1 — PURPOSE
The purpose of this Policy is to make available to the community the University’s practices when it comes to dealing with Asbestos.
2 — CODE OF PRACTICE FOR WORKING WITH MATERIALS CONTAINING ASBESTOS
Mount Allison follows A Code of Practice for Working with Materials Containing Asbestos in New Brunswick as prepared by the New Brunswick Occupational Health and Safety Commission and dated June 2023 (the “Code”).
Mount Allison and Mount Allison’s employees comply with the Code
3 — FACILITIES MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Facilities Management has the following responsibilities:
- a. to implement the Asbestos Management Program, as described below, and to recommend changes as appropriate;
- b. to implement the Asbestos Training Program, as described below, and to recommend changes as appropriate;
- c. to maintain records of the names of employees who received asbestos training along with the dates and contents of each training session;
- d. to monitor facilities for deterioration in Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACM);
- e. to maintain records of asbestos surveys including the facilities inspected along with the dates and results of the inspections;
- f. to supervise and coordinate asbestos abatement activities by outside contractors and Facilities Management staff, and
- g. to supervise and coordinate asbestos abatement activities by outside contractors and Facilities Management staff, and
4 — ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
4.1 Inventory of ACM
The University has surveyed University facilities to determine the type, location, and content of ACM.
The resulting inventory of ACM is maintained by Facilities Management and is updated as new information becomes available.
You can obtain copies of the reports by contacting Facilities Management at fixit@mta.ca.
If Facilities Management suspects that materials not in the inventory contain asbestos, that department has those materials tested by an appropriate laboratory.
4.2 Demolition, Alteration, Renovation and Maintenance Work
Whenever such work is being done, Facilities Management reviews its inventory of ACM to determine if the work will involve such materials.
Low Risk or Moderate Risk operations as defined in the Code may be done by trained Facilities management staff following safe work procedures as described in Appendix A.
Low Risk or Moderate Risk operations may also be carried out by contractors qualified and experienced with asbestos operations following safe work procedures that will be reviewed and approved by Facilities Management Staff.
High Risk operations as defined in the Code will be done by contractors qualified and experienced with asbestos operations. Before work is commenced an officer at the nearest office of the Occupational Health and Safety Commission is supplied either by the contractor or the University in accordance with Section 9 of the Code.
During planning for alteration and renovation projects, existing ACM will be assessed for removal. If the ACM is determined by qualified professionals to be in good condition and low risk, the ACM may remain. Safe work procedures must be followed for working with ACM to remain. If the ACM is determined to be in poor condition by qualified professionals, it is to be remediated. Remediation may include safe removal, encapsulation or other safe methods.
4.3 Damaged or Deteriorated ACM
Any damaged or deteriorated ACM is cleaned up and removed in accordance with the Code.
Where it is readily apparent that deteriorated ACM will continue to deteriorate, the materials are repaired, sealed, removed or permanently enclosed.
5 — ASBESTOS TRAINING PROGRAM
5.1 Facilities Management Staff
Facilities Management staff have been trained to ensure that any work that they do that might involve ACM will be done with due regard for their safety and for the safety of others. New members of staff will receive such training as soon as possible after their employment. A refresher training course will be given to these staff members once every three years.
5.2 Other Staff
Whenever it is determined that an employee may disturb ACM that employee will be trained to ensure that employee’s safety and the safety of others. Refresher training courses will be given to such employees once every three years.
5.3 Contents of Training
Training includes the items listed in sections 4.3 and 8 of the Code as are applicable in the circumstances.
6 — WORK OF CONTRACTORS ON UNIVERSITY FACILITIES
6.1 Purchase Order Requisitions
Purchase order requisitions that will involve contractors working on University facilities will indicate whether the work could disturb materials in those facilities and, if so, what those materials are.
6.2 Issuing the Purchase Order
Whenever it receives a copy of a purchase order requisition pursuant to section 6.1 above, Facilities Management without delay will a) determine whether or not the materials that will be disturbed contain asbestos and b) advise Purchasing of the determination.
6.3 Purchase Orders
In any case where a determination is required under section 6.2 above, a purchase order will not be issued by Purchasing until the determination is made by Facilities Management.
If a purchase order is issued for work that will disturb ACM, the purchase order will require the contractor to contact Facilities Management before doing the work so that Facilities Management can ensure that the work is done in accordance with this Policy.
Appendix A — Protocols for typical asbestos-related work
Type of Asbestos-Related Work
This protocol was developed to assist with:
- cleaning up plaster, drywall and stucco debris originating from minor damage in various Mount Allison University (MtA) campus buildings;
- minor work to plaster and drywall walls and ceilings to install pictures, shelves, hangers and electrical boxes;
- minor repairs to vinyl floor tiles;
- cleaning and buffing vinyl floor tiles; and
- removal of fluorescent lamp ballasts with asbestos containing wire wrapping.
This protocol was NOT developed to serve as a guide for other types of asbestos removal or for larger asbestos removal operations.
Equipment required
The following equipment is available and must be used when dealing with asbestos in the above situations:
- HEPA vacuum
- Damp rags
- Misting bottle with soapy water
- Barricade tape
- Half-faced respirator with P-100 cartridge
- Disposable suit
- Asbestos waste bags
- Duct tape
Procedure
Cleaning up plaster, drywall and stucco debris originating from minor damage in various MtA campus buildings.
- Use barricade tape to restrict access to area of damage. Tracking dust and debris about via foot traffic is the greatest concern. Overall, drywall dust, stucco and plaster are not inherently dusty and exposure to students and university staff resulting from the actual damage is expected to be negligible.
- Don respirators and, if contact with debris is likely, disposable suits over street clothes.
- Mist area of damage and fallen debris with soapy water.
- Place larger materials directly into waste bag trying to avoid dust generation as possible.
- Use HEPA vacuum to remove remaining dust
- Repair damaged area as required. Cover floor with polyethylene sheeting as needed to contain expected dust generation. Additional removal of asbestos containing materials should be avoided but removal of some materials will be required to facilitate repairs.
- Use 6-mil or rip-proof tarp to cover damaged area if proper repair will require additional asbestos removal that will be contracted out. Otherwise, repair area as required by crackfilling or covering with rigid materials such as plywood or sheetrock.
- Reclean areas as per items 3-5 above.
- Fold polyethylene floor covering toward centre and dispose of as asbestos waste together with disposable suits and other debris. Place waste bag inside second bag and seal.
Minor work to plaster and drywall walls and ceilings to install pictures, shelves, hangers and electrical boxes
- Use barricade tape to restrict access to work area. Tracking dust and debris about via foot traffic is the greatest concern. Overall, drywall dust, stucco and plaster are not inherently dusty and exposure to students and university staff resulting from the actual work is expected to be negligible.
- Don respirators and, if contact with debris is likely, disposable suits over street clothes.
- Mist work area with soapy water.
- Cover area beneath work area (1 metre radius) with polyethylene sheeting.
- Either a) use HEPA vacuum nozzle positioned near tool work area to collect dust as it is generated or b) allow debris to fall onto polyethylene sheeting and immediately remove by HEPA vacuuming. Use of hand tools is preferable over power tools where practical. Low speed power tools are preferred over high-speed tools.
- Place larger materials directly into waste bag trying to avoid dust generation as possible.
- Use HEPA vacuum to remove remaining dust.
- Fold polyethylene floor covering toward centre and dispose of as asbestos waste together with disposable suits and other debris. Place waste bag inside second bag and seal.
Minor repairs to vinyl floor tiles
- Vinyl floor tiles are not inherently dusty and they are not considered to be friable.
- Use barricade tape to restrict access to work area. Don respirators.
- Tiles to be removed (maximum of two in any area) should be pried free from the adhesive using a suitable pry tool. Try to avoid breakage as possible. Tiles should be placed directly into asbestos waste bags
- Adhesive can be removed if needed by a) heating (do not burn) followed by scraping or b) by soaking in suitable solvent followed by scraping. Scraping of dry adhesive is discouraged. Residue should be placed immediately in asbestos waste bags.
- Area should then be HEPA vacuumed and allowed to dry if a solvent was used. Tile replacement does not require asbestos control measures.
Cleaning and buffing vinyl floor tiles
- Buffing of vinyl floor tiles containing asbestos fibres will generate a small asbestos aerosol if the buffing is allowed to continue into the vinyl tile surface.
- Efforts to avoid buffing beyond the wax layer will reduce asbestos concerns to negligible. Use of any wet process integral to the buffing will further reduce asbestos concerns.
Removal of fluorescent lamp ballasts with asbestos containing wire wrapping
- Ballasts containing asbestos wrapped wires require removal upon failure. The ballasts are not repaired, only removed and replaced.
- Use barricade tape to restrict access to work area.
- Don respirators and, if contact with debris is likely, disposable suits over street clothes.
- Mist work area with soapy water ONLY after de-energising the power supply to the ballast.
- Cover area beneath work area (1 metre radius) with polyethylene sheeting.
- Carefully remove ballast including all wiring and place directly into asbestos waste bag.
- HEPA vacuum and large bits of asbestos debris that are discovered after removal of the ballast.
- Damp wipe metal surfaces within fluorescent tube holding frame using spray bottle and soapy water.
- Fold polyethylene floor covering toward centre and dispose of as asbestos waste together with disposable suits and other debris. Place waste bag inside second bag and seal.
Glove Bag Procedure for Friable Asbestos Removal
1. Preparation:
- Ensure all personnel involved are trained and certified in asbestos removal.
- Isolate the work area with appropriate barriers and signage to prevent unauthorized access.
- Gather all necessary tools and materials, including a HEPA vacuum, polyethylene sheeting, duct tape, nylon brush, razor, wire snips, scraper, bone saw, and a spray bottle with amended water (water mixed with a surfactant).
2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
- Wear appropriate PPE, including disposable coveralls, gloves and a P1 filter respirator.
3. Setting Up the Glove Bag:
- Place polyethylene sheeting beneath the work area to catch any debris.
- Custom cut the glove bag to fit around the pipe or material to be removed.
- Place the necessary tools inside the glove bag pouch.
- Secure the glove bag around the pipe using duct tape to ensure a tight seal. Tape the bottom of the glove bag for extra protection.
4. Asbestos Removal:
- Insert the spray wand into the glove bag and thoroughly wet the asbestos-containing material (ACM) with amended water to suppress dust.
- While one worker sprays the ACM, another worker should carefully cut and remove the insulation.
- Continue to spray the ACM as it is removed to keep it wet and minimize fiver release.
- Place the removed ACM into the bottom of the glove bag.
5. Sealing and Disposal:
- Once the ACM is removed, spray the inside of the glove bag with a lockdown encapsulent to seal any remaining fibers.
- Rinse tools inside the glove bag pouch before removing them.
- Twist and tape the glove bag near the top, then cut it away from the pipe.
- Carefully remove the glove bag and place it into an asbestos disposal bag.
6. Decontamination:
- Use proper decontamination procedures to remove PPE and dispose of it in asbestos disposal bags.
- Clean the work area with a HEPA vacuum and remove all barriers and signage.
Final Steps for all ACM Work:
- Ensure all asbestos waste is disposed of according to local, provincial, and federal regulations.
- Conduct a final inspection to ensure the area is free of asbestos contamination.
- Any debris must be removed with a HEPA vacuum.