Posted on: July 21, 2022
Anyone who's seen a local law firm ad has probably heard of asbestos. But do you know what it looks like? Where you'd encounter it? What sorts of activities make it dangerous to your health? The answer is probably 'no,' unless you've had asbestos awareness training, which is exactly why it's required for at-risk workers in the U.S.
Anyone who's seen a local law firm ad has probably heard of asbestos. But do you know what it looks like? Where you'd encounter it? What sorts of activities make it dangerous to your health?
The answer is probably 'no,' unless you've had asbestos awareness training, which is exactly why it's required for at-risk workers in the U.S.
Asbestos awareness training is pretty much just what it sounds like – it's a relatively short training (one or two hours) that covers basic information about asbestos exposure and its health risks.
It does not qualify you to safely "abate" or eliminate an asbestos hazard. Professionals who repair, remove, or encapsulate asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) typically need a higher level of training and certification.
Instead, awareness training is intended for people that may encounter and disturb potential or actual ACMs so they can recognize when they're in danger and how to protect themselves.
Asbestos awareness training is required by both the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Anyone who may be exposed to asbestos-containing dust will need OSHA asbestos awareness training.
Examples include:
Under EPA regulations, school custodial and maintenance staff need some level of training as long as they work in a building that contains ACMs (or materials assumed to be ACMs). This is stricter than OSHA, where anticipated exposure is the trigger.
OSHA asbestos awareness training is generally divided by the standard that applies to your industry (Construction §1926.1101, Maritime §1915.1001, or General Industry §1910.1001). The amount of training will vary by job, but compliant training can be as short as one hour.
Then there's the EPA, which sets standards for 3 types of asbestos training in the regulations that govern schools.
EPA Type 1 training is a 2-hour Awareness Training. It's required for maintenance and custodial staff that are involved in cleaning or minor maintenance where ACM may be accidentally disturbed.
EPA Type 2 training is a special operations and maintenance (O&M) training for maintenance and custodial workers that will be directly involved in the maintenance and repair of ACMs. It's at least 14 hours long and includes an extended discussion of Type 1 topics plus more detailed attention to work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE). It also includes hands-on exercises.
EPA Type 3 training is for abatement workers. It's even more extensive, with specialized abatement topics and more hands-on practice. Type 3 training typically takes between 32 and 40 hours.
OSHA requires asbestos awareness training for workers that have a measured or anticipated exposure to asbestos fibers at or above the permissible exposure limit (PEL).
In schools where ACMs are present, EPA regulations require all custodial and maintenance workers to have some degree of asbestos awareness training, as discussed above.
The EPA's asbestos training must be completed within 60 days of beginning employment, and OSHA asbestos awareness training must be completed before or on the day of a relevant assignment.
The rules are slightly different whether you fall under General Industry or Construction standards. But generally, OSHA asbestos awareness training must cover the:
EPA Type 1 training is similar in content but instead of the OSHA standard, it focuses on the O&M program.
OSHA requires asbestos awareness training to be taken annually. The standard also requires employers to keep records of employee training for at least a year past the last date of employment.
The EPA's O&M program doesn't expire, but if your job duties change, you may need to take more extensive training.
To comply with OSHA regulations, asbestos awareness training to be repeated at least once a year. Employers are allowed to conduct it more frequently, and OSHA often encourages additional training if a worker demonstrates a lack of awareness or competence on the subject matter.
The EPA's O&M program doesn't require a refresher. However, since OSHA rules apply, at-risk employees will need some sort of annual training anyway.
As an OSHA-authorized training provider, we offer several asbestos awareness training courses in a self-paced online format.
We have options for compliance with both general industry and construction asbestos standards, and if you're in New York City, we have an SST-compliant lead/asbestos awareness course as well!
You can purchase courses individually or get group enrollment rates . Get started today!
