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815 Demolition Safety
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Training

Employers should conduct initial and annual training for all employees who are likely to be exposed to asbestos in excess of Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) and all employees who perform Class I through IV asbestos operations.

The training program must be conducted in a manner that the employee is able to understand. One of the best training methods is to use videos to tell stories (see video).

Asbestos and construction

Employees must be informed of the following:

  • methods of recognizing asbestos
  • health effects associated with asbestos exposure
  • relationship between smoking and asbestos in producing lung cancer
  • nature of operations that could result in exposure to asbestos
  • importance of necessary protective controls to minimize exposure including, as applicable:
    • engineering controls
    • work practices
    • respirators
    • housekeeping procedures
    • hygiene facilities
    • protective clothing
    • decontamination procedures
    • emergency procedures
    • waste disposal procedures
    • any necessary instruction in the use of these controls and procedures where Class III and IV work will be or is performed (the contents of EPA 20T-2003, "Managing Asbestos In-Place" July 1990 or its equivalent in content)
  • purpose, proper use, fitting instructions, and limitations of respirators as required by 29 CFR 1910.134

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

7-6. When an employer is conducting asbestos training what must they inform their employees about?