transport 8, 8.3
Rope lagging 14.10 of waste 9.4
packaging 8.2
Safety and health commit-
tees 2.1.7 Vacuum cleaners 6.2, 7.6, 9.2
Screening of crushed mat- Vendors, general duties 2.4
erial 12.3 Ventilation
Screening of disease E general 5.6
local exhaust 5.5
Spillages 17.3
Spinning 14.3 Walls, cleaning 7.3

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Safety in the use of asbestos

Warehousing 8.5 loose fibre 9.2

Washing facilities 6.2, 15.5 sacks or bags 9.2
Waste 9, E swarf 9.2
wet waste 9.2
avoidance 9.1
disposal 9.5, 13.5, 14.11, 15.13, Weaving 14.4
16.9 Wet stripping 15.11
identification 9.3
isolation 93 Winding 14.3
personal protection and hy. Work practices 5.2.3
giene 9.6 Workers
supervision 9.7 definition 1.3
transport 9.4 education and training 11.3
Waste collection general duties 2.3
dust 9.2 supervision of health 10
floor sweeping 9.2 Workplace, definition 1.3
high-density materials 9.2
insulation materials 9.2 Works clothing 6.2, E

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