WAC 296-65-007   Asbestos supervisor training course content.  An approved asbestos supervisor training course shall consist of at least five days of training. This initial training course shall include lectures, demonstrations, at least fourteen hours of hands-on training, course review and a written examination. Audio-visual materials, where appropriate, are recommended to complement lectures. The training course shall provide, at a minimum, information on the following topics:

     (1) The physical characteristics of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials including identification of asbestos, aerodynamic characteristics, typical uses, physical appearance, hazard assessment considerations, and a summary of abatement control options.

     (2) Health effects related to asbestos exposure including the nature of asbestos related diseases, routes of exposure, dose-response relationships and the lack of a safe level of exposure, synergism between asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking, latency period, hazards to the immediate family and the health basis for the standard.

     (3) Employee personal protective equipment including the classes and characteristics of respirator types, limitations of respirators, proper selection, inspection, donning, use, maintenance, and storage procedures, methods for field checking of the facepiece-to-face seal (positive and negative pressure checks), variability between field and laboratory protection factors, quantitative and qualitative fit test requirements, factors that alter respirator fit (facial hair, scars, etc.), the components of a proper respirator program, requirements for oil lubricated reciprocating compressors, maintenance of Type-C systems, standards for breathing air, selection and use of personal protective clothing, use, storage, and handling of nondisposable clothing, and regulations covering personal protective equipment.

     (4) State-of-the-art work practices for asbestos removal and encapsulation activities including purpose, proper construction and maintenance of barriers and decontamination enclosure systems, posting of warning signs, electrical and ventilation system lock-out, proper working techniques and tools with vacuum attachments for minimizing fiber release, use of wet methods and surfactants, use of negative-pressure ventilation equipment for minimizing employee exposure to asbestos fibers and contamination prevention, scoring and breaking techniques for rigid asbestos products, glove bag techniques, recommended and prohibited work practices, potential exposure situations, emergency procedures for sudden releases, use of HEPA vacuums and proper clean-up and disposal procedures. Work practice requirements for removal, encapsulation, and repair shall be discussed separately. Appropriate work practices for both indoor and outdoor asbestos projects shall be included.

     (5) Personal hygiene including entry and exit procedures for the work area, use of showers and prohibition of eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing (gum and tobacco) in the work area. Potential exposures, such as family exposure shall also be included.

     (6) Additional safety hazards that may be encountered during asbestos abatement activities and how to deal with them, including electrical hazards, heat stress, air contaminants other than asbestos, fire and explosion hazards, scaffold and ladder hazards, slips, trips, and falls, confined space entry requirements, and noise hazards.

     (7) Medical monitoring procedures and requirements, including the provisions of chapter 296-842 WAC, any additional recommended procedures and tests, benefits of medical monitoring and recordkeeping requirements.

     (8) Air monitoring procedures and requirements specified in WAC 296-62-07709, including a description of equipment, sampling methods and strategies, reasons for air monitoring, types of samples, including area, personal and clearance samples, a description of aggressive sampling, current standards with proposed changes if any, employee observation and notification, recordkeeping, interpretation of air monitoring results, specifically from analyses performed by polarized light, phase contrast, and electron microscopy.

     (9) The requirements, procedures, and standards established by:

     (a) The Environmental Protection Agency, 40 CFR Part 61, Subparts A and M, and 40 CFR Part 763.

     (b) The Washington state department of ecology.

     (c) Local air pollution control agencies.

     (d) Washington state department of labor and industries, division of industrial safety and health, chapter 49.17 RCW (Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act), chapter 49.26 RCW (Health and safety -- Asbestos), and ensuing regulations.

     (10) Actual worksite considerations.

     (11) Insurance and liability issues including contractor issues, industrial insurance coverage and exclusions, third party liabilities and defenses, private insurance coverage and exclusions, recordkeeping recommended for legal and insurance purposes.

     (12) Supervisory techniques for asbestos abatement projects including supervisory practices to enforce and reinforce the required work practices and discourage unsafe work practices.

     (13) Contract specifications including a discussion of the key elements to be included in contract specifications.

     (14) A minimum of fourteen hours of hands-on training for the following:

     (a) Calibration of air-sampling equipment;

     (b) Routine maintenance of air-purifying and air-supplied respirators;

     (c) Setup of a decontamination unit including calculating the number of negative air machines needed as well as proper placement of the machines within the enclosure; and

     (d) Quantitative and qualitative fit-testing protocols.

     (15) Course review, a review of the key aspects of the training course.

     (16) In recognition that asbestos abatement is an evolving industry, the department reserves the right to require additional subjects to be taught and to specify the amount of time which shall be allotted to adequately cover required subjects. To assure adequate coverage of required material, each sponsor shall be provided and required to incorporate into their training course, a detailed outline of subject matter developed by the department.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 07-03-163, § 296-65-007, filed 1/24/07, effective 4/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and[49.17.]060 . 96-05-056, § 296-65-007, filed 2/16/96, effective 4/1/96. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 89-21-018 (Order 89-10), § 296-65-007, filed 10/10/89, effective 11/24/89.]