Routine asbestos inspections and Class III bulk sampling

October 31, 1997

[Name Withheld]
Dear [Name Withheld]:

This is in response to your letter dated September 20, 1997, where you have questions concerning the information provided in a letter written April 20, 1997 to [Name Withheld]. The letter you referenced concerns Class III operations as it applies to routine asbestos inspections, bulk sampling activities, and training with regards to specific provisions in the Occupational Exposure to Asbestos Standard 29 CFR 1926.1101. The response to [Name Withheld] was not intended to be an exhaustive review of all Class III operations, but rather the response focused on the limited and specific questions contained in [Name Withheld]'s letter that was received by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA.) It seems that the misunderstanding expressed in your letter is due in large part because you have not had the advantage of reading the original letter.

With regards to your first question on bulk sampling, you ask, "is it automatically assumed that the material is asbestos or could you be sampling to prove that asbestos is not present." You further state that "if the latter is correct, then the work would not be a Class III operation." If the material contains asbestos, or there is knowledge that it is likely to contain asbestos, then bulk sampling is a Class III activity. If the material does not contain asbestos, then this would not be a covered activity. In order to understand the response provided in the April 28, 1997 letter, you must know what the letter sent from [Name Withheld] originally asked. The original letter presents a scenario where "routine asbestos inspections and bulk sampling of suspect ACM" is being performed, and the writer asks that since this activity is not exempted, is it a Class III operation? The original letter provided information that "suspect ACM" was being disturbed therefore the response, tailored to that specific question, states that routine bulk sampling of suspect ACM is a Class III operation. In your letter you correctly point out that if the amount of asbestos that is disturbed cannot be contained in one standard glove bag (60 x 60 inches) or waste bag, Class I precautions are required. You also correctly point out that Class III operations where thermal system insulation (TSI) or surfacing asbestos containing material (ACM) or presumed asbestos containing material (PACM) is disturbed, respirators shall be used. Both of statements you made are accurate, but these two areas of the standard did not appear in the OSHA response because they were not part of the questions presented by [Name Withheld]. Furthermore, it is unlikely that bulk sampling would require as much asbestos as to fill a 60 x 60 inch bag. Bulk sampling typically requires taking very small samples from a site. The original letter did not focus on TSI or PACM, but questioned the disturbance of suspect ACM. The response addressed the use of a respirator under these circumstances and stated the use of a respirator can be discontinued if a negative exposure assessment is obtained, in accordance with paragraph 29 CFR 1926.1101 (h)(1)(iv).

The next question you ask is, if I am performing an inspection involving TSI or surfacing materials and can demonstrate a valid negative exposure assessment, can you eliminate the requirement for a glove bag or mini enclosure and respirators? 29 CFR 1926.1101 (g)(9)(i) thru (iv) includes the requirements for Class III activities. Paragraph (g)(9)(iii) requires that "where the disturbance involves drilling, cutting, abrading, sanding, chipping, breaking, or sawing of TSI or surfacing material" impermeable dropcloths are required and isolation methods such as mini-enclosures, glovebags, or other isolation methods are required. As mentioned in the above paragraph, respirators are required when TSI or surfacing materials are being disturbed during a Class III activity. The requirements in paragraph 29 CFR 1926.1101 (e)(1), regulated areas, are required for all Class I, II, and III asbestos operations.

Thank you for your interest in safety and health. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact [the Office of Health Enforcement at (202) 693-2190].

Sincerely,

John B. Miles, Jr., Director
Directorate of Compliance Programs

[Requester letter reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]