U.S. Department of Labor | ||||||
Occupational Safety & Health Administration |
Standard Interpretations
08/23/1990 - Portam Process asbestos abatement equipment use for asbestos removal. |
Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents |
Standard Number: | 1926.1101; 1926.1101(e); 1926.1101(g)(5)(i) |
August 23, 1990 Mr. Bruce Gardener Hydrous Dust Control Systems, Inc. ASB-Tech Dear Mr. Gardener: This is in response to your letter of May 31, requesting an official opinion as to whether the Portam Process asbestos abatement equipment, which you propose to use for the removal of asbestos-containing pipe insulation, meets the intent of the occupational safety and health requirements at [29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(5)(i)]. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not approve or certify equipment or processes for use in the workplace. However, when we are provided with adequate information concerning a control method, we do offer an opinion regarding its effectiveness in achieving compliance with our requirements for employee safety and health. Therefore, this letter is not an approval or a certification of the Portam Process, but is an interpretation of our standards as they apply to the use of this system in United States workplaces. The intent of OSHA's negative pressure enclosure requirement in paragraph [1926.1101(g)(5)(i)] [This document was edited on 12/01/01 to strike information that no longer reflects current OSHA policy.] Because the purpose of performing removal work within negative pressure enclosures would be met by the use of your system, OSHA does not consider that such enclosures are necessary if the following conditions are met:
Also note that OSHA has published a proposed revision of its asbestos standards on July 20, 1990 (55 FR 29712), a copy of which is enclosed. Therein, OSHA is re-examining its regulatory policy concerning the continuation and/or expansion of negative pressure enclosure requirements for removal work. New technology, explicitly your system, is discussed on page 29717 of the Federal Register notice. OSHA indicates that it "will consider providing for new technology in the final standard to the extent supported by the record developed in this rulemaking." The data you have submitted is now in the rulemaking record. We encourage you to submit further data to the rulemaking record and to participate in that proceeding. This letter of interpretation will be superseded by a subsequent evaluation developed by the Agency based on a review of the entire rulemaking record developed in the pending asbestos rulemaking proceeding. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. Sincerely, Thomas J. Shepich, Director [Directorate of Science, Technology, and Medicine] [Corrected 06/23/08] |
Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents |
Back to Top | www.osha.gov | www.dol.gov |
Contact Us | Freedom of Information Act | Customer Survey Privacy and Security Statement | Disclaimers |
||
Occupational Safety & Health Administration 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 |