Removing Asbestos-Containing Siding or Shingles

When removing cement-like asbestos-containing siding or shingles, or asbestos-containing transite panels on building exteriors other than roofs, employers must ensure that employees adhere to the following:

• Do not cut, abrade, or break siding, shingles, or transite panels unless methods less likely to result in asbestos fiber release cannot be used;
• Spray each panel or shingle with amended water before removing (amended water is water to which a surfactant [wetting agent] has been added to increase the ability of the liquid to penetrate asbestos containing material);
• Lower immediately to the ground any unwrapped or unbagged panels or shingles using a covered dust-tight chute, crane, or hoist, or place them in an impervious waste bag or wrap them in plastic sheeting and lower them to the ground no later than the end of the work shift; and
• Cut nails with flat, sharp instruments.

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