PRO-FM5950.06A Changing light bulbs in asbestos-containing fixtures

Effective Date: September 13, 2002, Reformatted: April 27, 2007

Approved by: Director of Facilities Management and Director of Environmental Health and Safety

See Also

POL-U5950.06

Background

A hazard assessment was performed in 2002 for the task of changing light bulbs in electrical light fixtures that contain asbestos.  Air monitoring for asbestos was performed while changing light bulbs in these types of fixtures.  The results show that the following procedure is protective of the health of those performing the work and those living or working in the surrounding areas.

Procedures

Action by: Action:
Facilities Management (FM) employee holding current AHERA Asbestos Supervisor certificate or Environmental Health and Safety employee with same certificate 

Provides training in general asbestos awareness and in site-specific procedures for handling light fixtures with asbestos including use of equipment, engineering controls, personal protective equipment (PPE) and proper work practices.

NOTE: This training may be provided by a designated person at FM at the certificate holder’s discretion.
FM supervisor 

Selects two employees to perform work who have the following training and ability:

  • Asbestos awareness training
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) training
  • Lockout-tagout training
FM employees 1 & 2 Assemble appropriate equipment on site and receive the above training.
  Have on-site a vacuum cleaner labeled for asbestos use with High-Efficiency Particle Air (HEPA) filtration, a voltage meter, approved asbestos waste bags, lockout switch lock, sealing tape and cleaning materials as described in the training.
  Turn off light switch and follow lockout procedure with a switch lock. 
  Check for the absence of voltage in accordance with lockout procedures before changing bulbs or other work, including fixture replacement or wetting down of fixture components.
  Follow current unit’s hazard assessment certification in green Safety Information Book, Section 5, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and don appropriate protective equipment.
FM employee 1 Turns on vacuum cleaner and run it during protocol, holding it close to the light fixture to capture any dust during the entire cleaning or repair process.
FM employee 2 Replaces bulb or repairs light fixture and may clean light fixture.
FM employee 1

When work on light fixture is completed, turns off the vacuum cleaner and seals the vacuum cleaner’s inlet and outlet with tape immediately after turning it off.
FM employees 1 & 2 Dispose of any waste generated, for example, used gloves or cleaning rags, in an approved asbestos bag.
  May repeat steps 4 through 10 as appropriate. 
  Calls the FM employee holding current AHERA Asbestos Supervisor certificate if bags of waste have been created.
FM employee holding current AHERA Asbestos Supervisor certificate Removes asbestos waste bags within the same shift of work to the FM employee holding current AHERA Asbestos Supervisor certificate.
  Changes vacuum cleaner bags, if necessary.
  Stores asbestos waste in the designated asbestos storage location at Facilities Management.