Communication of Asbestos Hazards

The communication of asbestos hazards is vital to prevent further overexposure. Most asbestos-related construction involves previously installed building materials. Building or facility owners often are the only or best source of information concerning these materials. Building or facility owners, as well as employers of workers who may be exposed to asbestos hazards, have specific duties under the standard.

Before work begins, building or facility owners must identify all thermal system insulation at the worksite, sprayed or troweled-on surfacing materials in buildings, and resilient flooring material installed before 1981. They also must notify the following persons of the presence, location, and quantity of ACM or PACM:

• Prospective employers applying or bidding for work in or adjacent to areas containing asbestos
• Building owners' employees who work in or adjacent to these areas
• Other employers on multi-employer worksites with employees working in or adjacent to these areas
• All tenants who will occupy the areas containing ACM

Employers discovering ACM on a worksite must notify the building or facility owner and other employers onsite within 24 hours regarding its presence, location, and quantity. They also must inform owners and employees working in nearby areas of the precautions taken to confine airborne asbestos. Within 10 days of project completion, they must inform building or facility owners and other employers onsite of the current locations and quantities of remaining ACM and any final monitoring results.

At any time, employers or building and facility owners may demonstrate that a presumed asbestos containing material does not contain asbestos by inspecting the material in accordance with the requirements of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) (40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E) or by performing tests of bulk samples collected in the manner described in 40 CFR Part 763.86. (See 29 CFR Part 1926.1101 for specific testing requirements.)

Employers do not have to inform employees of asbestos free building materials present; however, they must retain the information, data, and analysis supporting the determination (see record keeping requirements elsewhere in this training for more specific information).

At the entrance to mechanical rooms or areas with ACM or PACM, the building or facility owner must post signs identifying the material present, its specific location, and appropriate work practices that ensure it is not disturbed.

Also, employers must post warning signs in regulated areas to inform employees of the dangers and necessary protective steps to take before entering.

To learn more about Construction Asbestos Safety visit our Construction Asbestos Safety Online Training web page.