high risk asbestos vermiculite

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WE YOUR DOL NEW YORK Department STATE of Labor A proud partner of the American Job Center network ASBESTOS IN NEW YORK STATE Facts and Responsibilities ## WHAT IS ASBESTOS? Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral formed of very strong fibers that are resistant to heat and corrosion. There are several kinds of asbestos. Individual asbestos fibers are so small and light that they cannot be seen with the naked eye and can easily become airborne. ## WHERE HAS ASBESTOS BEEN USED? Asbestos has been used for a wide range of manufactured goods and building materials. The amount of asbestos in asbestos containing materials (ACM) varies from greater than 1% to 100%. Examples of products that might contain asbestos are: - Fireproofing and insulation in buildings • Insulation for pipes and boilers - Roofing shingles and tars • Plaster, wallboard and joint compound • Putties, caulks, paints, and cements • Floor and ceiling tiles • Friction products, such as clutch facings and brake linings in vehicles Some vermiculite products, widely used in insulation applications, may also contain asbestos. When ACM can easily be crumbled by hand pressure, it is called "friable" asbestos. Friable ACM is the type of greatest concern because it can easily release fibers into the air. As the binders (such as plaster and cement) that hold asbestos fibers in place deteriorate, are damaged or are disturbed, the likelihood of fiber release increases. ACM that is likely to be friable includes fireproofing on structural beams, sprayed-on ceiling texture or insulation, thermal pipe insulation and troweled-on plaster or acoustical insulation. You cannot tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it. A sample must be analyzed by a qualified laboratory. ## WHAT ARE THE HEALTH EFFECTS? Breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the chest and abdominal linings) and asbestosis (irreversible lung scarring …

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This information is provided free of charge by the Department of Industrial Relations from its web site at www.dir.ca.gov. These regulations are for the convenience of the user and no representation or warranty is made that the information is current or accurate. See full disclaimer at https://www.dir.ca.gov/od_pub/disclaimer.html. Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders Group 16. Control of Hazardous Substances Article 110. Regulated Carcinogens Return to index New query # $5208. Asbestos, Appendix G Substance Technical Information for Asbestos Non-Mandatory I. Substance Identification A. Substance: "Asbestos" is the name of a class of magnesium-silicate minerals that occur in fibrous form. Minerals that are included in this group are chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite asbestos, tremolite asbestos, and actinolite asbestos. B. Asbestos is used in the manufacture of heat-resistant clothing, automotive brake and clutch linings, and a variety of building materials including floor tiles, roofing felts, ceiling tiles, asbestos-cement pipe and sheet, and fire-resistant drywall. Asbestos is also present in pipe and boiler insulation materials, and in sprayed-on materials located on beams, in crawlspaces, and between walls. C. The potential for an asbestos-containing product to release breathable fibers depends on its degree of friability. "Friable" means that the material can be crumbled with hand pressure and is therefore likely to emit fibers. The fibrous fluffy sprayed-on materials used for fireproofing, insulation, or sound proofing are considered to be friable, and they readily release airborne fibers if disturbed. Materials such as vinyl-asbestos floor tile or roofing felt are considered non-friable if intact and generally do not emit airborne fibers unless subjected to sanding, sawing and other aggressive operations. Asbestos-cement pipe or sheet can emit airborne fibers if the materials are cut or sawed, or if they are broken. D. Permiss…

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# Vermiculite Insulation Containing Asbestos (cont.) ## Is all vermiculite a health concern? (cont.) These variations means that not all vermiculite sold in Canada before 1990 contains asbestos fibres. However, if you believe that your home may contain vermiculite insulation, it is recommended to have the insulation tested before doing any work as it may contain asbestos. Note that as long as the vermiculite-based insulation remains undisturbed behind intact walls or in attic spaces and does not become airborne, it should not be a concern. Have testing done by a competent person (e.g., an occupational hygienist or consultant who specializes in asbestos abatement) and send the samples to an accredited laboratory before any work (renovations, remodelling, etc.) is done to the workplace building or home. Vermiculite is still mined and sold for uses such as insulation, packaging, agriculture, etc. These materials are tested for the absence of asbestos before use. ## What are the health risks of vermiculite containing asbestos? Asbestos can cause health problems when inhaled into the lungs. Breathing in very small, airborne asbestos fibres has been associated with diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. People are more likely to experience asbestos-related disorders if they: - are exposed to high concentrations of asbestos, - are exposed for longer periods of time, and/or - are exposed to asbestos more frequently. See the OSH Answers on Asbestos - Health Effects for more details. ## How can we minimize the risk? The best way to minimize asbestos exposure from vermiculite is to NOT remove or disturb the insulation. Moving the vermiculite will cause fibres to become airborne. It is not always necessary to remove the asbestos from the workplace or home. Removal depends on: - Where the asbestos is located, and - If there is a potential for it to become airborne. Hire a competent professional (e.g., occupational hygienist or consultant who…

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# NIOSH Recommendations for Limiting Potential Exposures of Workers to Asbestos Associated with Vermiculite from Libby, Montana (cont.) ## How can workers be protected from asbestos- contaminated vermiculite? (cont.) ent is to have the material tested. Bulk sampling is reliable only when over 1% of the material is asbestos. Negative results from bulk samples can therefore be falsely reassuring when less than 1% of the sample is asbestos. However, dis- turbing contaminated vermiculite with less than 1% asbestos can still result in hazardous concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers. NIOSH recommends workers consult Occu- pational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) asbestos standards for general industry and construction (29 CFR 1910.1001 and 1926.1101) when work will involve vermiculite that is known or presumed to be contaminated with asbestos. Relevant information is posted on the OSHA web site: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/index.html. If the vermiculite is known or presumed to be contaminated guidelines for limiting asbestos exposure: with asbestos, NIOSH recommends the following general asbestos/compliance.html) describe the types of medical tests ■ Avoid handling or disturbing loose vermiculite ■ Isolate work areas with temporary barriers or enclosures to avoid spreading fibers ■Use wet methods, if feasible, to reduce exposure ■ Never use compressed air for cleaning ■ Avoid dry sweeping, shoveling, or other dry clean-up methods ■Use disposable protective clothing or clothing that is left in the workplace. Do not launder work clothing with fam- ily clothing ■Use proper respiratory protection. ■Dispose of waste and debris contaminated with asbestos in leak-tight containers in accordance with OSHA and EPA standards. ## Which respirators should be selected if the vermiculite contains or is presumed to contain asbestos? When working with vermiculite that is known or presumed to be contaminated with asbestos, proper respiratory protection shou…

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This information is provided free of charge by the Department of Industrial Relations from its web site at www.dir.ca.gov. These regulations are for the convenience of the user and no representation or warranty is made that the information is current or accurate. See full disclaimer at https://www.dir.ca.gov/od_pub/disclaimer.html. Subchapter 4. Construction Safety Orders Article 4. Dusts, Fumes, Mists, Vapors, and Gases Return to index New query # §1529. Asbestos, Appendix H Substance Technical Information for Asbestos Non-Mandatory I. Substance Identification A. Substance: "Asbestos" is the name of a class of magnesium-silicate minerals that occur in fibrous form. Minerals that are included in this group are chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite asbestos, tremolite asbestos, and actinolite asbestos. B. Asbestos is used in the manufacture of heat-resistant clothing, automotive brake and clutch linings, and a variety of building materials including floor tiles, roofing felts, ceiling tiles, asbestos-cement pipe and sheet, and fire-resistant drywall. Asbestos is also present in pipe and boiler insulation materials, and in sprayed-on materials located on beams, in crawlspaces, and between walls. C. The potential for an asbestos-containing product to release breathable fibers depends on its degree of friability. Friable means that the material can be crumbled with hand pressure and is therefore likely to emit fibers. The fibrous fluffy sprayed-on materials used for fireproofing, insulation, or sound proofing are considered to be friable, and they readily release airborne fibers if disturbed. Materials such as vinyl-asbestos floor tile or roofing felt are considered non-friable if intact and generally do not emit airborne fibers unless subjected to sanding, sawing and other aggressive operations. Asbestos-cement pipe or sheet can emit airborne fibers if the materials are cut or sawed, or if they are broken. D. Permissible exposure: Exposure to airbor…

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C D C Libby, MT Workplace Safety and Health Fact Sheet # NIOSH Recommendations for Limiting Potential Exposures of Workers to Asbestos Associated with Vermiculite from Libby, Montana ## What is vermiculite? Vermiculite is a mineral that expands when rapidly heated. Expanded vermiculite is used in construction and consumer materials (e.g., loose-fill insulation, acoustic finishes, spray-on insulation, and concrete mixes for swimming pools), agricul- tural and horticultural products (e.g., potting mixes and soil conditioners) and in industrial products (e.g., brake shoes and pads, drilling muds, furnaces, and insulation blocks). Expanded vermiculite granules are shaped like small accor- dions, and vary in color from silver/gold to gray/brown. Vermiculite has been an established commercial commodity for well over 50 years, and is currently used throughout the world. Vermiculite ore mined near Libby, Montana, which accounted for more than half the worldwide production of vermiculite from 1925 to 1990, was contaminated with asbestos and asbestos-like fibers. Workplace exposure to these fibers caused a serious health problem in local miners and millers, as well as some downstream workers. Mining stopped at the mine near Libby in 1990. However, concerns remain about health effects from environmental and other occupational exposures to asbestos-contaminated vermiculite, especially vermiculite that has been installed as loose-fill insulation in homes and other buildings. Much of the vermiculite from the mine near Libby was used in the manufacture of Zonolite™ Attic Insulation. However, not all Zonolite™ product was made with vermiculite from that same mine. ## What health effects are caused by uncontaminated vermiculite? Based on available information, there is no clear evidence that dust from vermiculite itself causes any serious health effects. Nevertheless, as with any dust, workers should avoid prolonged, high-level exposures. The observed health effects associat…