Enforcement

If you are interested in the enforcement history of an asbestos contractor, please contact the Asbestos Unit for information.

Noncompliance

Here are some of the issues that MDH inspectors have seen during abatement projects:

Minnesota Rules, part 4620.3566, item E requires that all surfaces in the work area be cleaned prior to abatement by HEPA vacuum and/or wet wiping. Dry sweeping is not allowed. Neither the corn broom nor the push broom should be on-site.

Minnesota Rules, part 4620.3570, subpart 4, item C requires the that the negative pressure within the containment be recorded by a recording manometer. The intent of this rule is that the contractor starts the project with a fully functioning recording manometer. Not one that is out of ink or recording tape or both. The hand recording of the negative pressure measurements is allowed only if the manometer malfunctions while on site, not if it is brought to the job site in a malfunctioning state.

Minnesota Rules, part 4620.3575, subpart 1, item B requires that ALL asbestos be cleaned from the work area. Not some asbestos, or most asbestos, but all asbestos.

Minnesota Rules, part 4620.3582, subpart 3, item C requires that facility components be wrapped in two layers of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting, not a few pieces of duct tape here and there.

Minnesota Rules, part 4620.3582, subpart 3, item D requires that facility components be wrapped in two layers of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting must be sealed to form an air tight seal. A major problem MDH is seeing is properly wrapped pipes being thrown into trucks or dumpsters and then having the seal broken by protruding cut-offs.

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Compliance

Here are some clever ways contractors have complied with the rule requirements:

Minnesota Rules, part 4620.3569, subpart 1, item D, subitem (3) requires that the decontamination units shower be supplied with hot and cold water adjustable at the tap. The purpose of this rule is to make the shower comfortable for the workers so they will take time to properly decontaminate. The following pictures shows ways contractors have complied with this rule.

This contractor used a cattle water trough heater to heat the shower water in 5-gallon pails and then poured it into the battery powered tank spray unit for the shower.

This contractor constructed a portable unit consisting of a water heater, water filters and sump pump all on a two wheel dolly.

This contractor is using an electric showerhead to provide instant hot water to the decontamination unit.

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