Controls, PPE & Decontamination

Which is the most effective way to control the risk from asbestos?

• AWork quickly to reduce exposure time
• BAvoid disturbing it in the first place✓
• CWear a dust mask while disturbing it
• DOpen the windows before starting

Answer: Prevention sits at the top of the hierarchy of control. PPE is the last resort and protects only the wearer, and only if it is correct and properly fitted.

What does RPE stand for?

• ARapid protective enclosure
• BRegistered personal equipment
• CRespiratory protective equipment✓
• DRespirable particle extractor

Answer: RPE is equipment protecting the wearer’s breathing, such as a properly specified and fit-tested mask. It is distinct from PPE more generally.

Why must tight-fitting RPE be face-fit tested?

• ABecause a poor seal lets fibres leak in✓
• BTo confirm the mask is the right price
• CTo check the wearer can still speak clearly
• DBecause the law requires the mask to be a particular colour

Answer: Faces differ, and a mask that does not seal offers little protection whatever its filter rating. Fit testing confirms the seal for that individual and that model.

Why can facial hair be a problem with tight-fitting RPE?

• AIt makes the mask uncomfortable but does not affect safety
• BA beard stops the mask sealing to the skin✓
• CIt has no effect provided the straps are tight
• DIt blocks the filter from the inside

Answer: Hair between the mask and the skin breaks the seal, so contaminated air bypasses the filter. Clean-shaven wearers or loose-fitting powered hoods are the options.

What type of protective clothing is normally used for asbestos work?

• AOrdinary cotton overalls taken home to wash
• BStandard work trousers and a t-shirt
• CDisposable type 5 coveralls✓
• DA high-visibility jacket only

Answer: Disposable coveralls prevent fibres being carried away on clothing and are disposed of as asbestos waste. Reusable clothing risks spreading contamination.

Why are wet methods used when working with asbestos materials?

• AWater dissolves the asbestos fibres
• BWater suppresses the dust✓
• CWater makes the material easier to burn
• DWater neutralises asbestos chemically

Answer: Damping down keeps fibres out of the air. Water does not destroy or neutralise asbestos — the fibres remain, so the waste is still hazardous.

How must asbestos waste be disposed of?

• ABuried on site in a marked pit once the work is finished
• BIn the household recycling bin once it has been bagged
• CIn the general site skip along with other construction waste
• DAs hazardous waste, double-bagged, to a licensed site✓

Answer: Asbestos is hazardous waste. It must be double-bagged and labelled, carried by a registered carrier and taken to a licensed facility, documented by a consignment note.

Why should asbestos waste be double-bagged?

• ATo separate white asbestos from brown asbestos
• BBecause one bag is not waterproof
• CTo make the load heavier and easier to handle
• DTo reduce fibre escape if the outer bag splits✓

Answer: Two layers — typically a red inner and clear outer bag, both labelled — provide redundancy if a bag splits in handling or transport.

What is an enclosure used for in licensed asbestos removal?

• ATo provide shelter from rain only
• BTo display the contractor’s licence
• CTo store tools securely overnight
• DTo seal off the work area✓

Answer: A sealed enclosure under negative pressure contains fibres within the work area. It is a core control for licensed removal, alongside airlocks and decontamination units.

Which tool should NOT be used on asbestos-containing materials?

• AA hand saw used with wet methods
• BA high-speed angle grinder✓
• CA shadow-vacuum drill attachment
• DA hand-operated screwdriver

Answer: Power tools create huge amounts of airborne dust and are prohibited on ACMs. Low-speed hand tools with damping or shadow vacuuming are the controlled alternatives.

What should happen to disposable RPE and coveralls after asbestos work?

• AThey are disposed of as asbestos waste✓
• BThey are put in the general waste bin
• CThey are washed and reused next week
• DThey are taken home for personal use

Answer: Disposable items are contaminated and become asbestos waste. Washing or reusing them spreads fibres to other places and people.

Why must eating, drinking and smoking be prohibited in an asbestos work area?

• ABecause it is only a matter of site etiquette
• BBecause food smells mask the smell of asbestos
• CBecause fibres can be transferred to the mouth✓
• DBecause it wastes working time

Answer: Hand-to-mouth contact carries fibres directly into the body, and removing RPE to eat exposes the airway. Eating and drinking happen only after decontamination.

What is the correct order of the hierarchy of control for asbestos?

• AControl fibres first, then avoid the work, then remove PPE
• BAvoid the work, control fibre release, then PPE✓
• CPPE alone is sufficient in all cases
• DUse PPE first, then try to avoid the work

Answer: Elimination comes first, engineering and working controls next, and PPE last because it protects only the individual wearing it and only when correctly used.