Drywall Systems Drywall Systems Drywall or gypsum board
Drywall Systems
Drywall Systems Drywall, or gypsum board systems are made up of several components. The basic assembly, like those pictured on the previous slide, is made up of the gypsum board, joint compound and perhaps tape. If there is asbestos in the basic assembly, it is most commonly in the joint compound, and perhaps the tape. The gypsum board itself seldom contains asbestos in typical interior drywall systems. When gypsum board products were manufactured with asbestos, they were most commonly used for fire rated or wet placement such as mechanical rooms.
Drywall Systems Added to the basic assembly are “add-on” materials such as skim coat, texturing and paint. The add-on materials seldom contain asbestos, although many laboratories call the texture ACM, confusing it with the joint compound. When ACM drywall systems are removed during abatement, it is usually the joint compound that is asbestos containing. Sufficient wetting with amended water or abatement foam and careful removal methods will usually minimize fiber release to below PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) levels.
OSHA Drywall Removal 1. Competent Person - There must be a Competent Person trained at the AHERA Contractor/Supervisor level who oversees all work. - The Competent Person is responsible for all OSHA compliance and worker protection on the site. He will train and direct the workers in the hands-on procedures to comply with the OSHA regulations and company requirements. - The Competent Person will develop a Negative Exposure Assessment for the work and oversee employee air monitoring. - The Competent Person has all authority on the worksite and will make frequent inspections as necessary.
OSHA Drywall Removal 2. Regulate the area with proper OSHA postings. 3. Critical barriers should be used at the determination of the Competent Person. 4. Drop cloths should be used to minimize the spread of waste and to facilitate cleanup. 5. Wet the drywall with amended water or foam before, during and after removal. 6. Contain the removed material as it is generated and while it is wet, in leak-tight wrapping, bags or containers. 7. The waste containers must bear the OSHA danger label while on the work site, and when transported to a landfill, the NESHAP generator label and DOT labels as well.
OSHA Drywall Removal 8. Minimize breaking the drywall as much as possible when removing. Hand removal will usually result in the lowest fiber release. If mechanical saws are used, they should only be used with HEPA vacuum attachments. 9. Clean up the waste debris continually with HEPA vacuums or wet cleaning with amended water. 10. The use and level of respirators and protective clothing will be at the determination of the Competent Person. 11. Decontamination of personnel and equipment should be, at a minimum, on a poly drop cloth immediately adjacent to the regulated area. A HEPA vacuum should be used to clean the debris from the protective clothing before removing it.
OSHA Drywall Removal 12. Even though OSHA does not normally require Negative Pressure Enclosure (NPE) for drywall removal work, owners specifications or company controls may require its use. Federal and local laws will vary on this, as will owner specifications or required controls. You should follow the direction of your Competent Person in this regard. Even though drywall removal is Class II work, if the jobsite requires NPE, you will need a different level of training for OSHA compliance. The training required in that case is OSHA Class I Worker (4 -day AHERA accredited training).
EPA NESHAP Issues for drywall removal: -The typical interior drywall system installed in buildings from about 1950 -1980 usually had ACM joint compound used in its construction. For removal purposes in a NESHAP facility, the system may or may not be considered RACM. As mentioned before, local regulations may vary. However, if the add-on materials (texture or skim coat) are ACM, federal EPA would consider the material RACM. This means that your Competent Person will have to deal with EPA issues as well as the OSHA issues that we have reviewed. This will not change your work procedures and controls, but will regulate the waste stream beyond the work site.
EPA NESHAP Issues 1. Adequately wet with amended water. 2. Maintain the waste adequately wet until contained in leaktight containers. 3. Label each container with the OSHA danger label and the NESHAP generator label. To transport the waste on roadways, a DOT label is also required. 4. The waste must be accompanied with a Waste Shipment Record (WSR), signed off by your supervisor, the transporter and the receiving landfill. 5. The waste must go to a “NESHAP landfill”, not a construction landfill.
6. Do not allow debris beyond a Regulated Area. This is “visible emissions” under the NESHAP. A serious violation.
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