Chapter DHS 159

DHS 159.30(6) (6) Supervising asbestos activities. Activities addressed shall include all of the following:

DHS 159.30(6)(a) (a) Enforcing and reinforcing required work practices and discouraging unsafe work practices.

DHS 159.30(6)(b) (b) Exterior supervisor responsibility to determine if ACM or suspect ACM is friable.

DHS 159.30(6)(c) (c) Exterior supervisor responsibility and authority to shut down a project to bring in a certified asbestos company if ACM or suspect ACM, which is being disturbed or removed, becomes, or is found to be, friable.

DHS 159.30(6)(d) (d) Supervisor responsibility for emergency planning.

DHS 159.30(6)(e) (e) Use of supervisory authority under this chapter, including stopping jobs.

DHS 159.30(6)(f) (f) Ensuring each employee on the jobsite is appropriately certified.

DHS 159.30(6)(g) (g) Considerations when coordinating with other contractors on site.

DHS 159.30(7) (7) Contract specifications. Discussions of essential elements that may be included in contract specifications for exterior asbestos abatement projects.

DHS 159.30 History History: CR 08-036: cr. Register February 2009 No. 638, eff. 5-1-09.

DHS 159.31 DHS 159.31 Curriculum requirements for asbestos worker initial course. The initial training course for the asbestos worker discipline shall be 4 training days in length. Course instruction shall include lecture supplemented by audiovisual materials, learning exercises and activities; at least 14 hours of hands-on skills training and practice; course review with time to answer questions; a written course test that meets the requirements under s. DHS 159.22 (16); and time to assist students to complete the department application for certification. Course instruction for the asbestos worker initial training course shall address all of the following:

DHS 159.31(1) (1) Asbestos characteristics. Physical characteristics of asbestos, including all of the following:

DHS 159.31(1)(a) (a) Identification of asbestos.

DHS 159.31(1)(b) (b) Aerodynamic characteristics.

DHS 159.31(1)(c) (c) Typical uses of asbestos-containing materials.

DHS 159.31(1)(d) (d) Physical appearance.

DHS 159.31(1)(e) (e) Overview of abatement control options.

DHS 159.31(2) (2) Health effects. Potential health effects related to asbestos exposure, including all of the following:

DHS 159.31(2)(a) (a) The nature of asbestos-related diseases.

DHS 159.31(2)(b) (b) Routes of exposure.

DHS 159.31(2)(c) (c) Dose-response relationship and the lack of a safe exposure level.

DHS 159.31(2)(d) (d) Synergistic effect between cigarette smoking and asbestos exposure.

DHS 159.31(2)(e) (e) Latency periods for asbestos-related diseases.

DHS 159.31(2)(f) (f) Relationship of asbestos exposure to asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and cancers of other organs.

DHS 159.31(3) (3) Personal protective equipment. The use of personal protective equipment, including all of the following:

DHS 159.31(3)(a) (a) Classes and characteristics of respirators, including respirator protection factors.

DHS 159.31(3)(b) (b) Limitations of respirators.

DHS 159.31(3)(c) (c) Proper respirator selection, inspection, donning, use, maintenance, and storage procedures.

DHS 159.31(3)(d) (d) Selection of cartridges.

DHS 159.31(3)(e) (e) Methods for field testing of the facepiece-to-face seal, including positive and negative pressure fit checks.

DHS 159.31(3)(f) (f) Qualitative and quantitative fit testing procedures.

DHS 159.31(3)(g) (g) Variability between field and laboratory protection and factors that alter respirator fit, such as facial hair.

DHS 159.31(3)(h) (h) Components of a proper respiratory protection program and employer responsibilities.

DHS 159.31(3)(i) (i) Selection and use of disposable and non-disposable personal protective clothing.

DHS 159.31(3)(j) (j) Regulations covering personal protective equipment.

DHS 159.31(3)(k) (k) A demonstration of donning, fit checking and fit testing.

DHS 159.31(3)(L) (L) Hands-on skills training and practice in the following:

DHS 159.31(3)(L)1. 1. Selecting proper respirators and cartridges.

DHS 159.31(3)(L)2. 2. Inspecting, disassembling, cleaning and assembling half-face respirators.

DHS 159.31(3)(L)3. 3. Donning and doffing personal protective clothing.

DHS 159.31(4) (4) Abatement project work practices. State-of-the-art work practices for asbestos abatement projects, including all of the following:

DHS 159.31(4)(a) (a) Assessment of the work area, including site preparation considerations.

DHS 159.31(4)(b) (b) Isolating the work area, preparation and set-up, including:

DHS 159.31(4)(b)1. 1. Proper construction and maintenance of barriers, containments, and decontamination enclosure systems.

DHS 159.31(4)(b)2. 2. Positioning of warning signs.

DHS 159.31(4)(b)3. 3. Lock-out of electrical and ventilation systems.

DHS 159.31(4)(c) (c) Proper abatement work techniques to minimize fiber release, including:

DHS 159.31(4)(c)1. 1. Use of wet methods.

DHS 159.31(4)(c)2. 2. Use of negative pressure ventilation equipment.

DHS 159.31(4)(c)3. 3. Use of HEPA vacuums.

DHS 159.31(4)(c)4. 4. Work practices for removal, encapsulation, enclosure and repair.

DHS 159.31(4)(c)5. 5. Glove bag use and methods.

DHS 159.31(4)(c)6. 6. Recommended and prohibited work practices.

DHS 159.31(4)(c)7. 7. Encapsulation, enclosure, and repair of asbestos-containing material.

DHS 159.31(4)(c)8. 8. Recommended and prohibited work practices.

DHS 159.31(4)(d) (d) Proper worksite cleanup, waste handling and decontamination, including:

DHS 159.31(4)(d)1. 1. Proper clean-up and disposal procedures.

DHS 159.31(4)(d)2. 2. Use of HEPA vacuums.

DHS 159.31(4)(d)3. 3. Transport and disposal procedures.

DHS 159.31(4)(d)4. 4. Proper donning and doffing of personal protective clothing and respirators in decontamination units.

DHS 159.31(4)(e) (e) Other asbestos worksite issues, including:

DHS 159.31(4)(e)1. 1. Emergency procedures for sudden releases.

DHS 159.31(4)(e)2. 2. Potential exposure situations on the job.

DHS 159.31(4)(f) (f) Hands-on skills training and practice in the following:

DHS 159.31(4)(f)1. 1. Constructing containment and decontamination systems.

DHS 159.31(4)(f)2. 2. Positioning warning signs.

DHS 159.31(4)(f)3. 3. Proper use of HEPA vacuums.

DHS 159.31(4)(f)4. 4. Proper use of negative air machines.

DHS 159.31(4)(f)5. 5. Waste handling and disposal.

DHS 159.31(4)(f)6. 6. Using wet methods.

DHS 159.31(4)(f)7. 7. Proper glove-bagging techniques.

DHS 159.31(5) (5) Personal hygiene. Personal hygiene, including all of the following:

DHS 159.31(5)(a) (a) Entry and exit procedures for the work area.

DHS 159.31(5)(b) (b) Proper use of showers.

DHS 159.31(5)(c) (c) Avoidance of eating, drinking, smoking and chewing gum or tobacco in the work area.

DHS 159.31(5)(d) (d) Potential exposures, such as family exposure.

DHS 159.31(6) (6) Other safety hazards. Additional safety hazards encountered during abatement activities and how to deal with them, including all of the following:

DHS 159.31(6)(a) (a) Electrical hazards.

DHS 159.31(6)(b) (b) Heat stress.

DHS 159.31(6)(c) (c) Air contaminants other than asbestos.

DHS 159.31(6)(d) (d) Fire and explosion hazards.

DHS 159.31(6)(e) (e) Scaffold and ladder hazards.

DHS 159.31(6)(f) (f) Slips, trips and falls.

DHS 159.31(6)(g) (g) Confined spaces.

DHS 159.31(7) (7) Medical monitoring. Medical monitoring, including worker protection requirements under OSHA and EPA for physical examinations, pulmonary function tests, chest x-rays and medical history for each employee.

DHS 159.31(8) (8) Air monitoring. Air monitoring, including all of the following:

DHS 159.31(8)(a) (a) Procedures to determine airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers.

DHS 159.31(8)(b) (b) Personal air sampling procedures.

DHS 159.31(8)(c) (c) Reasons for personal air monitoring and understanding air monitoring results.