Mesothelioma Navy Mesothelioma Navy Industry Standards 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which rating (MOS equivalent) in the Navy had among the highest asbestos exposure due to working with boilers and steam systems?
- Boatswain's Mate (BM)
- Machinist's Mate (MM) (Correct answer)
- Gunner's Mate (GM)
- Quartermaster (QM)
Correct answer: Machinist's Mate (MM)
Machinist's Mates worked directly with boilers, turbines, and steam systems heavily insulated with asbestos, resulting in high exposure levels.
Question 2: The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 6(a) rule of 1989, partially overturned in 1991, attempted to do what regarding asbestos?
- Require asbestos labeling on all products
- Ban most asbestos-containing products in the US (Correct answer)
- Set new PELs for shipyard workers
- Mandate Navy vessel decommissioning procedures
Correct answer: Ban most asbestos-containing products in the US
The EPA's 1989 TSCA rule sought to ban most asbestos products, but was largely overturned by the Fifth Circuit Court in 1991.
Question 3: According to OSHA's shipyard standard (29 CFR 1915.1001), Class III asbestos work includes which activity?
- Removal of asbestos-containing floor tile
- Removal of spray-applied asbestos fireproofing
- Repair and maintenance operations that may disturb asbestos-containing materials (Correct answer)
- Full demolition of asbestos-insulated piping systems
Correct answer: Repair and maintenance operations that may disturb asbestos-containing materials
Class III asbestos work covers repair and maintenance that disturbs ACM, such as drilling through asbestos-containing walls or pipe hangers.
Question 4: Which organization sets the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for asbestos, used as a guideline (not law) in occupational health?
- OSHA
- NIOSH
- ACGIH (Correct answer)
- EPA
Correct answer: ACGIH
The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) sets TLVs as professional guidelines for occupational exposure limits.
Question 5: What is the medical surveillance requirement under OSHA's asbestos standard for workers with asbestos exposure at or above the action level?
- Annual chest X-ray only
- Annual physical examination including pulmonary function tests (Correct answer)
- Monthly blood tests
- Biannual CT scans
Correct answer: Annual physical examination including pulmonary function tests
OSHA requires annual medical exams including chest X-rays and pulmonary function tests for workers exposed at or above the action level of 0.1 f/cc.
Question 6: The Veterans Benefits Administration requires what type of medical evidence as primary documentation for mesothelioma disability claims?
- Military service records only
- A nexus letter from a qualified physician linking diagnosis to service exposure (Correct answer)
- Eyewitness statements from fellow veterans
- OSHA inspection reports
Correct answer: A nexus letter from a qualified physician linking diagnosis to service exposure
A nexus letter from a physician establishing the medical connection between service-related asbestos exposure and the mesothelioma diagnosis is the primary evidence required.
Question 7: Which Navy occupational specialty worked in the confined spaces of ship boiler rooms where asbestos pipe lagging was most concentrated?
- Hull Maintenance Technician (HT)
- Boiler Technician (BT) (Correct answer)
- Electronics Technician (ET)
- Operations Specialist (OS)
Correct answer: Boiler Technician (BT)
Boiler Technicians operated and maintained naval boilers surrounded by asbestos insulation in engine rooms, creating intense daily exposure.
Mesothelioma Navy Mesothelioma Navy Industry Standards 4
Which rating (MOS equivalent) in the Navy had among the highest asbestos exposure due to working with boilers and steam systems?