Asbestos standards for telecommunications work

May 9, 1995
Mr. David E. LeGrande
Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator
Communications Workers of America
AFL-CIO, CLC
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. LeGrande:
This letter is in response to your February 2, correspondence concerning the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) regulation on OSHA's Occupational Exposure to Asbestos. You have asked which standard, the General Industry standard, 29 CFR 1910.1001 or the Construction standard, 29 CFR 1926.1101 apply for workers engaged in telecommunications work.
In general, telecommunication workers are employed in a wide variety of work sites where asbestos-containing products may be encountered. The Construction standard would apply to not only removal of asbestos, but also, alteration, repair, maintenance, or renovation of structures that contain asbestos. The Construction standard describes four classes of work that regulate activities which trigger different provisions of the standard. The classification, as determined by the competent person, will differ, depending on what asbestos materials are involved and what activities are being performed. The employer would be required to comply with all the provisions specified by each class of work. For example, the pulling of cable in areas containing installed asbestos building materials or presumed asbestos-containing materials, would be considered a Class III activity, due to the likelihood of "disturbance" as defined in the standard.
Thank you for your interest in safety and health. If we can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to call the [Office of Health Enforcement at (202) 693-2190].
Sincerely,
Ruth McCully, Director
Office of Health Compliance Assistance
[Corrected 9/18/2007]