Table C1: Recommended Assessments and Actions for Worker Safety Concerns
Confined Spaces Asbestos
Assessment: Determine whether workers will be exposed to
ACM. Because of the predominant use of ACM, construc
tion and renovation activities in older schools may expose
workers to this hazard. The Asbestos Hazard Emergency
Response Act (AHERA), a provision of the Toxic Substanc
es Control Act, became law in 1986. AHERA requires
local education agencies to inspect their schools for ACMs
and prepare management plans to prevent or reduce
asbestos hazards, often known as an AHERA asbestos
management plan.
Actions
• Comply with the ACM in Schools Rule at 40 CFR
Part 763, Subpart E and the OSHA rule at 29 CFR
Part 1926.1101, which provides the required protec
tion measures for work involving ACMs.
• See OSHA's website on asbestos for additional
information and resources.
Chemical Hazards
Assessment: Determine whether workers will be exposed to
chemical hazards
l
by chemicals in use, accidentally
released by actions taken (e.g., spills from mercury-
containing lamps or ballasts), or contact with pre-existing
chemically contaminated building materials, subsoils or
vapors.
Actions
• Comply with the OSHA rule at 29 CFR Part
1910.1200, which includes the following requirements
(not an exhaustive list):
o that chemical content information be made
available for all chemicals in use;
o that containers be properly labeled; and
o that workers handling chemicals be properly
informed and trained.
• Use chemicals that are best-in-class for the particular
application in terms of having low toxic content and/
or low contaminant emissions. Examples include
paints, adhesives, sealants and coatings that meet the
emissions criteria of California Department of Public
Health Specification 01350.
• Proper health and safety precautions should be
employed by workers who use or may come in contact
with pesticides or chemical contaminants in building
materials, subsoils or vapors.
• For pesticides, comply with EPA's 40 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 170—Current Agricultural Worker
Protection Standard (includes all amendments as of
October 3, 1997).
• See OSHA's website on chemical hazards
communication for additional information and
resources.
Assessment: Determine whether workers will be exposed to
confined-space hazards.
Actions
• Ensure the work space is cleaned regularly and has ad
equate ventilation and exhaust and that construction is
phased properly to protect workers and occupants from
construction activities that are considered high risk,
as outlined in SMACNA "IAQ Guidelines for Occupied
Buildings Under Construction," 2nd Edition.
• Under OSHA rule at 29 CFR Part 1926.21 (b)(6)(i),
inform all employees required to enter confined or
enclosed spaces about the following:
o the nature of the hazards involved;
o the necessary precautions to be taken; and
o the use of required protective and emergency
equipment.
• See OSHA's website on confined spaces for additional
resources on confined space hazards in general industry.
• See OSHA's "Protect Yourself: Carbon Monoxide
Poisoning" Quick Card for additional information on
sources of CO and recommended actions for preventing
CO exposure.
• See Priority Issue 13.0 Building Products/Materials
Emissions and EPA's Design for the Environment
Program website for more information on selecting
less toxic products and materials that may be used in
confined spaces.
Dust
Assessment: Determine whether the work will generate
dust. Use best-practice measures to manage and control
air quality contaminants in areas of work.
Actions
• Educate workers about dust containment procedures
and how to control dust and debris created by equip
ment used in construction activities.
• Use work methods that minimize dust and prevent dust
from spreading to other areas of the school.
• Isolate areas where work is being performed (e.g.,
sealed with plastic sheeting) to contain any dust that is
generated during construction activities.
• Remove all classroom furniture from the work area or
cover furniture with plastic sheeting to prevent dust
contamination.
• Turn off forced-air, central heating and air-conditioning
systems (including local, window air conditioning units)
while work that creates dust is being completed.
• Collect and remove all construction debris.
• Conduct a careful cleanup routinely and at the end of
the project.
• See OSHA's websites on wood dust, combustible dust,
and permissible exposure limits for additional informa
tion and resources.
l. Based on 29 CFR Part 1926.59, a chemical hazard is a chemical that is either a physical hazard or a health hazard. "Physical hazard" refers to a chemi
cal for which there is scientifically valid evidence that it is a combustible liquid, a compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer,
pyrophoric, unstable (reactive) or water-reactive. "Health hazard" refers to a chemical for which there is statistically significant evidence based on at least
one study conducted in accordance with established scientific principles that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees.
Energy Savings Plus Health | INDOOR AIR QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL BUILDING UPGRADES 99
