Asbestos Personal Protective Equipment
Working with asbestos is extremely hazardous. Workers are at risk of numerous diseases, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Protecting workers from asbestos hazards often requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
.
PPE prevents workers from inhaling asbestos fibers or contaminating their street clothes when they change out of the asbestos PPE.
Respirators
Respirators are required whenever the permissible exposure limit or excursion limit is exceeded. When respirators are required, employers must implement a respiratory protection program
. Respirators must be properly fit-tested to each worker to ensure that asbestos fibers cannot be inhaled.
The only permissible types of respirators are a half or full facepiece, negative pressure respirator or a half or full facepiece powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR). Filtering facepiece respirators (dust masks) may not be used to protect against asbestos fibers, as they do not provide sufficient protection.
Clothing and other PPE
Disposable PPE is often used, as reusable PPE must be specially cleaned. Disposable asbestos PPE must be treated as asbestos waste and transported in impermeable bags or containers.
Workers may use coveralls or other full-body coverings, gloves, head coverings, foot coverings, and face shields or vented goggles. Clean protective clothing and equipment must be provided at least weekly.
Lace-less boots are preferred footwear, as laces make it harder to prevent asbestos fibers from contacting the skin and to clean the boots.
Hygiene
Employees must be provided with changing rooms and showers to prevent the contamination of clean street clothes with asbestos fibers. Contaminated clothing and PPE must either be treated and disposed of as asbestos waste, or properly cleaned.
Employees must also shower after changing out of PPE to ensure that no asbestos fibers contaminate street clothing.
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