Asbestos Policy
Environmental Health & Safety
Finance & Administration
University of Florida
UFEH&S-OHS-7/03/2003
Asbestos is a recognized health hazard, and Federal and State criteria regulate activities involving asbestos containing materials. To ensure compliance with these regulations and to minimize the potential exposure of students, employees and the public the following University Policy is promulgated.
EPA Worker Protection Rule (40 CFR Part 763); Florida Statutes 240.209(3)p, 255.551 – 255.565, 469.001 – 469.014; Florida Administrative Code Rule 6C-14.007; Chancellor’s Memorandum CM-N-17.02-03/00.
Asbestos Abatement work must be conducted pursuant to approved procedures and requirements of appropriate regulating agencies, and in full compliance with state and federal law.
Use of respiratory protection is required for all work that will disturb asbestos containing material or for work in asbestos contaminated areas. Each division conducting activities that disturb asbestos containing materials shall implement the University respirator program.
Each division shall provide a medical examination for all employees whose job activities disturb asbestos containing materials, who work in asbestos contaminated areas, or who remove but do not disturb asbestos containing materials for 29 or more days in a year.
Environmental Health and Safety has been assigned responsibility for administrative decisions regarding asbestos control and abatement at the University of Florida. All activities involving asbestos require prior approval from Environmental Health and Safety.
Environmental Health and Safety will provide consultative and technical assistance to campus organizations involved in activities related to asbestos. Environmental Health and Safety will provide quality control/quality assurance for the asbestos control program through the monitoring of the different program elements.
Environmental Health and Safety will serve as the University liaison with regulatory agencies and serve as the clearinghouse for the dissemination of regulatory and University requirements and new information to groups involved in asbestos related activities. Environmental Health and Safety will maintain a list of all asbestos projects, and the associated records.
A management level "Asbestos Coordinator" shall be designated by each division or department engaged in construction, maintenance and renovation activities.
The coordinator will act as liaison between his or her division and Environmental Health and Safety and shall be responsible for all asbestos activities in his/her division including: identification of projects involving asbestos, informing all contractors of the presence of asbestos within their work areas and implementation of asbestos abatement projects within the division. The division director shall be responsible for compliance of his or her division and contractors with all federal, state and local regulations and University policy.
Asbestos Consultant. Each asbestos removal project shall be conducted under the direction of a Florida licensed asbestos consultant who shall be responsible for (1) preparing asbestos surveys, O&M Plans, and bid documents, (2) evaluating the bidders' qualifications and bid prices, and (3) air monitoring and inspecting performed work. The asbestos consultant selection shall be conducted in accordance with CM-N-06.03-09/99, Architect/ Engineer Selection Process.
Asbestos surveys meeting current State of Florida and federal requirements shall be conducted prior to any building renovation/ remodeling or demolition. Environmental Health and Safety may authorize abbreviated sampling of suspect material for projects of less than 160 square feet or 260 linear feet and asbestos response actions related to O & M activities. Partial or limited surveys prior to renovation projects may be approved with the concurrence of the Environmental Health and Safety and the project’s licensed asbestos consultant.
The university shall develop, implement, and maintain an asbestos operations and maintenance plan for asbestos containing materials known or assumed to exist in the buildings as indicated by the asbestos survey. The asbestos operations and maintenance plan will apply to all facilities identified as having or assumed to have asbestos containing material and shall be kept current and documented in accordance with state and federal requirements.
University personnel conducting removal work involving less that 160 square or 260 linear feet of asbestos containing materials are exempt from licensing requirements, but must comply with all federal and state requirements including notifications, training, monitoring and documentation. Asbestos abatement work greater than 160 square feet of 260 linear feet must be conducted by a Florida licensed asbestos contractor and monitored by a Florida licensed asbestos consultant.
Procedures outlined in the current version of 29 CFR part 1926 as well as other requirements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of Environmental Protection, and Department of Business and Professional Regulation and all other federal and state regulations shall be adhered to throughout all asbestos projects.
In some cases, removal of asbestos containing materials may not be the best response action. In instances where the risk of exposure is low and costs of complete removal are prohibitive, the Florida licensed asbestos consultant shall present the findings to the University Asbestos Contact Person, who shall determine what action is to be taken.
Given sufficient justification, Environmental Health and Safety may choose to exceed the requirements of Chapters 255 and 469, F.S., and this policy for any project.
All suspect roofing materials shall be sampled for asbestos content prior to disturbance or removal of the material. A licensed Asbestos Consultant shall assess the roofing condition and make a recommendation made to the University Asbestos Contact Person regarding appropriate response actions and use of a Florida licensed asbestos abatement contractor or a Florida certified roofing contractor.
Prior to a university entering into any asbestos abatement contract, Environmental Health and Safety shall ensure compliance with Chapter 255.56, F.S.
Divisions shall identify individuals whose job activities require contacting asbestos containing materials, or working in asbestos contaminated areas. These individuals shall be provided appropriate training and participate in medical surveillance and respiratory protections programs as required.
All activities involving the removal of asbestos containing materials require the submittal of an Asbestos Notification Form to, and prior approval from, Environmental Health and Safety. Emergency project notification should be made to the proper regulatory authority and Environmental Health and Safety as soon as possible but no longer than 48 hours after commencement.
The University shall employ only experienced and certified asbestos abatement contractors. Contract specifications shall be written by the licensed asbestos consultant, and based on prudent state of the industry criteria.
The licensed asbestos consultant under direction of the division coordinator shall perform project monitoring. Monitoring shall include, but not limited to: daily inspection, air sampling inside and outside containment, and clearance air sampling as specified in the abatement contract.
Each division shall provide Environmental Health and Safety with complete records for all abatement projects conducted.