Asbestos communication of hazards, training and housekeeping study guide
Paragraphs (k) and (l) of 29 CFR 1926.1101, OSHA's asbestos standard for construction, set out how asbestos hazards are communicated and how work areas are kept clean. This guide sets out what the federal rule text states on presuming installed material to be asbestos-containing, the duties of building and facility owners and of employers to find and pass on information about ACM and PACM, showing that PACM is not asbestos, warning signs, labels, employee information and training for each class of work, training materials, and housekeeping, including waste disposal and care of flooring. The wording of the required sign and label legends is not reproduced here. goraedu is not an accredited training provider, and this is not a course or accreditation exam. Your State may run its own OSHA-approved plan with its own rules, so check them too. Every point links to the regulation and quotes its exact words.
Presumed asbestos and hazard communication
Employers and building owners must identify thermal system insulation (TSI) and sprayed or troweled on surfacing materials in buildings as asbestos-containing, unless they determine under paragraph (k)(5) that the material is not asbestos-containing.
“Employers and building owners shall identify TSI and sprayed or troweled on surfacing materials in buildings as asbestos-containing, unless they determine in compliance with paragraph (k)(5) of this section that the material is not asbestos-containing.”
Asphalt and vinyl flooring material installed no later than 1980 must also be considered asbestos containing, unless the exception set out in the next point applies.
“Asphalt and vinyl flooring material installed no later than 1980 must also be considered as asbestos containing unless the”
The rule adds an exception: the flooring need not be considered asbestos-containing where the employer, under paragraph (g)(8)(i)(I), determines that it is not asbestos-containing.
“employer, pursuant to paragraph (g)(8)(i)(I) of this section determines that it is not asbestos-containing.”
Other materials must also be treated as asbestos-containing if the employer or building owner has actual knowledge, or should have known through the exercise of due diligence, that they are asbestos-containing.
“If the employer/building owner has actual knowledge, or should have known through the exercise of due diligence, that other materials are asbestos-containing, they too must be treated as such.”
When owners and employers communicate information to employees under the standard, they must identify presumed asbestos-containing material (PACM) as ACM.
“When communicating information to employees pursuant to this standard, owners and employers shall identify “PACM” as ACM.”
The employer must include asbestos in the program established to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (§ 1910.1200), and must ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of asbestos and safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the provisions of HCS and paragraphs (k)(9) and (10).
“The employer shall include asbestos in the program established to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (§ 1910.1200). The employer shall ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of asbestos and safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the provisions of HCS and paragraphs (k)(9) and (10) of this section.”
The employer must provide information on at least the hazards the rule names, which are "Cancer and lung effects".
“The employer shall provide information on at least the following hazards: Cancer and lung effects.”
Not covered here
The multi-employer worksite communication duties in paragraph (d) are covered in a separate set. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Owner and employer notification
Before work subject to the standard begins, building and facility owners must determine the presence, location, and quantity of ACM and/or PACM at the work site.
“Before work subject to this standard is begun, building and facility owners shall determine the presence, location, and quantity of ACM and/or PACM at the work site pursuant to paragraph (k)(1)(i) of this section.”
Building and/or facility owners must notify listed persons of the presence, location and quantity of ACM or PACM at the work sites in their buildings and facilities.
“Building and/or facility owners shall notify the following persons of the presence, location and quantity of ACM or PACM, at the work sites in their buildings and facilities.”
The notification takes one of two forms: in writing, or a personal communication between the owner and the person to be notified or their authorized representatives.
“Notification either shall be in writing, or shall consist of a personal communication between the owner and the person to whom notification must be given or their authorized representatives:”
Those to be notified include prospective employers applying or bidding for work whose employees reasonably can be expected to work in or adjacent to areas containing such material.
“Prospective employers applying or bidding for work whose employees reasonably can be expected to work in or adjacent to areas containing such material;”
Tenants who will occupy areas containing such material are also among those to be notified.
“Tenants who will occupy areas containing such material.”
Before work under the standard is performed, employers of employees who will perform it must inform the listed persons of the location and quantity of ACM and/or PACM in the area and the precautions to be taken to insure that airborne asbestos is confined to the area.
“Before work under this standard is performed employers of employees who will perform such work shall inform the following persons of the location and quantity of ACM and/or PACM present in the area and the precautions to be taken to insure that airborne asbestos is confined to the area.”
Within 10 days of the completion of the work, the employer whose employees performed it must inform the building/facility owner and employers of employees who will be working in the area of the current location and quantity of PACM and/or ACM remaining and final monitoring results, if any.
“Within 10 days of the completion of such work, the employer whose employees have performed work subject to this standard, shall inform the building/facility owner and employers of employees who will be working in the area of the current location and quantity of PACM and/or ACM remaining in the area and final monitoring results, if any.”
All employers who discover ACM and/or PACM on a worksite must convey its presence, location and quantity to the owner and to other employers of employees working at the work site within 24 hours of the discovery.
“all employers who discover ACM and/or PACM on a worksite shall convey information concerning the presence, location and quantity of such newly discovered ACM and/or PACM to the owner and to other employers of employees working at the work site, within 24 hours of the discovery.”
Not covered here
Not every person on the owner's and the employer's notification lists is set out here; read paragraphs (k)(2)(ii) and (k)(3)(ii) for the full lists. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Showing that PACM is not asbestos
At any time, an employer and/or building owner may demonstrate, for purposes of the standard, that PACM does not contain asbestos. Building owners and/or employers are not required to communicate information about the presence of building material for which such a demonstration under paragraph (k)(5)(ii) has been made, but in all such cases the information, data and analysis supporting the determination must be retained under paragraph (n).
“At any time, an employer and/or building owner may demonstrate, for purposes of this standard, that PACM does not contain asbestos. Building owners and/or employers are not required to communicate information about the presence of building material for which such a demonstration pursuant to the requirements of paragraph (k)(5)(ii) of this section has been made. However, in all such cases, the information, data and analysis supporting the determination that PACM does not contain asbestos, shall be retained pursuant to paragraph (n) of this section.”
An employer or owner may demonstrate that PACM does not contain more than 1% asbestos by one of the options the rule lists.
“An employer or owner may demonstrate that PACM does not contain more than 1% asbestos by the following:”
One option is a completed inspection conducted under the requirements of AHERA (40 CFR part 763, subpart E) which demonstrates that the material is not ACM.
“Having a completed inspection conducted pursuant to the requirements of AHERA (40 CFR part 763, subpart E) which demonstrates that the material is not ACM; or”
The other option is performing tests of the material containing PACM which demonstrate that no ACM is present in the material. Such tests must include analysis of bulk samples collected in the manner described in 40 CFR 763.86, and the tests, evaluation and sample collection must be conducted by an accredited inspector or by a CIH.
“Performing tests of the material containing PACM which demonstrate that no ACM is present in the material. Such tests shall include analysis of bulk samples collected in the manner described in 40 CFR 763.86. The tests, evaluation and sample collection shall be conducted by an accredited inspector or by a CIH.”
For flooring material including associated mastic and backing, the employer and/or building owner may demonstrate that it does not contain asbestos by a determination of an industrial hygienist based upon recognized analytical techniques showing that the material is not ACM.
“The employer and/or building owner may demonstrate that flooring material including associated mastic and backing does not contain asbestos, by a determination of an industrial hygienist based upon recognized analytical techniques showing that the material is not ACM.”
Not covered here
The laboratory proficiency programs that (k)(5)(ii)(B) refers to and the bulk sampling method in 40 CFR 763.86 are not described here. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Signs
At the entrance to mechanical rooms/areas that employees reasonably can be expected to enter and that contain ACM and/or PACM, the building owner must post signs identifying the material present, its location, and appropriate work practices which, if followed, will ensure that ACM and/or PACM will not be disturbed.
“At the entrance to mechanical rooms/areas in which employees reasonably can be expected to enter and which contain ACM and/or PACM, the building owner shall post signs which identify the material which is present, its location, and appropriate work practices which, if followed, will ensure that ACM and/or PACM will not be disturbed.”
Warning signs that demarcate the regulated area must be provided and displayed at each location where paragraph (e) requires a regulated area to be established, posted far enough from that location that an employee may read them and take necessary protective steps before entering the marked area.
“Warning signs that demarcate the regulated area shall be provided and displayed at each location where a regulated area is required to be established by paragraph (e) of this section. Signs shall be posted at such a distance from such a location that an employee may read the signs and take necessary protective steps before entering the area marked by the signs.”
The rule sets out the required legend that these warning signs must bear (the legend is in paragraph (k)(7)(ii)(A) and is not reproduced here).
“The warning signs required by paragraph (k)(7) of this section shall bear the following information.”
Where respirators and protective clothing are required in the regulated area, the warning signs must also include an additional required legend line.
“In addition, where the use of respirators and protective clothing is required in the regulated area under this section, the warning signs shall include the following:”
The employer must ensure that employees working in and contiguous to regulated areas comprehend the warning signs.
“The employer shall ensure that employees working in and contiguous to regulated areas comprehend the warning signs required to be posted by paragraph (k)(7)(i) of this section.”
Not covered here
The legends permitted only before June 1, 2016 (paragraphs (k)(7)(ii)(C) and (D)) are not described here. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Labels
Labels must be affixed to all products containing asbestos and to all containers containing such products, including waste containers.
“Labels shall be affixed to all products containing asbestos and to all containers containing such products, including waste containers.”
The employer must ensure that labels of bags or containers of protective clothing and equipment, scrap, waste, and debris containing asbestos fibers bear the required legend set out in paragraph (k)(8)(iii) (not reproduced here).
“The employer shall ensure that labels of bags or containers of protective clothing and equipment, scrap, waste, and debris containing asbestos fibers bear the following information:”
The label provisions of paragraphs (k)(8)(i) through (k)(8)(iii) do not apply where one of two listed conditions is met.
“The provisions for labels required by paragraphs (k)(8)(i) through (k)(8)(iii) of this section do not apply where:”
One of those conditions is that asbestos is present in a product in concentrations less than 1.0 percent.
“Asbestos is present in a product in concentrations less than 1.0 percent.”
When a building owner or employer identifies previously installed PACM and/or ACM, labels or signs must be affixed or posted so that employees will be notified of what materials contain PACM and/or ACM.
“When a building owner or employer identifies previously installed PACM and/or ACM, labels or signs shall be affixed or posted so that employees will be notified of what materials contain PACM and/or ACM.”
Signs required by paragraph (k)(6) may be posted in lieu of labels so long as they contain the information required for labelling.
“Signs required by paragraph (k)(6) of this section may be posted in lieu of labels so long as they contain information required for labelling.”
Not covered here
The other label exemption (bonded or coated fibers, (k)(8)(vi)(A)) and the label wording permitted only before June 1, 2015 are not described here. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Who is trained and training by class
The employer must train each employee who is likely to be exposed in excess of a PEL, and each employee who performs Class I through IV asbestos operations.
“The employer shall train each employee who is likely to be exposed in excess of a PEL, and each employee who performs Class I through IV asbestos operations, in accordance with the requirements of this section.”
Training must be provided prior to or at the time of initial assignment and at least annually thereafter.
“Training shall be provided prior to or at the time of initial assignment and at least annually thereafter.”
Training for Class I operations, and for Class II operations that require critical barriers (or equivalent isolation methods) and/or negative pressure enclosures, must be the equivalent in curriculum, training method and length to the EPA Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) asbestos abatement workers training.
“Training for Class I operations and for Class II operations that require the use of critical barriers (or equivalent isolation methods) and/or negative pressure enclosures under this section shall be the equivalent in curriculum, training method and length to the EPA Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) asbestos abatement workers training (40 CFR part 763, subpart E, appendix C).”
Paragraph (k)(9)(iv)(A): for work with asbestos containing roofing materials, flooring materials, siding materials, ceiling tiles, or transite panels, training must include at a minimum all the elements in paragraph (k)(9)(viii), plus the specific work practices and engineering controls in paragraph (g) which specifically relate to that category.
“For work with asbestos containing roofing materials, flooring materials, siding materials, ceiling tiles, or transite panels, training shall include at a minimum all the elements included in paragraph (k)(9)(viii) of this section and in addition, the specific work practices and engineering controls set forth in paragraph (g) of this section which specifically relate to that category.”
That course must include "hands-on" training and take at least 8 hours.
“Such course shall include “hands-on” training and shall take at least 8 hours.”
An employee who works with more than one of those categories of material must receive training in the work practices for each category of material the employee removes and each removal method the employee uses.
“An employee who works with more than one of the categories of material specified in paragraph (k)(9)(iv)(A) of this section shall receive training in the work practices applicable to each category of material that the employee removes and each removal method that the employee uses.”
Training for Class III employees must be consistent with EPA requirements for training of local education agency maintenance and custodial staff at 40 CFR 763.92(a)(2), include "hands-on" training and take at least 16 hours.
“Training for Class III employees shall be consistent with EPA requirements for training of local education agency maintenance and custodial staff as set forth at 40 CFR 763.92(a)(2). Such a course shall also include “hands-on” training and shall take at least 16 hours.”
The Class III requirement has an exception for Class III operations for which the competent person determines that the EPA curriculum does not adequately cover the training needed to perform that activity.
“Exception: For Class III operations for which the competent person determines that the EPA curriculum does not adequately cover the training needed to perform that activity”
Training for employees performing Class IV operations must be consistent with EPA requirements for training of local education agency maintenance and custodial staff at 40 CFR 763.92(a)(1).
“Training for employees performing Class IV operations shall be consistent with EPA requirements for training of local education agency maintenance and custodial staff as set forth at 40 CFR 763.92(a)(1).”
Not covered here
The content required for other Class II operations ((k)(9)(iv)(C)), for the Class III exception, and the length and content of Class IV training are not set out here; read paragraphs (k)(9)(iv) through (k)(9)(vi). We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Training content and materials
Employees likely to be exposed in excess of the PEL who are not otherwise required to be trained under paragraphs (k)(9)(iii) through (vi) must receive training that meets paragraph (k)(9)(viii).
“Training for employees who are likely to be exposed in excess of the PEL and who are not otherwise required to be trained under paragraph (k)(9)(iii) through (vi) of this section, shall meet the requirements of paragraph (k)(9)(viii) of this section.”
The training program must be conducted in a manner that the employee is able to understand. In addition to the content required by paragraphs (k)(9)(iii) through (vi), the employer must ensure that each such employee is informed of the items the rule lists, some of which follow.
“The training program shall be conducted in a manner that the employee is able to understand. In addition to the content required by provisions in paragraphs (k)(9)(iii) through (vi) of this section, the employer shall ensure that each such employee is informed of the following:”
One listed item is methods of recognizing asbestos, including the requirement in paragraph (k)(1) to presume that certain building materials contain asbestos.
“Methods of recognizing asbestos, including the requirement in paragraph (k)(1) of this section to presume that certain building materials contain asbestos;”
Another is the relationship between smoking and asbestos in producing lung cancer.
“The relationship between smoking and asbestos in producing lung cancer;”
Another is the requirements for posting signs and affixing labels and the meaning of the required legends for such signs and labels.
“The requirements for posting signs and affixing labels and the meaning of the required legends for such signs and labels.”
The employer must make readily available to affected employees, without cost, written materials relating to the employee training program, including a copy of the regulation.
“The employer shall make readily available to affected employees without cost, written materials relating to the employee training program, including a copy of this regulation.”
Not covered here
Not every item that paragraph (k)(9)(viii) requires employees to be informed of is listed here, and the smoking cessation material duties in (k)(10)(iii) are not covered; read the rule for the full list. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Housekeeping
Where vacuuming methods are selected, HEPA filtered vacuuming equipment must be used, and it must be used and emptied in a manner that minimizes the reentry of asbestos into the workplace.
“Where vacuuming methods are selected, HEPA filtered vacuuming equipment must be used. The equipment shall be used and emptied in a manner that minimizes the reentry of asbestos into the workplace.”
Asbestos waste, scrap, debris, bags, containers, equipment, and contaminated clothing consigned for disposal must be collected and disposed of in sealed, labeled, impermeable bags or other closed, labeled, impermeable containers, except in roofing operations, where the procedures of paragraph (g)(8)(ii) apply.
“Asbestos waste, scrap, debris, bags, containers, equipment, and contaminated clothing consigned for disposal shall be collected and disposed of in sealed, labeled, impermeable bags or other closed, labeled, impermeable containers except in roofing operations, where the procedures specified in paragraph (g)(8)(ii) of this section apply.”
All vinyl and asphalt flooring material must be maintained as paragraph (l)(3) sets out unless the building/facility owner demonstrates, under paragraph (g)(8)(i)(I), that the flooring does not contain asbestos.
“All vinyl and asphalt flooring material shall be maintained in accordance with this paragraph unless the building/facility owner demonstrates, pursuant to paragraph (g)(8)(i)(I) of this section that the flooring does not contain asbestos.”
Sanding of flooring material is prohibited.
“Sanding of flooring material is prohibited.”
Stripping of finishes must be conducted using low abrasion pads at speeds lower than 300 rpm and wet methods.
“Stripping of finishes shall be conducted using low abrasion pads at speeds lower than 300 rpm and wet methods.”
Burnishing or dry buffing may be performed only on flooring which has sufficient finish so that the pad cannot contact the flooring material.
“Burnishing or dry buffing may be performed only on flooring which has sufficient finish so that the pad cannot contact the flooring material.”
In an area containing accessible thermal system insulation or surfacing ACM/PACM or visibly deteriorated ACM, the rule sets two requirements for waste and debris and accompanying dust.
“Waste and debris and accompanying dust in an area containing accessible thermal system insulation or surfacing ACM/PACM or visibly deteriorated ACM:”
That waste, debris and dust shall not be dusted or swept dry, or vacuumed without using a HEPA filter.
“Shall not be dusted or swept dry, or vacuumed without using a HEPA filter;”
It also shall be promptly cleaned up and disposed of in leak tight containers.
“Shall be promptly cleaned up and disposed of in leak tight containers.”
Sources
- eCFR: 29 CFR 1926.1101, Asbestos (as of Nov 4, 2026)Checked November 6, 2026
Other Asbestos study guides: Scope, definitions, classes of work and exposure limits, Regulated areas and exposure monitoring, Methods of compliance, Respirators, protective clothing and hygiene facilities, Medical surveillance, recordkeeping and the competent person, Schools (AHERA): responsibilities, inspections, sampling and assessment, Schools (AHERA): response actions, O&M, management plans and records