OSHA 10-Hour Construction ReviewHealth Hazards in ConstructionHard
A construction company is conducting a full-scale demolition of an industrial facility built in 1965. The facility contains numerous pipes, boilers, and insulation materials that are likely to contain asbestos. What is the most effective engineering control to minimize airborne asbestos fiber release during removal operations?
- AUsing wet methods to keep materials damp during removal.
- BErecting warning signs around the work area.
- CImplementing administrative controls such as worker rotation.
- DProviding all workers with N100 respirators.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Using wet methods to keep materials damp during removal.
Using wet methods (wetting down asbestos-containing materials) is a highly effective engineering control that significantly reduces the release of airborne asbestos fibers by binding them to water droplets. This directly addresses the source of the hazard.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Warning signs are an administrative control for communication, not an engineering control to minimize fiber release.
- C. Administrative controls like worker rotation reduce exposure duration but do not prevent fiber release at the source.
- D. N100 respirators are personal protective equipment (PPE), which are less preferred than engineering controls and do not prevent fiber release at the source.
Asbestos Wet Methods
Wet methods involve applying water or amended water to asbestos-containing materials during removal to suppress dust and airborne fiber release.
- Primary engineering control for asbestos.
- Significantly reduces airborne fiber counts.
- Must be continuously applied to be effective.
Memory trick: Asbestos: Eliminate, Engineer, Administer, PPE.