Non-Occupational Exposure to Asbestos in Buildings: A Practical Risk Management Program

Abstract

Current federal regulations do not address non-occupational exposure to asbestos. In the absence of such regulations, if asbestos-containing materials are present in a building, it is advisable to develop a management program to ensure that the inhalation risk to building occupants does not increase with time and that appropriate steps are taken during activities which have the potential to release asbestos fibers to air. When numerous areas of a building contain asbestos, priorities must be established for selecting and implementing appropriate surveillance or interventions for control. We present a framework for implementing an Asbestos Risk Management Program, the primary objective of which is to minimize the risk of employee and public exposure to asbestos in air. The program includes a decision framework for evaluating and ranking building areas according to the asbestos fiber release potential, and assigns priorities for control interventions. Another decision framework is presented for selecting an air monitoring strategy and for making appropriate decisions based upon measured airborne fiber concentrations. Procedures are included for minimizing employee exposure, operating a maintenance permit system and maintaining an episode response plan. Procedures for employee education and training, medical surveillance programs, asbestos monitoring and record-keeping also are presented.