Cleanpeers.com>Articles>Asbestos VCT
Guidelines
I have heard many questions
regarding this. OSHA's view.
Guidelines for Maintaining and Stripping Hard Surface Floors That
Contain or May Contain Asbestos(Source: OSHA and EPA Guidelines)
As of January 1, 2003 By Roger McFadden Vice-President of Technical
Services Coastwide Laboratories Wilsonville, Oregon 97070
Treat all vinyl or composition tile floors installed before 1980 as if
they contain asbestos unless it verified that they do not contain asbestos.
EPA prefers that floor tiles containing asbestos remain in place and
not be removed unless absolutely necessary. Keeping tiles in place and using
proper floor care procedures is preferred over replacing tiles. If tiles are
removed then appropriate abatement procedures must be followed.
Limit frequency of wax stripping and finish applications.
Floor care personnel should be properly trained as to asbestos
awareness as least once yearly. Floor tiles should be KEPT WET during all
cleaning and wax stripping operations.
Use low speed floor machines with less than 300 RPM or use mop-on and
mop-off wax strippers when stripping floors that contain asbestos. Use the
least abrasive pad possible during floor scrubbing, stripping or burnishing.
NEVER buff or burnish an unwaxed, unfinished or uncoated floor
containing asbestos.
Buffing and burnishing is allowed when adequate amounts of finish are
present. Use a semi-permanent sealer to reduce the chance of asbestos fibers
from escaping into the surrounding air.
_________________
George Barnett
Owner: G & G Services
www.webnow.com/hydrotech