ASB – Asbestos Certification

7058.5. (a) No contractor shall engage in asbestos-related work, as defined in Section 6501.8 of the Labor Code, which involves 100 square feet or more of surface area of asbestos containing materials, unless the qualifier for the license passes an asbestos certification examination. Additional updated asbestos certification examinations may be required based on new health and safety information. The decision on whether to require an updated certification examination shall be made by the Contractors' State License Board, in consultation with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health in the Department of Industrial Relations and the State Department of Health Services.

No asbestos certification examination shall be required for contractors involved with the installation, maintenance, and repair of asbestos cement pipe or sheets, vinyl asbestos floor materials, or asbestos bituminous or resinous materials.

"Asbestos" as used in this section, has the same meaning as defined in Section 6501.7 of the Labor Code.

(b) The Contractors' State License Board shall develop, and deliver to all applicants with the request for bond and fee, a booklet containing information relative to handling and disposal of asbestos, together with an open book examination concerning asbestos-related work. All applicants for an initial contractor's license and all applicants filing a delinquent renewal application who have not previously completed the open book examination shall complete and sign the open book examination and submit it to the Contractors' State License Board with the required renewal or bond and fee.

(Amended by Stats. 1991, Chapter 1160 (AB 2190).)

The Asbestos Abatement Certification Examination is divided into six major sections. These sections are:

1. Asbestos Site Evaluation (15%)

• Environmental lab result interpretation
• Abatement methods, procedures, and equipment
• Plan and specification interpretation
• Negative air flow calculations

2. Site Preparation (16%)

• Pre-cleaning procedures
• Negative air flow principles and procedures
• Containment construction
• Decontamination facility construction
• Mini-containment construction

3. Abatement and Decontamination (19%)

• Amended water principles and application procedures
• Enclosure and encasement
• Encapsulant types and application techniques
• Methods for preventing asbestos fiber migration
• Containment removal and area decontamination procedures

4. Regulations and Reporting (14%)

• Agency notification and documentation requirements
• MSDS requirements
• Record-keeping requirements
• Employee trust fund requirements

5. Handling, Transportation, and Disposal of ACM (14%)

• Methods for containerizing asbestos waste
• Labeling requirements for ACM waste
• Hazardous waste manifest requirements
• Transportation and disposal facility requirements for hazardous waste

6. Safety Procedures for Handling ACM (22%)

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Air monitoring procedures
• Medical regulations
• Job site notification requirements
• Worker decontamination procedures

*Percentages are approximate*

The following questions are typical of the types of items that are on the examination. The correct answer is highlighted.

1. When taking an air sample using TEM, a contractor draws 2000 liters of air through each filter at 5 liters per minute. Six samples are collected from inside the work site. One field blank and one laboratory blank are included in the analysis. According to EPA, the contractor has proceeded:

1. Correctly
2. Incorrectly - the total volume being drawn through each filter is too low.
3. Incorrectly - the volume being drawn through each filter per minute is too low.
4. Incorrectly - blanks should not be used in the analysis

2. Which of the following asbestos-containing materials is generally considered to be non-friable?

1. sprayed-on acoustical material
2. floor tile
3. pipe insulation
4. elbow coverings on pipe

3. Which of the following statements about securing asbestos contaminated materials for disposal is TRUE?

1. Loaded bags should be dry-wiped before placement into second bags.
2. Loaded bags should be cleaned before entry into the decon chamber.
3. Loaded bags should be placed into second bags in the dirty room or wash room.
4. A worker moving clean bags to a transport vehicle does not need to wear a mask.

*All questions are written and reviewed by licensed contractors who are actively working in the field*

Asbestos

Section 5208, Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7.

Building News, Inc.

1612 S. Clementine Street, Anaheim, CA 92802.

(800) 873-6397. FAX: (714) 535-8078

INTERNET: www.bni-books.com

Cal/OSHA Construction Safety Orders.

Barclays Law Publishers,

P.O. Box 95767, Chicago, IL 60694.

(800) 888-3600. FAX: (415) 732-8861.

OR Building News, Inc.

1612 S. Clementine Street, Anaheim, CA 92802.

(800) 873-6397 or FAX: (714) 535-8078

INTERNET: ccr.oal.ca.gov or www.bni-books.com

Cal/OSHA Confined Spaces,

Article 108, Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7.

Department of Industrial Relations,

P.O. Box 6500, Carlsbad, CA 92018.

(800) 829-8123. FAX: (619) 438-0398.

INTERNET: www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/dosh_publications/Index.html

Guide to Cal/OSHA: Cal/OSHA Guide for the Construction Industry Guide to Developing Your Workplace Injury & Illness Prevention Program.

Department of Industrial Relations,

P.O. Box 6500, Carlsbad, CA 92018.

(800) 829-8123. FAX: (619) 438-0398.

INTERNET: www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/dosh_publications/Index.html

Guide to Cal/OSHA: High Hazard Employer Program Brochure.

Department of Industrial Relations,

P.O. Box 6500, Carlsbad, CA 92018.

(800) 829-8123. FAX: (619) 438-0398.

INTERNET: www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/dosh_publications/Index.html

Guide to Respiratory Protection at Work.

U.S. Department of Industrial Relations,

P.O. Box 6500, Carlsbad, CA 92018.

(800) 829-8123. FAX: (619) 438-0398.

INTERNET: www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/dosh_publications/Index.html

*Publisher information is current as of 01/01*