North Dakota (ND) Asbestos Removal & Abatement Resources:
The North Dakota Department of Health recognizes asbestos as “a group of naturally occurring minerals whose crystals form into long, thin fibers” and is known for its “high tensile strength, flexibility, acoustical properties, and resistance to thermal, chemical, and electrical conditions” (1). Because of the need to create insulated, fire-resistant buildings, asbestos has been used in over 3,600 building materials (1). Some of these materials include spray-on ceiling and wall texture, fireproofing, plaster, pipe coverings, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, roofing felt, concrete pipes, and exterior siding, among others (1). While asbestos-containing material that is in good condition and is not destroyed generally does not present a health risk, when these materials are disturbed, such as in a renovation or demolition project, asbestos fibers can become airborne, where they can become a hazard (1). The North Dakota Department of Health warns that when inhaled, asbestos can cause serious diseases, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis (1). Oftentimes, symptoms of these diseases do not appear for anywhere between 10 to 30 years after exposure (1). While there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, the chances of developing one of these diseases increases with intense or prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers (1). For this reason, demolition and renovation projects that involve the destruction of asbestos-containing materials are dangerous unless strict procedures are followed (1). To keep people and the environment safe, the Asbestos Control Program in the Division of Air Quality enforces the Emission Standards for asbestos under the North Dakota Air Pollution Control Rules and oversees licensing contractors (1). Since asbestos is invisible to the eye, Federal and State regulations require that all affects parts of a facility that are to be renovated or demolished be inspected for asbestos containing material (1). Fortunately, asbestos professionals are trained to safely inspect for asbestos, plan to remove any asbestos hazards, and abate, encapsulate, or encase materials if necessary.
Asbestos Certification and Training
In order to perform any asbestos-related activity outside of their own homes, all workers must be trained and certified through the North Dakota Department of health (2). There are six different categories that asbestos workers are separated into: asbestos inspectors, asbestos management planners, asbestos abatement supervisors, asbestos abatement workers, and asbestos abatement project monitors (2). Each of these disciplines requires different courses to be completed, the content of which is geared towards their specific duties. Asbestos inspectors are responsible for inspecting facilities for asbestos-containing materials; asbestos management planners develop facility plans for the management of asbestos-containing material; asbestos abatement supervisors supervise workers removing, encapsulating, or enclosing asbestos and may include foremen; asbestos abatement workers are hired to abate more than three square feet or three linear feet of friable asbestos material; and asbestos project monitors monitor asbestos removal projects to ensure that all regulations are followed properly and fully (2). These workers all work together to form a comprehensive asbestos unit that can assess, plan to solve, and eliminate any asbestos problems that may be present.
Abatement Procedures
In North Dakota, all demolition and renovations projects involving the removal or more than three square feel of regulated asbestos-containing material are subject to regulations and in renovation projects where more than 60 square feet of regulated asbestos-containing material on facility components, more than 260 square feet on pipes, or 35 cubic feet on or off facility components are to be disturbed must give proper notification (3). There are a number of regulations that apply to these facilities. The purpose of these is to minimize the emission of asbestos fibers into the air, keeping workers, residents, and the environment safe (3). First, all regulated asbestos-containing material must be removed from a regulated building that is to be demolished or renovated before any activities occur that could disturb those materials (3). Asbestos can be removed from a facility component in one of two ways. Either the entire component can be removed, or sometimes, the asbestos can be stripped from the component without it being removed (3). When the entire component is to be removed, it should be removed intact, or in large pieces, and in both cases, all of the regulated material must be adequately wetted before handling (3). The component must be wrapped or contained prior to the disjointing operation to avoid excess dust (3). Once the pieces are removed, they must be carefully lowered to the ground instead of being dropped, thrown, slid, or damaged (3). In cases where wetting would cause damage to equipment or create an unsafe working environment, permission can be obtained to use alternative methods of emission control (3). For example, contractors can set up local exhaust ventilation and collection systems, establish glove bag systems, or use leak tight wrapping to contain all of the material prior to dismantling (3).
Asbestos Waste Removal
Since asbestos waste is considered hazardous, there are several precautions that workers must take when disposing of asbestos. To ensure that there is no excess creation of dust, all materials must be wetted, and there may be no visible emissions during collection, mixing, or wetting operations (3). Once properly wetted, the material must be placed in leak tight containers (3). Pieces that are too large for containers must be properly wrapped (3). All waste must have warning labels affixed that state “DANGER. CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS. AVOID CREATING DUST. CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD,” and before the waste is removed from the site, the containers must be labeled with the name of the waste generator and the location that it was generated (3). As soon as practical, these labeled containers must be deposited at department-approved waste sites (3). When these materials must be transported, they must be moved in marked vehicles and create no visible emissions (3).
The regulations that workers must adhere to are very stringent, yet they are crucial when handling such a dangerous material. All licensed asbestos workers are highly trained to know what regulations apply under which circumstances and how best to work to the federal and state standards. For this reason, it is always best that even private homeowners hire professionals for all asbestos-related projects. Fortunately, there are plenty of licensed professionals in North Dakota who can assess situations involving asbestos and if necessary make plans to solve any problems and execute those plans.
'North Dakota (ND) Asbestos Removal & Abatement Resources' Sources:
1) “Asbestos Fact Sheet: Information for the Homeowner.” North Dakota Department of Health. 15 October 2007 < http://www.health.state.nd.us/AQ/iaq/asb/geninfo.htm>.
2) “Asbestos Training and Certification.” North Dakota Department of Health. 15 October 2007 <http://www.health.state.nd.us/aq/iaq/asb/AsbBrochure.htm>.
3) “Chapter 33-15-13: Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.” North Dakota Legislative Branch. 16 October 2007 <http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/33-15-13.pdf>.
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