Okla. Admin. Code § 380:50-6-4

Current through Vol. 42, No. 8, January 2, 2025

Section 380:50-6-4 - Initial training for asbestos inspectors

(a) In the State of Oklahoma, anyone seeking accreditation or licensure from the Department of Labor must obtain their training from an EPA or DOL accredited training provider, including but not limited to educational institution, labor union, or government agency, or from a private vocational education provider licensed by the state where it operates (pursuant to 70 O.S. § 21-103 within the state of Oklahoma) and accredited by EPA or an EPA approved governmental agency.

(b) Such institutions, labor unions or government agencies may receive their DOL accreditation through the Oklahoma Accreditation Plan providing the following criteria are met:

(1) The training for AHERA Inspectors shall be specific to the discipline and shall not be combined with training for any other discipline.

(2) The AHERA Inspector's course shall be no less than three days in length and shall include: lectures, demonstrations, and at least 4 hours of hands-on training, individual respirator fit testing, course review and an written examination. Hands-on training should include conducting a simulated building walk-through inspection and respirator fit testing. The OAP also recommends the use of audio-visual materials to complement lectures, where appropriate. One day of training equals 8 hours, including breaks and lunch.

(3) Course instruction must be provided by EPA or State approved shall be based on a review of the instructor's academic credentials and/or field experience in asbestos abatement.

(4) The training course for AHERA Inspectors shall adequately address the following topics:

(A) Background information on asbestos. Identification of asbestos and example and discussions of the uses and locations of asbestos in buildings; physical appearance of asbestos.

(B) Potential health effects related to asbestos-exposure. The nature of asbestos-related diseases; routes of exposure; dose-response relationships and the lack of safe exposure levels; the synergistic effect between cigarette smoking and asbestos exposure; the latency periods for asbestos related diseases; a discussion of the relationship of asbestos exposure to asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and cancers of other organs.

(C) Functions/qualifications and role of inspectors. Discussions of prior experience and qualifications for inspectors and management planners; discussions of the functions of an accredited inspector as compared to those of an accredited management planner; discussion of the inspection process including inventory of ACM and physical assessment.

(D) Legal liabilities and defenses. Responsibilities of the inspector and management planner; a discussion of comprehensive general liability policies, claims-made and occurrence policies, environmental and pollution liability possibility clauses; state liability insurance requirements; bonding and the relationship of insurance availability to bond availability.

(E) Understanding building systems. The interrelationship between building systems, including: an overview of common building plan layout; heat, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system types, physical organization and where to look for asbestos on such systems; inspecting electrical systems including appropriate safety precautions.

(F) Public/employee/building occupant relations. Notifying employee organizations about the inspections; signs to warn building occupants,; tact in dealing with occupants and the press; scheduling of inspections to minimize disruptions; and education of building occupants about actions being taken.

(G) Pre-inspection planning and review of previous inspection records. Scheduling the inspection and obtaining access; building record review; identification of probable homogeneous areas from blueprints or as-built drawings; consultations with maintenance or building personnel; review of previous inspection, sampling and abatement records of a building; the role of the inspector in exclusions for previously performed inspections.

(H) Inspecting for friable and non-friable ACM and assessing the condition of friable ACM. Procedures to following in conducting visual inspections for friable and non-friable ACM; types of building materials that may contain asbestos; touching materials to determine friability; open return air plenums and their importance in HVAC systems; accessing damage, significant damage and potential significant damage; amount of suspected ACM, both in total quantity and as a percentage of the total area; type of damage; accessibility; material's potential for disturbance; known or suspected causes of damage or significant damage; and deterioration as assessment factor.

(I) Bulk sampling/documentation of asbestos. Detailed discussion of the "Simplified Sampling Scheme for Friable Surfacing Materials (EPA 560/5-85030a October 1985)"; techniques to ensure sampling in a randomly distributed manner for other than friable surfacing materials; sampling of non-friable materials; techniques for bulk sampling; inspector's sampling and repair equipment; patching or repair of damage from sampling; discussion of polarized light microscopy; choosing an accredited laboratory to analyze bulk samples; quality control and quality assurance procedures; EPA's recommendation that all bulk samples collected from school or public and commercial buildings be analyzed by laboratory accredited under the NVLAP administered by NIST.

(J) Inspector respiratory protection and personal protective equipment. Classes and characteristics of respirator types; limitations of respirators; proper selection, inspection; donning, use, maintenance and storage procedures for respirators; methods for field testing of the facepiece- to -face seal (positive and negative pressure fit checks); qualitative and quantitative fit testing; variability between field and laboratory protection factors that alter respiratory fit (e.g., facial hair, etc.); the components of a proper respiratory protection program; selection and use of personal protective equipment; selection and use of personal protective clothing; use storage and handling of non-disposable clothing.

(K) Recordkeeping and writing the inspection report. Labeling of samples and keying sample identification to sampling location; recommendations on sample labeling; detailing of ACM inventory; photographs of selected sampling areas and samples of ACM condition; information required for including in the management plan required for school buildings under TSCA Title II, Section 203(i)(1).

(L) Regulatory review. The following topic should be covered: NESHAP, (40CFR part 61 Subparts A and M); EPA Worker Protection Rule; OSHA Construction Industry Standard; OSHA respiratory protection requirements; AHERA; applicable Oklahoma Rules; and the differences between state and federal rules.

(M) Field trip. This includes a field exercise, including a walk-through inspection; on-site discussion about information gathering and the determination of sampling locations; on-site practice in physical assessment; classroom discussion or field exercise.

(N) Course review. A review of key aspects of the training course.

Okla. Admin. Code § 380:50-6-4

Added at 15 Ok Reg 3247, eff 7-13-98 ; Amended at 30 Ok Reg 850, eff 7-1-13