Exposure Monitoring
Employers should determine employee exposure to airborne asbestos by monitoring within the "breathing zone." The breathing zone is an area within 12 inches of the employee's nose and mouth. Air samples indicate:
Don't Mess With Asbestos (Part II)
- each employee's exposure averaged over an 8-hour work shift for each job classification in each work area, and
- the short-term 30-minute exposure in operations that are most likely to produce exposures over the excursion limit for each shift and in each work area.
Initial Monitoring: Employers should conduct initial monitoring if employees are, or expected to be, exposed to airborne asbestos at or above the PEL/EL.
Additional Monitoring: After initial monitoring, the employer should continue monitoring as frequently as necessary to assure accurate measurements. Conduct monitoring at least every six months if the employer expects employees to be exposed at or above the PEL/EL.
Changes in monitoring frequency: If the results of periodic monitoring statistically (repeatedly and accurately) indicates employee exposures are below the PEL/EL, the employer may discontinue the monitoring of affected employees.
Changes in operations: The employer should begin additional monitoring if:
- a change in the production, process, control equipment, personnel or work practices that may result in new or additional exposures above the PEL/EL, or
- the employer has any reason to suspect a change may result in new or additional exposures above the PEL and/or excursion limit.
Notifying employees: The employer should notify the affected employee individually or by posting the results in an accessible area. The notification must:
- notify employees within 15 days,
- be in writing,
- include corrective actions to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL/EL.
Observation of monitoring: The employer should provide affected employees and their designated representatives an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to asbestos conducted.
When observation of the monitoring of employee exposure to asbestos requires entry into an area where the use of protective clothing or equipment is required, the observer must:
- be provided with and be required to use protective clothing and equipment, and
- comply with all other applicable safety and health procedures.
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2-3. Where should employers monitor to determine employee exposure to airborne asbestos?
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