California Regulations & Standards

Cal/OSHA has established an extensive list of PELs that are enforced in workplaces under its jurisdiction. Cal/OSHA PELs are implemented under statutory requirements for risk and feasibility that are no less protective than OSHA regulations. Though not enforceable in establishments outside of Cal/OSHA jurisdiction, the PELs can provide information on acceptable levels of chemicals in the workplace. Of all the states that have OSHA-approved state plans, California has the most extensive list of PELs. Cal/OSHA organizes asbestos-related regulations as follows:

• 1529 - Construction regulates asbestos exposure in constructing, alternating, painting, repairing, maintaining, renovating, removing, or wrecking any kind of fixed structure.
• 8358 - Shipyards regulates asbestos exposure where it is encountered in shore side ship and boat building, ship repair, breaking operations up to the dockside end of the gangway, and in all shore-based cranes and vehicles used for loading materials onto and off of vessels. These regulations do not apply to work aboard ships.
• 5208 - General Industry regulates all occupational asbestos exposure that is not included in either the construction or shipyard regulations.

To learn more about Asbestos Awareness visit our Cal/OSHA Asbestos Awareness Online Training web page.