Mesothelioma Navy Asbestos Regulations & Prevention 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What year did the EPA ban most new uses of asbestos in the United States under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)?
- 1973
- 1989 (Correct answer)
- 2002
- 2016
Correct answer: 1989
The EPA issued a final rule in 1989 banning most asbestos-containing products, though the rule was largely overturned by courts in 1991 and TSCA was later amended.
Question 2: Under the TSCA Asbestos Informational Rule, what must sellers disclose when transferring property known to contain asbestos?
- Nothing; asbestos disclosure is voluntary
- Known asbestos locations and condition to buyers (Correct answer)
- Only commercial properties require asbestos disclosure
- Disclosure is only required if asbestos was disturbed in the prior 5 years
Correct answer: Known asbestos locations and condition to buyers
Property sellers must disclose known asbestos locations and the condition of the material to prospective buyers to allow informed decision-making.
Question 3: Which OSHA standard specifically covers asbestos exposure in shipyard employment (as opposed to general industry)?
- 29 CFR 1910.1001
- 29 CFR 1926.1101
- 29 CFR 1915.1001 (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1904.5
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1915.1001
29 CFR 1915.1001 is OSHA's asbestos standard specifically written for shipyard employment, recognizing the unique hazards of ship repair and construction.
Question 4: What is the minimum length of time Navy asbestos exposure and medical records must be retained under OSHA standards?
- 10 years
- 20 years
- 30 years from last employment or 30 years from exposure, whichever is later (Correct answer)
- 5 years after death
Correct answer: 30 years from last employment or 30 years from exposure, whichever is later
OSHA requires asbestos-related exposure and medical records to be preserved for 30 years from the date of last employment or 30 years from exposure, ensuring records are available given mesothelioma's long latency.
Question 5: What action must an employer take if an employee's airborne asbestos exposure is found to exceed the action level (0.1 f/cc) even briefly?
- File a report with the EPA within 30 days
- Enroll the worker in a medical surveillance program (Correct answer)
- Immediately shut down all operations on the vessel
- Provide the worker a written warning only
Correct answer: Enroll the worker in a medical surveillance program
OSHA requires that workers exposed at or above the action level (0.1 f/cc) be enrolled in a medical surveillance program including periodic physicals and pulmonary function tests.
Question 6: Which international treaty, relevant to Navy vessels operating abroad, addresses asbestos as a hazardous substance in ship recycling?
- MARPOL Convention
- Hong Kong Convention on Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Correct answer)
- Basel Convention on Hazardous Wastes
- SOLAS Chapter II-2
Correct answer: Hong Kong Convention on Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships
The Hong Kong Convention specifically requires ships to maintain a Hazardous Materials Inventory listing asbestos locations to ensure safe handling during recycling.
Question 7: What is the primary preventive purpose of providing Navy veterans with asbestos medical surveillance (periodic chest X-rays and pulmonary function tests)?
- To document evidence for future litigation only
- To detect asbestos-related disease at an early, more treatable stage (Correct answer)
- To determine whether the veteran was actually exposed
- To satisfy insurance requirements for disability claims
Correct answer: To detect asbestos-related disease at an early, more treatable stage
Regular medical surveillance allows early detection of asbestosis, pleural changes, or mesothelioma when intervention may be more effective.
Mesothelioma Navy Asbestos Regulations & Prevention 4
What year did the EPA ban most new uses of asbestos in the United States under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)?