Change Area

The equipment room must have impermeable, labeled bags and containers to store and dispose of contaminated protective equipment.

The shower area must be adjacent to both the equipment and clean rooms, unless work is performed outdoors or this arrangement is not feasible (in either case, employers must ensure that employees remove asbestos contamination from their work-suits in the equipment room using a HEPA vacuum before proceeding to a shower not adjacent to the work area or remove their contaminated work-suits in the equipment room, don clean work-suits, and proceed to a shower not adjacent to the work area).

The clean room must have a locker or appropriate storage container for each employee.

Please note that when it is not feasible to provide a change area adjacent to the work area, or when the work is performed outdoors, employees may clean protective clothing with a portable HEPA vacuum before leaving the regulated area. Employees then must shower and change into "street clothing" in a clean change area meeting the requirements described above.

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