NIOSH Comments to the Coast Guard on the Coast Guard Advance Notice of ProposedRulemaking on Controlling the Marine Asbestos Hazard by R. W. Niemeier, February 4, 1993

摘要

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has reviewedthe advance notice of proposed rulemaking and supports the proposed changes to the Coast Guard Naval and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 6-87 for the control and reduction of asbestos exposure to industrial maritime employees working aboard marine vessels and shore installations. The authors have provided suggestions for your consideration on the proposed plan to reduce maritime exposure to airborne asbestos fibers (AAF). The current NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) is 0.1 f/cc. However, even at this concentration, OSHA has estimated that the mortality risk would be 3.4 deaths per 1000 workers for a lifetime of exposure to asbestos. Therefore, NIOSH has urged that the goal be to eliminate exposures to asbestos fibers or, where they cannot be eliminated, to limit them to the lowest feasible concentration.