Glossary

A

Abrasive Blasting -A process of cleaning surfaces by using material, such as sand, aluminum, or steel grit, in a stream of high pressure air.

Action Level - Employee exposure, without regard to the use of respirators, to an airborne concentration of lead of 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air (30 µg/m3) calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). If the action level is exceeded certain OSHA regulations go into effect.

Accident - An undesirable, unplanned event resulting in personal physical harm, damage to property, or interruption of business. An accident may be the result of an unsafe act or an unsafe condition.

Acute effect - Having an immediate response due to a short period of exposure.

Administrative control - An exposure control measure that reduces exposure to an acceptable limit by either removing the worker from exposure after a specific length of time or establishing work rules such as no eating, no drinking, or no smoking.

Air-line respirator - A supplied air respirator where Grade “D” breathable air is delivered to the worker at the proper pressure through a flexible hose or trunk line. The delivery system has the option of three regulator valves: continuous flow, pressure demand, or demand.

Air monitoring - The process of measuring the airborne asbestos fiber concentration in a specific area over a given time period.

Air purifying respirator (APR) - A respirator that removes limited concentrations of air contaminant’s from the breathing air. They do not add oxygen to the air and cannot be used in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere.

Air sample - Sample of air taken for the purpose of determining a quantity of asbestos fibers found in the air.

Alveoli - Air sacs of the lungs at the end of the bronchioles where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.

Approved landfill - A site for the disposal of asbestos-containing and other hazardous wastes that has been given EPA, state, and local approval.

Babbitt - An alloy of tin, antimony, copper, and lead used as a bearing material.

Biological Monitoring - Biological monitoring consists of blood sampling and analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels (ZPP). Biological monitoring must follow the schedule as stated in OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926.62.

Breathing zone sample - Also called a “personal air sample,” is used to monitor for a hazardous condition. The sample is taken within the breathing zone of a particular worker who is wearing a personal air monitoring sample pump. Exposure is then particularly identified to a specific worker’s exposure.

Chelation - Chelation is a process of removing lead from the body using certain drugs. This process must only be used as a last resort in cases where body lead levels are very high. The term comes from the Greek word Kelos, which means claw.

Chronic effect - Reaction to a substance occurring years after initial exposure or many repeated exposures over a long period of time.

Cilia - Mucus-covered hairs that extend from the surface of cells in the respiratory tract, i.e. the nose, pharynx, trachea and lungs. They beat rhythmically to remove foreign particles encased in mucus from the respiratory tract.

Competent person (OSHA) - A person designated by the employer who is capable of identifying existing and predictable lead hazards in the surroundings or working conditions, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to correct them.

Compliance Program - Prior to commencement of the job each employer shall establish and implement a written compliance program to ensure that workers are not exposed to lead above the exposure limits established by OSHA.

Confined space - An area that has adequate size and shape to allow a person to enter, but has limited openings for workers to enter and exit, and is not designed for continuous human occupancy.

Continuous flow valve - One of three types of valves on a supplied air respirator. The air is continuously supplied to the facepiece at a constant flow rate. This type of valve can allow a negative pressure to exist in the facepiece and uses the greatest volume of supplied air.

Demand valve - One of three types of valves on a supplied air respirator that delivers air to the face piece upon inhalation demand of the wearer. Negative face piece pressures are possible for very short periods. Uses the least amount of supplied air.

Disposal -Lead particles and dust removed from the job site that must be placed in heavy duty plastic bags, tested, and disposed of according to federal, state, or local waste regulations.

Demolition - The wrecking or taking out of any load-supporting structural member and any related razing, removing, or stripping of lead containing products.

Employee exposure - The exposure to airborne lead that would occur if the employee were not using respiratory protective equipment.

Engineering control - An exposure control in which exposure is reduced through mechanical means, such as ventilation systems, acoustical materials, or dean air control booths.

Exposure Assessment - Each employer who has a workplace or operation covered by OSHA's Lead in Construction standard shall initially determine if any employee is exposed to lead at or above the action level based on air monitoring or objective historical data.

Exposure limit - The OSHA limit to lead aerosolst says the 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) airborne concentrations of lead to which any employee may be exposed shall not exceed 50 µg/m³ of air.

Filters - Some respirator cartridges are falters and contain a paper-like filter that removes dusts or particulates from the air.

Forced expiatory volume after one second (FEV1) - A specific test relating to pulmonary function. The measurement of air that can be expelled from the lungs for one second after breathing fully.

Forced vital capacity (FVC) - Relating to a pulmonary function test, forced vital capacity is the measurement of air that can be expelled out of the lungs after inhaling as fully as possible.

Full-face respirator - A respirator with a face piece that covers from under the chin to the forehead. May be attached to either an air purifying or air supplied respirator.

Grade “D” breathing air - The type of air required by OSHA to be used by supplied air respirators. It has requirements for the minimum percent of oxygen, maximum amount of contaminates, such as oil, mists, or carbon monoxide, percentage of humidity and other purity requirements.

Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) - A device which automatically de-energizes any high voltage system component which has developed current leakage.

General Ventilation - A system consisting of either natural or mechanically induced, uncontaminated or clean air movement to mix with and dilute contaminant’s in a work area. Not recommended for toxic contaminant’s.

Half-face respirator - A respirator with a face piece that covers from under the chin to the bridge of the nose. May be attached to either an air purifying or air supplied respirator.

Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS) - A typical label system used for identifying hazardous materials. The name of the material and related information about target organs and effects, health hazards, physical hazards, route of entry is included. Hazardous substances or materials - Any substances or materials that in normal use can be damaging to the health and well-being of workers and the environment.

Hazardous waste - A substance that has been discarded or otherwise designated as a waste material which contains the potential to damage the health and well-being of people and the environment.

Heat stress - A physical disorder caused with excessive exposure to heat. There are four forms of heat stress: heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke (sunstroke).

High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration - High-efficiency particulate air filtration found in respirators, air cleaners and vacuum systems capable of filtering 0.3 micrometer particles with 99.97% efficiency, for use in asbestos-contaminated environments.

Housekeeping - All surfaces shall be maintained as free as practical of accumulations of lead. HEPA vacuuming or other methods should be used that minimize the likelihood of lead becoming airborne.

Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) - A situation where exposure to a hazardous atmosphere results in serious injury or death in a matter of minutes, or causes serious delayed effects.

Industrial hygienist (IH) - A professional qualified by education, training, and experience to recognize, evaluate, and develop controls for occupational health hazards.

Ingestion - The route of exposure in which a toxic substance is eaten or swallowed thus introducing it to the digestive system. Inhalation - A route of exposure in which a toxic substance is breathed thus introducing it to the respiratory system.

Initial exposure assessment - The personal sampling conducted during the first phases of an abatement project to determine employees’ exposure (outside any respirator) to airborne fibers. The purpose of this assessment is to ascertain the expected exposures of the worker.

Lead - Lead means metallic lead, all inorganic lead compounds, and organic lead soaps. Excluded from this definition are all other organic lead compounds.

Lead Poisoning - Lead compounds can produce poisoning when swallowed or inhaled. Inorganic lead compounds cause symptoms of lead colic and lead anemia. Organic lead compounds attack the nervous system.

Local Exhaust Ventilation -A ventilation system that captures and removes the contaminant at the point where it is being produced before the contaminant can escape into the work area.

Medical Removal Protection (MRP) - Medical Removal Protection protects workers from future lead exposure once it's determined that a worker's blood lead level (BLL) is at or above 50 micrograms per deciliter of blood (50 µg/dl). Protection includes maintaining earnings, seniority, and benefits up to 18 months or until their blood lead level drops below 40 µg/dl.

Metal Fume Fever - A flu-like condition caused from inhaling fumes of heated metals.

Material safety data sheet (MSDS) - A primary source of information describing the hazardous properties of chemical products on a work site. It is usually developed by the chemical manufacturer.

Maximum use level (MUL) - The level of a specific contaminant that, ff exceeded, will cause a worker to be exposed above the PEL because of leakage in a respirator.

Micrometer - A unit of length equal to 1 millionth of a meter and 1 thousandth of a millimeter. Also called a “micron.”

Micron - A unit of length equal to 1 millionth of a meter and 1 thousandth of a meter. Also called a “micrometer.”

Negative exposure assessment (NEA) - A demonstration by the employer, that employee exposure during and operation is exhaled to be consistently below the PEL.

OSHA Presumptive Exposure Concept - Employer-implemented worker protective measures based on specific tasks that are presumed to generate lead exposures above the permissible exposure limit prior to lead exposure assessment.

Permissible exposure limit (PEL) - A legal standard set by OSHA. For lead the PEL = 50 micro grams per cubic meter of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) - Anything that is worn to reduce the level of exposure to a substance or reduce the chance of injury.

Personal sampling - An air sample taken with a sampling pump directly attached to the worker, with the collecting filter and cassette placed in the worker’s breathing zone.

Powered air purifying respirator - A type of air purifying respirator that uses a battery-powered blower to force filtered air through a hose into the facepiece. The PAPR has a full-face mask or a half-face mask.

Pressure demand valve - One of the three types of valves on a supplied air respirator which delivers air to the face piece whenever a drop occurs in pressure within the face piece. This valve never allows a negative pressure to exist in the face piece, and provides the greatest protection factor.

Protection factor (PF) - A mathematical way of measuring the fit of a respirator. It is the ratio of the concentration of contamination outside the mask to the concentration of contamination inside the mask.

Protective clothing - Protective, lightweight garments worn by workers performing asbestos abatement to keep gross contamination off the body.

Pulmonary function test (PFT) - A test, conducted with a spirometer, that determines if the lungs are expanding and contracting normally, and if there is enough air moving into and out of the lungs.

Qualitative fit test (QLFT) - A test that can be easily performed to test the fit of a respirator to the wearer. Irritant smoke, amyl acetate (banana oil), or saccharin spray are examples of test agents used for the qualitative fit test. Detection of any of these agents determine the fit of a particular respirator.

Quantitative fit test (QNFT) - A test that gives an exact measure of fit of a particular respirator to a particular wearer. The concentration of a substance is measured outside and inside a respirator and a ratio is determined.

Renovation - Altering, in any way other than demolition, one or more structural components of a building.

Respirable - Any particle small enough to reach the lungs when inhaled, i.e, breathable.

Respirator - A facial mask with filter cartridges designed to prevent inhalation of lead dusts and fumes by workers. Respirators must be certified by NIOSH and MSHA. Selection of respirators depends upon the level of exposure to airborne lead.

Respirator program - A written and implemented program established by an employer which provides for the safe use of respirators on their job sites.

Respiratory Protection - Required when engineering and administrative controls do not reduce worker exposures below the permissible exposure limit. Employers are required to supply approved respirators to all affected employees at no cost. Employer must also have a written respiratory protection program.

Routes of entry - One of three ways a substance may enter the body. The three routes of entry are Inhalation, ingestion, and absorption.

Shot blasting - Process of cleaning metal or other surfaces using small steel shot in a high pressure air stream. This process is a substitute for sand blasting to avoid silica exposure.

Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) - A type of supplied air respirator which provides the highest degree of protection. Tanks of compressed grade “D” breathing air are worn on the back and supply the respirator.

Short-term exposure limit (STEL) - The maximum concentration level of a hazard to which workers can be exposed for a short period of time (usually 10 to 15 minutes) without suffering adverse health effects.

Shower room - A room with hot and cold or warm running water controllable at the tap and suitably arranged for complete showering during decontamination.

Single use respirators - Commonly known as “disposable dust masks.” This type of respirator offers absolutely no protection and are not acceptable when working with asbestos.

Substitution - A control measure in which a hazardous chemical is substituted for a nonhazardous or less hazardous chemical.

Substrate - The material to which the lead was originally applied, such as a beams, gerders, tanks and bridges.

Supplied air respirator (SAR) - A respirator that delivers breathing air from a compressor through a supply hose connected to the worker’s face piece (half face or full face).

Tested and certified (TC) - The approval of filter cartridges by NIOSH for a specific application.

Threshold limit value (TLV) - Levels of contaminant’s established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists to which it is believed that workers can be exposed to with minimal adverse health effects.

Time weighted average (TWA) - The average concentration of a substance in an area over an 8-hour work shift of a 40-hour work week

Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) - A laboratory method used to determine whether lead removal debris is considered a hazardous waste and therefore falls under the EPA hazardous waste regulations.

(TSP) - A liquid or powdered detergent which is mixed with warm water and used to wash surfaces of any remaining lead containing dust.

Type CE supplied air respirator - A respirator which supplies air to the wearer from an outside source, such as a compressor.

Tyvek® - A durable paper material used in the manufacture of disposable protective clothing, such as the coveralls used in asbestos abatement.

µg - Microgram; one millionth of a gram; 453 grams in a pound, 28,310,000 micrograms in one ounce.

X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analyzer - A portable instrument which measures lead concentration on a surface in milligrams per square centimeter (mg/cm2). It is activated by a radioactive source within the machine.

Zinc Protoporphyrin (ZPP) Test - A biological test for lead exposure which measures the amount of zinc protoporphyrin in blood.