Virginia Administrative Code
Title 18 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING
Agency 15 - VIRGINIA BOARD FOR ASBESTOS, LEAD, AND HOME INSPECTORS
Chapter 20 - VIRGINIA ASBESTOS LICENSING REGULATIONS
Part XIII - Accredited Asbestos Training Program Standards
Section 18VAC15-20-770 - Inspector training
Universal Citation: 8 VA Admin Code 15-20-770
Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024
Asbestos inspectors shall complete a three-day (24 hours) training program as outlined below. The training program shall include lectures, demonstrations, four hours of hands-on training, training program review and a written examination. The accredited asbestos inspector training program shall address the following topics:
1. Training program overview.
a. The role of the inspector in the asbestos
abatement industry.
b. A discussion
of inspection requirements and criteria for AHERA, NESHAP and state
agencies.
2. Background information on asbestos.
a. Identification of
asbestos, and examples and discussion of the uses and locations of asbestos in
buildings.
b. Physical appearance
of asbestos.
3. Potential health effects related to asbestos exposure.
a. The nature of asbestos-related
diseases.
b. Routes of exposure,
dose-response relationships and the lack of a safe exposure level.
c. The synergism between cigarette smoking
and asbestos exposure.
d. Latency
period for asbestos-related diseases, a discussion of the relationship of
asbestos exposure to asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and cancer of other
organs.
4. Functions/qualifications for inspectors.
a.
Discussions of prior experience and qualifications for inspectors and
management planners.
b. Discussions
of the functions of an accredited inspector as compared to those of an
accredited management planner.
c.
Discussion of the inspection process including inventory of ACM and physical
assessment.
5. Legal liabilities and defenses.
a. Responsibilities
of the inspector, a discussion of comprehensive general liability policies,
claims made and occurrence policies, environment and pollution liability policy
clauses; state liability insurance requirements.
b. Bonding and relationship of insurance
availability to bond availability.
6. Understanding building systems.
a. The relationship between building systems,
including: an overview of common building physical plan layout; heat,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system types; physical organization;
and where asbestos is found on HVAC components.
b. Building mechanical systems, their types
and organization and where to look for asbestos on such systems.
c. Inspecting electrical systems, including
appropriate safety precautions.
d.
Reading building plans and as-built drawings.
7. Public/employee/building occupant relations.
a. Notification of employee
organizations about the inspection.
b. Signs to warn building
occupants.
c. Tactics in dealing
with occupants and the press.
d.
Scheduling inspections to minimize disruptions.
e. Education of building occupants about
actions being taken.
8. Preinspection planning and review of previous inspection records.
a. Scheduling the inspection and obtaining
access.
b. Building record review;
identification of probable homogeneous areas from building plans or as-built
drawings.
c. Consultation with
maintenance or building personnel.
d. Review of previous inspection, sampling,
and abatement records of a building.
e. The role of the inspector in exclusions
for previously performed inspections.
9. Inspection for friable and nonfriable ACM and assessment of the condition of friable ACM.
a. Procedures to follow in conducting visual
inspections for friable and nonfriable ACM.
b. Types of building materials that may
contain asbestos.
c. Touching
materials to determine friability.
d. Open return air plenums and their
importance in HVAC systems.
e.
Assessing damage, significant damage, potential damage, and potential
significant damage.
f. Amount of
suspected ACM, both in total quantity and as a percentage of the total
area.
g. Type of damage.
h. Accessibility.
i. Material's potential for
disturbance.
j. Known or suspected
causes of damage or significant damage, and deterioration as assessment
factors.
10. Bulk sampling/documentation of asbestos in schools.
a. Detailed discussion of the "Simplified
Sampling Scheme for Friable Surfacing Materials" (EPA 560/5-85-030a October
1985).
b. Techniques to ensure
sampling in a randomly distributed manner for other than friable surfacing
materials.
c. Techniques for bulk
sampling.
d. Sampling equipment the
inspector should use.
e. Patching
or repair of damage done in sampling; an inspector's repair kit.
f. Discussion of polarized light
microscopy.
g. Choosing an
accredited laboratory to analyze bulk samples.
h. Quality control and quality assurance
procedures.
11. Inspector respiratory protection and equipment.
a. Classes and characteristics of respirator
types.
b. Limitations of
respirators.
c. Selection,
inspection, donning, use, maintenance, and storage procedures for
respirators.
d. Methods for field
testing of the facepiece-to-face seal (positive and negative pressure fitting
tests); qualitative and quantitative fit testing procedures.
e. Variability between field and laboratory
protection factors.
f. Factors that
alter respirator fit (e.g., facial hair, dental work, weight loss or
gain).
g. The components of a
proper respiratory protection program.
h. Selection and use of personal protective
clothing.
i. Use, storage, and
handling of nondisposable clothing.
12. Recordkeeping and writing the inspection report.
a. Labeling of samples and keying
sample identification to sampling location.
b. Recommendations on sample
labeling.
c. Detailing of ACM
inventory.
d. Photographs of
selected sampling areas and examples of ACM condition.
e. Information required for inclusion in the
management plan by TSCA Title II section 203 (i)(1).
13. Regulatory review.
a. EPA Worker Protection Rule found at 40 CFR
Part 763, Subpart G.
b. TSCA Title
II.
c. OSHA Asbestos Construction
Standard (29 CFR
1926.1101) .
d. OSHA respirator requirements (
29 CFR
1910.134) .
e. The friable ACM in Schools Rule found at
40 CFR Part 763, Subpart F.
f.
Applicable state and local regulations.
g. Differences in federal and state
requirements where they apply and the effects, if any, on public and nonpublic
schools, and commercial and public buildings.
14. Field trip.
a. Field exercise with a walk-through
inspection.
b. On-site discussion
of information gathering and determination of sampling locations.
c. On-site practice in physical
assessment.
d. Classroom discussion
of field exercise.
15. Training program review. A review of key aspects of the accredited asbestos training program.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-501 of the Code of Virginia.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Virginia may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
