Section 6C Health and safety of general public and asbestos workers; rules and regulations - Massachusetts Statutes

Section 6C. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations relative to the protection of the general public and the occupational health and safety of workers engaged in the use, handling, removal or disposal of asbestos or materials containing asbestos including, but not limited to, the construction, demolition, alteration or repair of any building or structure, including those owned or leased by the commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions or authorities. Such regulations shall require the adequate instruction and training of workers employed by such contractors. Such training shall include, but not be limited to, instructions in health risks, precautionary measures, protective equipment and other safeguards.

Such regulations shall provide that in order to constitute adequate precautionary measures, protective equipment, or other safeguards within the protective equipment, meet the following requirements:—

(1) Full facepiece Type C supplied-air respirators operated in pressure demand mode equipped with an auxiliary positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus shall be worn whenever airborne fiber concentrations inside the work area are equal to or greater than 10.0 f/cc.

(2) Full facepiece Type C supplied-air respirators operated in pressure demand mode with HEPA filter disconnect protection shall be worn whenever airborne fiber concentrations inside the work area are equal to or greater than 2.0 f/cc and less than 10.0 f/cc.

(3) Full facepiece powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) equipped with HEPA filters shall be worn whenever airborne fiber concentrations inside the work area are less than 2.0 f/cc. A supply of charged replacement batteries, HEPA filters and flow test meters shall be available in the clean room for use with powered air-purifying respirators. Any Type C supplied-air respirator operated in continuous flow may be substituted for a powered air-purifying respirator.

(4) Full-face or half mask air-purifying respirators with HEPA filters shall be worn only during asbestos-associated work, preparation of the work area, performance of repairs (e.g. using glovebag techniques), and final clean up procedures.

Any rule or regulation of the department which incorporates or references a rule, regulation or other proceeding of the federal government related to asbestos or asbestos containing material which is administered pursuant to this chapter shall be promulgated in accordance with the provisions of chapter thirty A.