1.  California Code of Regulations, Title 8, General Industry Safety Orders

2.  California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Construction Safety Orders

3.  40 CFR Part 61, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants

4.  UCSD Asbestos Management Plan

POLICY

Asbestos is a known human carcinogen that has, in the past, been used in a multitude of building applications. Many of the buildings constructed prior to 1980 at UCSD have asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM) in public access areas such as floor tiles, sheet vinyls, lab benches, and hoods. These materials are considered "non-friable" (not easily reduced to dust or powder) and as long as they are not crushed or abraded, do not pose a public health risk. The majority of friable ACBM is away from public access in mechanical spaces, is well enclosed, and not likely to become an airborne hazard.

It is the University's policy to reduce or eliminate asbestos exposure hazards. The primary tools of UCSD's program are the Asbestos Management Program, computerized on-line asbestos database, and employee training. Due to the potential disruption of services and impractical expense involved with removing all ACBM, it is UCSD's policy to manage asbestos in place unless there is a need for abatement action due to deterioration of these materials or construction activities. Abatement includes repair, enclosure, encapsulation, removal, or management in place.

PROCEDURES

1. Survey

   Asbestos-containing materials at UCSD are routinely inspected. Appropriate abatement actions are performed as needed. An on-line computerized database has been set up by the Office of Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S). To learn the status of buildings constructed prior to 1991, direct questions to the Asbestos Control Coordinator via e-mail at EHSWEB@POPMAIL.UCSD.EDU.

   IMPORTANT NOTE: due to the non-destructive sampling protocol used, some materials (including, but not limited to drywall, piping behind walls, stucco, and roofing materials) may not be listed in the database. If there is any doubt concerning the presence of asbestos in any building material, contact EH&S prior to disturbing this material.

2. Sampling

   The asbestos database was established on samples taken according to a non-destructive testing protocol. In the event that information on the presence of asbestos is not available on a particular building material, the material must be sampled and analyzed by a qualified individual before it is further disturbed. Disturbance of such material may pose an exposure hazard if not properly handled.

3. Training

   All persons holding job classifications with the occasion to perform duties with or around the presence of asbestos must receive annual training in asbestos awareness. This training must include the following topics (per CCR Title 8 Section 1529):

   1. The physical characteristics of asbestos including types, fiber size aerodynamic characteristics, and physical appearance;

   2. Examples of different types of asbestos-containing products and materials which employees may encounter in specific work assignments;

   3. The health hazards of asbestos including the nature of asbestos-related diseases, routes of exposure, dose-response relationships, latency period of asbestos-related diseases, hazards of contamination of personal contacts outside of work, and health basis for asbestos standards;

   4. The increased risk of lung cancer associated with smoking cigarettes and asbestos exposure; and

   5. The quantity, location, manner of use, release, and storage of asbestos, the specific nature of the operations which could result in exposure to asbestos, and specific information to aid employees in recognizing when and where asbestos exposure may result.

4. Certified Asbestos Workers and Supervisors

   All personnel who routinely handle asbestos as a part of their job duties must be certified to do so. As a requirement, these personnel must be medically evaluated in order to wear a respirator and work with asbestos. The following classifications must be met according to Cal-OSHA regulations:

   Class I. Activities involving removal of friable asbestos-containing materials (ACM). Requires 32 hours of training for worker and 40 hours for supervisor including hands-on training and eight-hour annual refreshers.

   Class II. Activities involving removal of non-friable ACM. Same training requirements as Class I.

   Class III. Activities involving repair and maintenance of disturbed ACM. Requires 16 hours of hands on training and two-hour annual refreshers.

   Class IV. Activities involving maintenance and custodial work around undisturbed ACM and clean up of ACM waste and debris. Requires annual two-hour awareness training.

5. Record keeping

   EH&S maintains the following records:

   1. Exposure records for 30 years;

   2. Medical records of asbestos workers for duration of employment plus 30 years;

   3. Respiratory fit testing and pulmonary function testing (PFT) for three years;

   4. Training records for a minimum of three years;

   5. Incident reports and Workers' Compensation claims related to ACM for a minimum of three years;

   6. Disk copy of annual ACM survey report; and

   7. Project records relating to asbestos abatement activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Asbestos Control Coordinator

   The Asbestos Control Coordinator (ACC) is a member of the EH&S Occupational Health & Hygiene (OHH) Division. This person will coordinate and approve all work activities pertaining to asbestos containing materials including: Record keeping, project specifications, regulatory compliance, and administration of the asbestos management plan. The ACC has the authority to issue cease and desist orders for any operations involving asbestos which are deemed unsafe.

2. Departmental Project Managers

   1. The following departments conduct projects with potential to disturb ACM:

      1. Auxiliary & Plant Services

      2. Capital Planning & Budgeting

      3. Facilities Design & Construction

      4. Facilities Planning & Management

      5. Housing & Dining Services

      6. Medical Center Facilities Engineering

   2. General duties for project managers shall include:

      1. Being the point of contact for projects under their management for all issues concerning disturbances of ACM (both potential and accidental) by reporting such incidents or exposures to ACC immediately;

      2. Developing prioritization scheme for scheduling of actions and areas of abatement related to their projects, in coordination with ACC;

      3. In consultation with ACC, advising line personnel and contractors on necessary abatement procedures;

      4. Arranging contracts for asbestos services from the current ACC approved bid list;

      5. Maintaining custody of current asbestos survey information for their projects; and

      6. Responding to inquiries from contractors by consulting the asbestos survey or ACC.