Virginia Law

A. An initial comprehensive project monitor training program must last a minimum of five days. The project monitor training program must include lectures; demonstrations; at least six hours of hands-on training, which must permit project monitors the experience of performing actual tasks associated with asbestos project monitoring; a field trip; a training program review; and an examination.

B. A comprehensive initial project monitor training program must address the following topics:

1. The physical characteristics of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials.

a. Identification of asbestos.

b. Typical uses and locations in buildings and physical appearance.

c. A review of hazard assessment control options.

d. A summary of abatement control options.

2. Potential health effects related to asbestos exposure.

a. The nature of asbestos-related diseases.

b. Routes of exposure, dose-response relationships, and the lack of a safe exposure level.

c. Synergism between cigarette smoking and asbestos exposure.

d. Latency period for disease; discussion of the relationship between asbestos exposure and asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and cancer of the other organs.

3. Employee personal protective equipment.

a. Classes and characteristics of respirator types.

b. Limitations of respirators and proper selection, inspection, donning, use, maintenance, and storage procedures.

c. Methods for field testing of the facepiece-to-face seal (e.g., positive and negative pressure fitting tests).

d. Qualitative and quantitative fit testing procedures.

e. Variability between field and laboratory protection factors.

f. Factors that alter respirator fit (e.g., facial hair).

g. The components of a proper respiratory protection program.

h. Selection and uses of personal protective clothing; use, storage, and handling of nondisposable clothing.

i. Regulations covering personal protection equipment.

4. State of the art work practices.

a. Work practices for asbestos abatement activities, including description of proper construction and maintenance barriers and decontamination enclosure systems.

b. Positioning of warning signs.

c. Electrical and ventilation system lock-out.

d. Working techniques for minimizing fiber release, use of wet methods, use of negative pressure ventilation equipment, and use of high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuums. Entry and exit procedures for work area.

e. Clean-up and disposal procedures.

f. Work practices for removal, encapsulation, enclosure, and repair. Use of glove bags and a demonstration of glove bag use.

g. Emergency procedures for sudden release.

h. Potential exposure situations.

i. Transport and disposal procedures.

j. Recommended and prohibited work practices.

k. Discussion of new abatement related techniques and methodologies.

5. Personal hygiene.

a. Entry and exit procedures for the work area; use of showers; avoidance of eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing (gum or tobacco) in the work area.

b. Potential exposures, such as family exposure, must also be included.

6. Additional safety hazards as covered in 29 CFR Parts 1910 and 1926 to include:

a. Hazards encountered during the abatement activities and how to deal with them, including electrical hazards, heat stress, air contaminants other than asbestos, fire, and explosion hazards;

b. Scaffold and ladder hazards;

c. Slips, trips, and falls; and

d. Confined spaces.

7. Medical monitoring. OSHA requirements for a pulmonary function test, chest X-rays, and a medical history for each employee.

8. Respiratory protection programs and medical surveillance programs.

9. Insurance and liability issues:

a. Contractor issues, workers' compensation coverage, and exclusions.

b. Third-party liabilities and defenses.

c. Insurance coverage and exclusions.

10. Relevant federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, procedures, and standards, including:

a. Requirements of Title II (§ 2641 et seq.) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 USC § 2601 et seq.);

b. 40 CFR Part 61 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, Subparts A (General Provisions) and M (National Emission Standards for Asbestos);

c. OSHA Standards for respiratory protection (29 CFR 1910.134);

d. OSHA Asbestos Construction Standard (29 CFR 1926.1101);

e. OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1926.59);

f. EPA Worker Protection Rule, 40 CFR Part 763;

g. Requirements of Asbestos-Containing Waste Materials, 9VAC20-81-620;

h. Department of Transportation 49 CFR Parts 171 and 172 Subpart H; and

i. Virginia asbestos licensing regulations.

11. Air monitoring.

a. NIOSH asbestos monitoring procedure. Procedures to determine airborne concentration of asbestos fibers, including a description of aggressive sampling, sampling equipment, and methods.

(1) Explanation of analytical methods, measures of precision, control of errors, collecting samples, fiber counts, sampling and calibration equipment, statistics, and quality control techniques in sampling.

(2) Review of 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart F, §§ 1926.150 through 1926.155.

b. Sampling strategy.

(1) Why samples are taken.

(2) Sampling inside and outside of containment area.

(3) Placement of pumps.

c. Reasons for air monitoring.

d. Types of samples and interpretation of results, specifically from analysis performed by polarized light, phase-contrast, and electron microscopy analyses.

e. Final clearance.

12. Overview of supervisory techniques for asbestos abatement activities, to include the information covered in the accredited asbestos supervisor training program. A review of the required work practices and safety considerations.

13. Field trip.

a. Visit a proposed abatement site or other suitable building site, including onsite discussions of abatement design.

b. Building walk-through inspection and discussion following the walk-through.

14. Fiber aerodynamics and control.

a. Aerodynamic characteristics of asbestos fibers.

b. Importance of proper containment barriers.

c. Settling time for asbestos fibers.

d. Wet methods in abatement.

e. Aggressive air monitoring following abatement.

f. Aggressive air movement and negative pressure exhaust ventilation as a clean-up method.

15. Project specifications. Discussion of key elements that are included in contract specifications.

a. Means and methods specifications versus performance specifications.

b. Considerations for design of abatement in occupied buildings.

c. Worker and building occupant health and medical considerations.

d. Replacement of ACM with non-asbestos substitutes.

e. Clearance of work area after abatement.

f. Use of as-built drawings.

g. Use of inspection photographs and onsite reports.

h. Particular problems in abatement drawings.

16. Conducting inspections.

a. Inspection prior to containment to ensure condition of items and proper precleaning.

b. Inspection of containment prior to commencement of abatement to ensure that containment is complete and proper.

c. Daily work and containment inspections.

d. Final visual inspection and a discussion of the ASTM E1368 method.

17. Recordkeeping and documentation.

a. Project logs.

b. Inspection reports.

c. Waste shipment record requirements (WSR).

d. Recordkeeping required by federal, state, or local regulations.

e. Recordkeeping required for insurance purposes.

18. Role of project monitor in relation to:

a. Building owner;

b. Building occupants;

c. Abatement contractor; and

d. Other consultants.

19. Occupied buildings.

a. Special procedures recommended in occupied buildings.

b. Extra monitoring recommendations.

20. A review of NESHAP guidance documents.

21. A review of key aspects of the accredited asbestos training program.

22. Examination.

C. Applicants who are currently accredited by EPA as an asbestos supervisor or asbestos project designer may complete a 16-hour initial project monitor training program. A 16-hour initial project monitor program must include lectures; demonstrations; a least six hours of hands-on training, which must permit project monitors the experience of performing actual tasks associated with asbestos project monitoring; a training program review; and an examination. The 16-hour project monitor training program must cover the topics required by subdivisions B 11 through B 22 of this section.

D. Upon completion of the project monitor training program, the training program must administer a closed-book examination. The examination for the comprehensive initial project monitor training program must cover the topics required by subsection B of this section. The examination for the 16-hour initial project monitor training program must cover the topics required by subdivisions B 11 through B 22 of this section.

1. Each examination must have 100 multiple choice questions.

2. The passing score on the examination must be 70%.