Asbestos Definitions

Definition Regulations Source: Title 178Chapter 22 Asbestos Regulations

002.01 Amended Water means a water solution containing an effective low sudsing wetting agent.

002.02 Appropriate Protective Clothing means protective outer clothing, which is worn by an individual who is engaged in an asbestos project regardless of the concentration of asbestos fibers in the air within the asbestos project. Protective clothing consists of coveralls or similar whole body covering, head covers and foot covers.

002.03 Appropriate Respirator means an appropriate air purifying respirator providing protection against radionuclides and against dust, fumes and mists in air and which provide the following respiratory protection for airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers:

002.03A Airborne concentration of asbestos not in excess of one (1) fiber per cubic centimeter shall require a half-mask air-purifying respirator, other than a disposable respirator, equipped with high-efficiency filters.

002.03B Airborne concentration of asbestos not in excess of five (5) fibers per cubic centimeter shall require a full facepiece air-purifying respirator equipped with high-efficiency filters.

002.03C Airborne concentration of asbestos not in excess of ten (10) fibers per cubic centimeter shall require a powered air purifying respirator equipped with high efficiency filters or a supplied-air respirator operated in continuous flow mode.

002.03D Airborne concentration of asbestos not in excess of one hundred (100) fibers per cubic centimeter shall require a full facepiece supplied-air respirator operated in pressure demand mode.

002.03E Airborne concentration of asbestos greater than one hundred (100) fibers per cubic centimeter shall require a full facepiece supplied air respirator operated in pressure demand mode equipped with an auxiliary positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus.

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002.04 Appropriate Warning Sign means a sign not less than eleven (11) inches wide which contains the equivalent of the following legend, printed in letters of sufficient size and contrast to be readily visible and legible: DANGER ASBESTOS CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY RESPIRATORS AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING ARE REQUIRED IN THIS AREA

002.05 Approved Asbestos Waste Disposal Site means a solid waste disposal area that is operated under a permit issued by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and is authorized to receive asbestos containing solid wastes.

002.06 Asbestos means asbestiform varieties of chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite.

002.07 Asbestos Containing Materials or ACM means any material or product, which contains more than 1% asbestos.

002.08 Asbestos Control Act means Sections 71-6301 to 71-6317, Neb. Rev Stat. 1943 as amended.

002.09 Asbestos Danger Label means a label which contains the following legend, printed in letters of sufficient size and contrast to be readily visible and legible: DANGER CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS AVOID CREATING DUST CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD

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002.10 Asbestos Encapsulation Project means activities, which include the coating of ACM surface material with a penetrating or bridging type of sealing material for the intended purpose of preventing the continued release of asbestos fibers from the material into the air. This definition shall not include the repainting of a previously painted nonfriable ACM surface which is not damaged primarily for improving the appearance of such surface.

002.11 Asbestos Enclosure Project means activities which physically isolate friable asbestos, and which control and contain fibers released from asbestos-containing material by constructing a permanent airtight barrier between the asbestos-containing material and the occupied building space.

002.12 Asbestos Occupation means an inspector, management planner, project designer, project monitor, supervisor, or worker.

002.13 Asbestos Project means an asbestos encapsulation project, an asbestos removal project, an asbestos enclosure project, an asbestos related demolition project or an asbestos related dismantling project, but shall not include any activities which affect three (3) square feet or less or three (3) linear feet or less of ACM on or in a structure or equipment or any appurtenances thereto, or (b) any activities physically performed by a homeowner, a member of the homeowner's family, or an unpaid volunteer on or in the homeowner's residential property of four units or less.

002.14 Asbestos Related Demolition Project means activities which include the razing of all or a portion of a structure which contains friable ACM or other ACM which may become friable when cut, crushed, ground, abraded, pulverized, or burned.

002.15 Asbestos Related Dismantling Project means activities which include the disassembly, handling and moving of the components of any structure or equipment which has been coated with ACM without first removing this material from the structure or from the equipment.

002.16 Asbestos Removal Project means activities which include the physical removal of friable ACM from the surface of a structure or from equipment which is intended to remain in place after the removal. Such project shall also include the physical removal of ACM from a structure or equipment after such structure or equipment has been removed as part of an asbestos related dismantling project.

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002.17 Business Entity means a partnership, firm, association, corporation, sole proprietorship, public entity or other public or private business concern involved in an asbestos project except an entity solely involved as a management planner or project designer.

002.18 Certificate means an authorization issued by the Department permitting an individual to work in an asbestos occupation.

002.19 Containment Area means a negative pressure asbestos project work area and decontamination facility configured so as to isolate asbestos project activities from areas which are to remain uncontaminated.

002.20 Control Curtain means a closure device constructed of plastic sheeting not less than 6 mil thick and installed in an entryway into an area contaminated or to be contaminated with ACM. A control curtain is intended to restrict the movement of air into, and from, a contaminated area. This curtain consists of three constructed baffles that cover the entire area of the entryway and are fastened securely along the top of the entryway framework and along alternate sides in a manner that will require individuals to walk the entire width of the entryway between adjacent baffles as they pass around the three panels.

002.21 Curriculum means a detailed course outline, description or syllabus submitted to the Department as part of the approval process by an association, educational institution, individual, governmental body or other entity or individual providing an asbestos occupation course.

002.22 Decontamination Facility means that portion of the containment area containing an equipment room, shower facility and a clean change room (see Figure 1).

002.23 Demolition means the wrecking, razing, or removal of any structure or load-supporting structural item of any structure, including any related material handling operations, and includes the intentional burning of any structure.

002.24 Department means the Nebraska Department of Health.

002.25 Director means the Director of the Department of Health of the State of Nebraska or his or her designee.

002.26 Enclosure means the construction of an airtight, impermeable permanent barrier around ACM to control the release of asbestos fibers into the air.

002.27 EPA means the Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.

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002.28 Equipment or Equipment Item means an item that is designed or intended to perform an operation and includes any attached item which assists in the operation.

002.29 Friable Asbestos means asbestos in a form which can be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure.
CAUTION: NONFRIABLE ASBESTOS WHICH BECOMES FRIABLE IS CLASSIFIED AS FRIABLE ASBESTOS.

002.30 Furnishings means removable furniture, draperies, floor coverings and decorative items.

002.31 Grade D Breathing Air means an air supply that contains 19 1/2 - 23 1/2% oxygen on a volumetric basis, not more than 10 volumes of carbon monoxide or 1,000 volumes of carbon dioxide per million volumes of air, not more than 5 milligrams of condensed hydrocarbons per cubic meter of air and no objectionable odors.

002.32 HEPA Filter means a high efficiency particulate air filter capable of trapping and retaining from an air stream 99.97% of asbestos fibers greater than 0.3 microns in size.

002.33 Inspector means an individual who is certified by the Department to identify and assess the condition of ACM. Inspectors shall perform their duties in accordance with the techniques, knowledge, training and responsibilities outlined in 008.04A8.

002.34 Instructor means an individual who is approved by the department to teach an asbestos-related training course.

002.35 License means an authorization issued by the Department permitting a business entity to engage in an asbestos project.

002.36 Management Planner means an individual who is certified by the Department to assess the hazard of materials containing asbestos, to determine the appropriate response actions and to write management plans.

002.37 Physician means a person authorized to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in the jurisdiction where a physical examination required by 004.02B of these regulations is given.

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002.38 Project Designer means an individual who is certified by the Department to formulate plans and write specifications for conducting asbestos projects.

002.39 Project Monitor means an individual who is certified by the department to observe abatement activities performed by contractors, to represent the building owner to ensure work is completed according to specifications and in compliance with statutes and regulations, and to perform air monitoring to determine final clearance.

002.40 Project Review means review of a licensed business entity's proposed asbestos project.

002.41 Public Entity means a state agency, political or taxing subdivision, municipality or any other independent body created by law except a district as defined in Section 70-601 or a district subject to Chapter 14, Article 11, Neb. Rev. Stat. 1943.

002.42 Removal Encapsulant means a penetrating encapsulant specifically designed for removal of ACM rather than for encapsulation of ACM in place.

002.43 Renovation means the altering of a structure, one or more structural items, or one or more equipment items in any way, including any asbestos project performed on a structure, structural item, or equipment item.

002.44 Sealing Material means an asbestos-free material used to cover a surface to prevent any asbestos fibers remaining after ACM removal from being dispersed into the air. This term includes sprayed or brushed on decorative and fireproofing materials as well as penetrating or bridging encapsulants.

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002.45 Structure or Structural Item means roofs, walls, ceilings, floors, structural supports, pipes, ducts, fittings and fixtures that have been installed as an integral part of any structure.

002.46 Supervisor means an individual who is certified by the Department to supervise and direct an asbestos project in accordance with the Asbestos Control Act and the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated pursuant to this act.

002.47 Type-C Respirator System means an airline respirator designed for atmospheres not immediately dangerous to life or health. It consists of a source of respirable breathing air, an air hose with a detachable coupling, flow control fittings and a facepiece, helmet or hood.

002.48 Wet Cleaning means the process of using amended water or a removal encapsulant and a wet brush, mop, cloth, sponge or similar wet cleaning device to remove completely any visible ACM residue from surfaces. This definition does not include the use of a non-HEPA filter-equipped wet vacuum cleaner to pick up wet ACM debris or contaminated wastewater.

002.49 Wetting Agent means a surfactant or chemical that is added to water to decrease its surface tension and allow it to spread more easily over or penetrate into a surface that is covered with ACM.

002.50 Work Area means a specific room or physically isolated portion of a room in which ACM is required to be handled in accordance with the requirements of these regulations. These areas are designated as work areas from the time that the room, or portion of it, is being prepared in order to perform the asbestos project until the time the area has been cleaned free of all visible residue in accordance with applicable Departmental regulations.

002.51 Worker means an individual who is certified by the Department in a nonsupervisory capacity to clean, handle, repair, remove, encapsulate, haul, dispose of or otherwise work with ACM in activities involving more than three square feet or three linear feet of ACM.

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Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services
Asbestos Control/Lead-Based Paint Program
301Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 95026
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-5007
Phone:  (402) 471-0386
Fax: (402) 471-8833
Toll Free 888-242-1100 ext 1 in Nebraska only
E-mail: bobbie.mills@dhhs.ne.gov

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