Mesothelioma Navy Asbestos Regulations & Prevention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency is primarily responsible for enforcing asbestos regulations in U.S. Navy shipyards?
- EPA
- OSHA (Correct answer)
- CDC
- NIOSH
Correct answer: OSHA
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) enforces workplace asbestos exposure standards, including in Navy shipyards.
Question 2: What is the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for asbestos over an 8-hour workday?
- 0.5 fibers per cubic centimeter
- 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter (Correct answer)
- 1.0 fibers per cubic centimeter
- 2.0 fibers per cubic centimeter
Correct answer: 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter
OSHA's current PEL for asbestos is 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average.
Question 3: Under OSHA's asbestos standard, what type of respiratory protection is required when working with friable asbestos?
- Dust mask (N95)
- Half-face air-purifying respirator with P100 filters
- Full-face supplied-air respirator or SCBA (Correct answer)
- No respirator if working outdoors
Correct answer: Full-face supplied-air respirator or SCBA
High-risk asbestos work requires a full-face supplied-air respirator or SCBA to provide the highest level of protection.
Question 4: The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) asbestos regulation requires notification to the EPA before demolishing or renovating a structure containing what minimum amount of regulated asbestos-containing material?
- 10 linear feet or 15 square feet
- 260 linear feet or 160 square feet (Correct answer)
- 160 linear feet or 260 square feet
- 50 linear feet or 100 square feet
Correct answer: 260 linear feet or 160 square feet
NESHAP requires EPA notification when renovation or demolition will disturb at least 260 linear feet of pipe insulation or 160 square feet of other ACM.
Question 5: Which law gave the EPA authority to require schools to inspect for and manage asbestos-containing materials?
- Clean Air Act
- Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
- Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) (Correct answer)
- Occupational Safety and Health Act
Correct answer: Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)
AHERA (1986) requires public and private non-profit schools to inspect for asbestos and develop management plans.
Question 6: Under Navy regulations, before workers could begin pipe insulation removal in an engine room, what mandatory step was required?
- Verbal safety briefing only
- Written asbestos abatement plan and air monitoring (Correct answer)
- Posting a warning sign at the ship's gangway
- Submitting a report to OSHA after completion
Correct answer: Written asbestos abatement plan and air monitoring
A written abatement plan and pre-work air monitoring were required before disturbing asbestos-containing insulation in confined ship spaces.
Question 7: What does the term 'regulated asbestos-containing material' (RACM) mean under NESHAP?
- Any material that once contained asbestos
- Friable ACM or ACM that will be made friable during demolition (Correct answer)
- Only asbestos insulation on pipes and boilers
- Asbestos materials approved for continued use
Correct answer: Friable ACM or ACM that will be made friable during demolition
RACM includes friable ACM and non-friable ACM that will become friable during the course of demolition or renovation activities.
Mesothelioma Navy Asbestos Regulations & Prevention 2
Which federal agency is primarily responsible for enforcing asbestos regulations in U.S.
Navy shipyards?