1. What is an asbestos hazard abatement project?

   Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-34 defines an asbestos hazard abatement project as one or more asbestos hazard abatement activities that are conducted by one asbestos hazard abatement contractor and that are reasonably related to each other.

2. What is an asbestos hazard abatement activity?

   Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-34 defines an asbestos hazard abatement activity to mean any activity involving the removal, renovation, enclosure, repair, or encapsulation of reasonably related friable asbestos-containing materials in an amount greater than fifty linear feet or fifty square feet. Asbestos hazard abatement activity also includes any such activity involving such asbestos-containing materials in an amount of fifty linear or fifty square feet or less if, when combined with any other reasonably related activity in terms of time and location of the activity, the total amount is in an amount greater than fifty linear or fifty square feet.

3. Do I have to be licensed asbestos hazard abatement contractor to perform an asbestos hazard abatement activity?

   Yes. Refer to Questions Concerning Asbestos Certification and Licensure by the Ohio Department of Health for information on how to become licensed and certified.

4. Does Ohio have any special rules governing procedures for removal, renovation, enclosure, repair or encapsulation of asbestos-containing materials?

   Currently, the Ohio Department of Health only requires contractors to conduct each project in compliance with the decontamination procedures, project containment procedures and asbestos fiber containment methods established by regulations of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), 40 C.F.R. Part 61, Subpart M, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 29 C.F.R. Section 1926.1101 for business entities, or by regulations of the U.S. EPA, 40 C.F.R. Part 763, Subpart G for public entities.

5. What is an Asbestos Hazard Project Agreement?

   Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-34 defines the requirements of the Asbestos Hazard Abatement Project Agreement. This agreement must also be on the asbestos hazard abatement project site.

   Paragraph (A) of rule 3701-34-11 of the Ohio Administrative Code states:

   • No asbestos hazard abatement contractor shall enter into an agreement to perform any aspect of an asbestos hazard abatement project unless the agreement is in writing and contains all of the following:
      
     1. A requirement that all persons working on the project are licensed or certified by the department;
         
     2. A requirement that all project clearance levels and sampling be in accordance with the following:
        
        

        • All clearance air-sampling to be analyzed by phase contrast microscopy (PCM) shall be conducted in accordance with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method 7400 entitled "Fibers" published in the NIOSH manual of analytical methods, 3rd edition, second supplement, August 1987. A minimum of three samples shall be taken and show that the concentration of fibers for each sample is less than or equal to a limit of quantitation for PCM (0.01 fibers per cubic centimeter of air); and

        • All clearance air-sampling to be analyzed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 40 C.F.R. Part 763, Subpart E, Appendix A; and

     3. A requirement that all clearance air sampling be conducted by an asbestos hazard abatement air-monitoring technician, or asbestos hazard evaluation specialist certified by the department, or a certified industrial hygienist or industrial hygienist in training as certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.
         
     4. A detailed description of the project activities, including the amount, indicated in linear or square feet, of asbestos-containing material to be abated, the exact location and type of that material, and whether or not a contained work site will be established as required by regulations of the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 29 C.F.R. Part 1926.1101.
         
     5. A requirement that all asbestos hazard abatement activities be done in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local asbestos regulations.
        
        
6. What are the notification requirements for Ohio?
   
   
   • All asbestos hazard abatement contractors are required to notify the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) 10 business days prior to the start of any asbestos hazard abatement project (see questions 1&2). Refer to the ODH "Procedures for Completing Prior Notification for Asbestos Hazard Abatement Project (10/07)" for an explanation of notification requirements in Ohio.
      
   • Prior Notification of Asbestos Hazard Abatement form.
      
   • The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency enforces the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulation.
     
     
7. What are the blanket notification requirements for Ohio?
   
   
   • For information on ODH blanket notifications refer to the memorandum "Criteria and Procedure Required for the use of Blanket Notifications on Asbestos Hazard Abatement Projects. (9/03)".
      
   • Prior Notification of Asbestos Hazard Abatement form.
      
   • For information on blanket notifications for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, contact the Ohio EPA office in the area of the project.
     
     
8. What are the emergency notification requirements for Ohio?
   
   
   • For information on ODH emergency notifications, refer to the memorandum "Emergency Prior Notifications (1/99)". 
      
   • Prior Notification of Asbestos Hazard Abatement form.
      
   • For information on emergency notifications for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, contact the Ohio EPA office in the area of the project.
     
     
9. Who can I contact to get more information?

   Contact us: ODH Asbestos Program at (614) 466-0061 or e-mail us at ASBESTOS@odh.ohio.gov and we will be able to assist you.

Last Updated: 12/08/09

                                                                        Asbestos Program