Work Practices

The following pages discuss the asbestos work practices that are regulated by MDH.

Asbestos Inspection and Assessment. Before any asbestos-related work is done, an asbestos inspection and assessment should be conducted. This page discusses topics related to asbestos inspection and assessment, including who can do an asbestos inspection and the final asbestos inspection report.

Asbestos Work Outdoors. This page discusses the MDH regulations regarding asbestos-related work outside of a building, including a residence.

Commercial Roofing Removal. Roofing is considered a type of outdoor work, but there are special requirements that come into play when asbestos-containing roofing is being removed. Those requirements are discussed here.

Asbestos Work in Tunnels. Tunnels offer challenges regarding asbestos-related work. This page discusses those challenges and how they are to be dealt with.

The Asbestos Project Plan. The project plan serves as a road map of the asbestos removal project. This page details what a project plan is, what it consists of, and when it should be completed.

Pre-Cleaning the Work Area. Before any asbestos-related work is done, the work area needs to be pre-cleaned to ensure that any contamination. The proper ways to pre-clean are discussed here.

Negative Pressure Guidelines. One of the primary engineering controls for asbestos removal is the establishment of negative pressure. This page discusses how to establish negative pressure and what alternatives there are if negative pressure can't be achieved.

Facility Component Removal or “Wrap and Cut”. Sometimes it is easier and more cost effective to simply remove the entire facility component that is covered with asbestos. This is known unofficially as "Wrap & Cut." Find out more about this type of work practice on this page.

Demolition and Asbestos. Asbestos should be removed from a building before it is demolished to ensure the public's health and to protect the environment. Find out how building demolition is regulated by MDH on this page.

Air Monitoring Requirements. Since asbestos is an airborne contaminant, proper air monitoring is essential to protect the public health and the environment. Find out who can do it and what other MDH requirements are regarding air monitoring on this page.

High or Overloaded Outside Air Samples. Sometimes work site conditions lead to high fiber counts or overloaded samples. Find out how to deal with those issues on this page.

Establishing an Alternative Indoor Air Standard. This page documents how to to calculate an alternative indoor standard if you know you are going to be sampling in a dusty environment.

Air Samples with < 2,000 liters of Air. It is vital to have the required amount of air sampled so the sample can be considered statistically accurate. However, sometimes it is not possible to sample the required amount of air. This page will help you handle those situations when they arise.

Removing Ceiling Tiles and Panels. Sometimes ceiling tiles need to be move or removed for various purposes. This page will help you determine if these activities are regulated by MDH on this page.

Encapsulation vs. Maintenance vs. Repair of Asbestos. Find out the difference between these work practices and whether or not they are regulated by MDH on this page.

Removal of Non-Friable Flooring. Non-friable flooring isn't regulated by MDH. But it can easily become friable, which may make it regulated by MDH. Find out what to do if you find yourself in this situation here.

Asbestos in Soil.