Class I Work

Employers must ensure that for all Class I jobs, the following must be done before work can begin:

• Isolate heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in regulated areas by sealing with a double layer of 6 mil plastic or the equivalent
• Place impermeable drop cloths on surfaces beneath all removal activity
• Cover and secure all objects within the regulated area with impermeable drop cloths or plastic sheeting
• Ventilate the regulated area to move the contaminated air away from the employee breathing zone and toward a HEPA filtration or collection device for jobs without a negative exposure assessment or where exposure monitoring shows the permissible exposure limit is exceeded

In addition, employees performing Class I work must use one or more of the following control methods:

• Negative-pressure enclosure systems when the configuration of the work area does not make it infeasible to erect the enclosure
• Glove bag systems (a plastic bag-like enclosure affixed around ACM, with glove-like appendages through which materials and tools may be handled) to remove ACM or PACM from piping
• Negative-pressure glove bag systems to remove asbestos or PACM from piping
• Negative-pressure glove box systems to remove asbestos or ACM from pipe runs
• Water spray process systems to remove asbestos or PACM from cold-line piping if employees carrying out the process have completed a 40-hour training course on its use in addition to training required for all employees performing Class I work
• Small walk-in enclosure that accommodates no more than 2 people (mini-enclosure) if the disturbance or removal can be completely contained by the enclosure

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