Osha Regulations

OSHA Regulations:

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began regulating workplace asbestos exposure in 1970, adopting a permissible exposure limit (PEL) to regulate worker exposures. Over the years, more information on the adverse health effects of asbestos exposure has become available, prompting the agency to revise the asbestos standard to better protect workers.

In 1994, OSHA issued a revised final standard regulating asbestos exposure in all industries. The revised standard for the construction industry lowers the PEL from 0.2 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc) of air to 0.1 f/cc.  Approximately 3.2 million workers in new construction, building renovation, and maintenance and custodial work are affected by the new standard. OSHA estimates that adherence to the new standard will prevent at least 42 cancer deaths a year.