Spraying Of Asbestos - - CA Health And Safety

Section § 25910

This law mainly prohibits the spraying, selling, or making of materials containing any asbestos in buildings during construction, alteration, or repair, unless there are specific exceptions. Portland cement plaster with less than 0.5% asbestos was initially exempt until July 1, 1979, as long as safer alternatives weren't available. Public hearings were to be held to classify exempt uses.

Coatings and resins with encapsulated asbestos, cold process asphalt roof coatings, and substances with natural impurities below 0.25% asbestos were also exempt until July 1, 1979, with a similar review process. Safety rules set exposure limits for workers during handling of these materials.

After July 1, 1979, exemptions could be amended based on new regulations. Inspections by the Division of Industrial Safety are not restricted by these exemptions, and existing safety and reporting standards must still be followed.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), (d), or (e), no person shall cause or permit the spraying of any substance containing any amount of asbestos in or upon a building or other structure during its construction, alteration, or repair.

(b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), (d), or (e), no person shall sell, transfer, purchase, or manufacture, including mix, compound, slurry, suspend, or in any other way prepare any substance containing any amount of asbestos which would, if sprayed in or upon a building or other structure during its construction, alteration, or repair, be regulated pursuant to subdivision (a).

(c)

(1) Portland cement plaster containing less than one-half of 1 percent asbestos shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter until July 1, 1979.

(2) Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 140) of Division 1 of the Labor Code, on or before June 1, 1979, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board shall conduct public hearings for the purpose of establishing classifications of methods and processes which are exempt from the prohibition of subdivision (a) for the use of portland cement plaster which contains less than one-half of 1 percent asbestos if no economically feasible method or process of spraying portland cement plaster which does not contain asbestos is commercially available. The board shall, on or before July 1, 1979, establish by regulation such classifications, if any, of methods and processes for the use of portland cement plaster which contains less than one-half of 1 percent asbestos which the board determines are exempt from the prohibition of subdivision (a). After July 1, 1979, the board may, after public hearings, amend, add, or repeal such regulations.

(3) During any use, spraying, application, handling, storage, repair, disposal, processing, or transportation of portland cement plaster containing asbestos, the person who causes or permits such acts pursuant to an exemption provided in, or adopted pursuant to, this subdivision shall comply with the provisions of Section 5208, Title 8, California Administrative Code as it exists on the effective date of the amendments to this section enacted by the Statutes of 1978 or as such provisions may, thereafter, be amended. However, on or before July 1, 1979, the board shall adopt regulations, and make such regulations operative on July 1, 1979, to establish the time weighted average concentration limits and ceiling concentration limits for employee exposure to airborne asbestos fibers arising from any use, spraying, application, handling, storage, repair, disposal, processing, or transportation of portland cement plaster containing asbestos pursuant to an exemption adopted pursuant to this subdivision at levels no higher than the levels contained in subparagraph (A), paragraph (1), subdivision (g) of Section 5208, Title 8, California Administrative Code, as it exists on the effective date of the amendments to this section enacted by the Statutes of 1978 or as such regulations may, thereafter, be amended.

(d)

(1) Exterior and interior coatings and laminating resins containing encapsulated asbestos fibers bound within the finished product from manufacture through application, and cold process asphalt roof coatings, shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter until July 1, 1979.

(2) Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 140) of Division 1 of the Labor Code, on or before June 1, 1979, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board shall conduct public hearings for the purpose of establishing classifications of use of products defined in paragraph (1) of this subdivision which are exempt from the prohibition of subdivision (a). The board shall, on or before July 1, 1979, establish by regulation such classifications, if any, of the use of products defined in paragraph (1) of this subdivision which the board determines are exempt from the prohibition of subdivision (a). After July 1, 1979, the board may, after public hearings, amend, add, or repeal such regulations.

During any use, spraying, application, handling, storage, repair, disposal, processing, or transportation of such products, the person who causes or permits such acts pursuant to an exemption provided in, or adopted pursuant to, this subdivision shall comply with the provisions of Section 5208, Title 8, California Administrative Code as it exists on the effective date of the amendments to this section enacted by the Statutes of 1978 or may, thereafter, be amended. However, on or before July 1, 1979, the board shall adopt regulations, and make such regulations operative on July 1, 1979, to establish the time weighted average concentration limits for employee exposure to airborne asbestos fibers arising from any use, spraying, application, handling, storage, repair, disposal, processing, or transportation of exterior and interior coatings and laminating resins containing asbestos fibers contained within the finished product from manufacture through application, and cold process asphalt roof coatings pursuant to an exemption adopted pursuant to this subdivision at levels no higher than the levels contained in subparagraph (A), paragraph (1), subdivision (g) of Section 5208, Title 8, California Administrative Code, as it exists on the effective date of the amendments to this section enacted by the Statutes of 1978 or as such regulations may, thereafter, be amended.

(e)

(1) Any substance which contains less than one-quarter of 1 percent asbestos which occurs solely as a result of naturally occurring impurities in the substance or its components shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter until July 1, 1979.

(2) Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 140) of Division 1 of the Labor Code, on or before June 1, 1979, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board shall conduct public hearings for the purpose of establishing classifications of use of products defined in paragraph (1) of this subdivision which are exempt from the prohibition of subdivision (a). The board shall, on or before July 1, 1979, establish by regulation such classifications, if any, of the use of products defined in paragraph (1) of this subdivision which the board determines are exempt from the prohibition of subdivision (a). After July 1, 1979, the board may, after public hearings, amend, add, or repeal such regulations.

(3) During any use, spraying, application, handling, storage, repair, disposal, processing, or transportation of such products, the person who causes or permits such acts pursuant to an exemption provided in, or adopted pursuant to, this subdivision shall comply with the provisions of Section 5208, Title 8, California Administrative Code as it exists on the effective date of the amendments to this section enacted by the Statutes of 1978 or may, thereafter, be amended. However, on or before July 1, 1979, the board shall adopt regulations, and make such regulations operative on July 1, 1979, to establish the time weighted average concentration limits and ceiling concentration limits for employee exposure to airborne asbestos fibers arising from any use, spraying, application, handling, storage, repair, disposal, processing, or transportation of any substance which contains less than one-quarter of 1 percent asbestos which occurs solely as a result of naturally occurring impurities in the substance or its components pursuant to an exemption adopted pursuant to this subdivision at levels no higher than the levels prescribed in subparagraph (A), paragraph (1), subdivision (g) of Section 5208, Title 8, California Administrative Code, as it exists on the effective date of the amendments to this section enacted by the Statutes of 1978 or as such regulations may, thereafter, be amended.

(f) The adoption of classifications of methods or processes or uses which are exempted from the prohibition of subdivision (a) by the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board made pursuant to this section shall not in any way limit or prevent any inspections by the Division of Industrial Safety of the Department of Industrial Relations. The provisions of this section shall not supersede or in any way limit the requirements for monitoring and complying with the airborne asbestos fiber exposure limits, employee protective requirements, and reporting requirements of Section 24230 of this code, of Section 142.3 or 6500 of the Labor Code, or of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

asbestos spraying prohibition construction alteration repair Portland cement plaster exemption Occupational Safety and Health Standards safety regulations asbestos exposure limits cold process asphalt roof coatings encapsulated asbestos fibers naturally occurring impurities public hearings for exemptions worker safety standards industrial safety inspections employee protection requirements airborne asbestos fiber monitoring exemption classification

(Amended by Stats. 1978, Ch. 1001.)

Section § 25910.5

This law gives the State Department of Health Services in California the authority to create rules about asbestos use if they determine it is harmful to public health.

The department is also responsible for enforcing these rules. They can take legal action to stop or correct any violations of the rules to ensure public health is safeguarded.

(a) The State Department of Health Services shall adopt regulations prohibiting or regulating the use of asbestos notwithstanding Section 25910 if the state department finds that such use is dangerous to the public health.

(b) The State Department of Health Services shall enforce the regulations adopted pursuant to this section, and may commence and maintain all proper actions to enjoin and abate violations of such regulations or to compel the performance of any act specifically required of any person, officer, or board by such regulations to protect and preserve the public health.

asbestos regulation public health protection state department authority asbestos use prohibition regulatory enforcement health safety regulations violation abatement asbestos harm prevention legal enforcement actions public health preservation asbestos-related health risks regulatory compliance health department rules asbestos usage control

(Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 377.)

Section § 25911

If someone breaks any rule in this part of the law, it's considered a minor criminal offense known as a misdemeanor.

Any violation of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor.

misdemeanor criminal offense law violation penalty illegal act offense classification minor crime legislative breach legal penalty punishable act

(Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1432.)

Section § 25912

If a building department or agency finds that asbestos is being improperly used while building, in violation of certain rules, they must either cancel the building permit or make sure the problem is fixed.

Any building department of any city, county, city and county, or other enforcement agency charged with issuance and enforcement of building permits shall revoke any building permit if asbestos is being applied in violation of Section 25910 or require that corrective action be taken.

building permit revocation asbestos application corrective action building departments enforcement agencies asbestos violations permit cancellation construction regulations asbestos safety building inspection compliance enforcement health and safety permit enforcement asbestos regulations building code compliance

(Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 98.)

Section § 25913

This law outlines the responsibilities of enforcing employee safety and public health related to hazardous substances in California. The Division of Occupational Safety and Health is tasked with ensuring worker safety, particularly when employees handle certain hazardous materials. They can issue orders to stop the use or entry into areas until safety issues are resolved, without needing to prove specific dangers at a hearing. The State Department of Health Services handles environmental and public health enforcement, dealing with violations and ensuring compliance with safety standards not covered by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health. They can also alert the Division about any issues they find related to worker safety.

(a)

(1) The Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the Department of Industrial Relations shall enforce this chapter with respect to the safety of employees as provided in Part 1 (commencing with Section 6300) of Division 5 of the Labor Code.

(2) However, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health shall be responsible for the enforcement of subdivision (b) of Section 25910 only with respect to the manufacture of the substances described there, only when workers are handling such substances, and only if the division or any employee or agent of the division becomes aware of such manufacture. Furthermore, in such cases, the division shall enforce subdivision (b) of Section 25910 by issuing an order prohibiting use or entry, pursuant to the procedure described in Sections 6325 to 6327, inclusive, of the Labor Code, regardless of whether there exists employee exposure, a dangerous condition, improper guarding, dangerous placement, or an imminent hazard, and at any hearing concerning the validity of such an order, no proof need be tendered by the division concerning employee exposure, dangerous condition, improper guarding, dangerous placement, or imminent hazard.

(b) The State Department of Health Services shall have the responsibility for the administration and enforcement of this chapter with respect to its environmental and public health purposes and may commence and maintain all proper and necessary actions to enjoin activities constituting violations of this chapter or to compel the performance of any act specifically required of any person, officer, or board by this chapter with respect to the environmental and public health purposes of this chapter. The state department shall enforce the provisions of Section 25910 in any circumstances or facilities except as provided in subdivision (a) of this section, and, in such event, may notify the Division of Occupational Safety and Health of any violations of such provisions within its jurisdiction.

Division of Occupational Safety and Health employee safety enforcement State Department of Health Services hazardous substances public health enforcement workplace safety environmental health hazardous material handling prohibiting use orders compelling performance of duties substance manufacturing safety worker exposure safety regulation enforcement occupational safety employee protection

(Amended by Stats. 1980, Ch. 676.)