The Health Portal

APPLICABLE PROCEDURE FOR ASBESTOS REMOVAL AND

ASBESTOS MATERIALS

The Ministry of Popular Power for Health, in compliance with the provisions of Article 83 of the Constitution of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in Article 46 of the Organic Law of Public Administration, 12 of the Law
Health Organic, 3, 12, 19, 38, 77, 78, 79, and 82 of the Law on Hazardous Substances, Materials, and Wastes; establishes
for its compliance in the Territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the following:

APPLICABLE PROCEDURE FOR THE

REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS AND ASBESTOS MATERIALS

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Any process of asbestos removal or asbestos-containing materials must be previously authorized by the Ministry.
of the Popular Power for Health.

The Authorization of the activities included in the removal process will only be granted once they are approved.
the respective Work Protocols that apply to the particular case.

The development of the activities included in the removal process may be supervised by officials from the
General Directorate of Environmental Health of the Ministry of Popular Power for Health, and its respective Dependency
Regional.

The company intending to carry out the removal, once it obtains the respective Authorization, must notify at least 15
business days in advance, to the General Directorate of Environmental Health, the start date of the activities, which must
ratified within 48 hours prior to the agreed date.

The managing company will be responsible for the Work Protocols and other documents for the purposes of
the activities to be developed presented before the Ministry of Popular Power for Health, which must be
subscribed by qualified personnel in their respective fields and in the legal practice of their profession, guaranteeing the
compliance with all technical requirements of the removal process.

The managing company that undertakes different removal processes must avoid personnel turnover as much as possible.
that participates directly in them.

Any treatment or practice applicable to asbestos waste or asbestos materials, for the purpose of their
temporary storage or final disposal must have prior approval from the Ministry of Popular Power
for Health, for which this aspect must be incorporated into the respective Work Protocol.

Durante el desarrollo de las actividades comprendidas en el proceso de remoción, tanto el área involucrada como las
adjacent areas must be previously marked, placing warning signs that contain information about the
risk that such substance poses to health. The model established in the Venezuelan Standard is recommended.
COVENIN 2251. Only authorized persons will be allowed to remain in the area.

[Link] Powered by Joomla! Generated: July 12, 2011, 09:40

 The Health Portal

Any material or substance that is mixed with asbestos waste or asbestos materials constitutes a
hazardous waste and must be treated as such.

The suspension or cessation of any activity in the removal process can only occur once the asbestos or the
asbestos materials are in such conditions that they do not pose a risk factor for people.

The managing company that must halt or temporarily suspend the development of any activity in the process.
removal, must immediately notify the Competent Environmental Health Authority in writing, indicating to
less

· Reason for suspension or halt.

· Situation or security conditions under which asbestos or asbestos materials will be maintained

· Restart date

The generator, owner, or responsible party for the asbestos or asbestos materials is jointly responsible in the process of
removal.

All asbestos material, once removed, constitutes hazardous waste, and no type of
recovery or later use.

Once the execution of the Authorized activities of a removal process is completed, and within a period not exceeding thirty
business days (30), the managing company must request from the General Directorate of Environmental Health, the 'Conformity
de Remoción", acompañando dicha solicitud con:

1. Report on the development of the Authorized activities, also indicating the actual amount of asbestos or material.
of removed asbestos, and the amount of waste generated.

2. List of workers who participated in the respective Activities: name, ID.

3. In the case of temporary storage, a certificate issued by whoever will be responsible for the warehouse.
temporary storage of the waste generated during the respective removal, until its final disposal is carried out, where
I hereby declare to accept the conditions and characteristics under which it has been delivered to me by the person who performed.
the removal.

4. In case of final disposition, a copy of the minutes drawn up for the final disposition, duly signed and sealed.
by the competent authorities.

5. Copy of the Notification made to the Ministry of Popular Power for the Environment, by the person responsible for the warehouse
temporal, of its existence.

For the purposes of this Procedure, a brief glossary with a health focus is included at the end of it.

ABOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF ACTIVITIES OF A

[Link] Powered by Joomla! Generado: 12 July, 2011, 09:40

 The Portal of Health

REMOVAL PROCESS

The Authorization Request to carry out the activities corresponding to a removal process must be submitted.
by the Managing or Specialist company that will carry out said removal, before the General Directorate of Environmental Health of
Ministry of Popular Power for Health, stating in said request:

· Identification of the Managing or Specialist Company.

· Address and phones.

· Identification of the Legal Representative

· Identification and location of the place where the removal will take place.

· Complete identification of the owner or person responsible for the asbestos or asbestos materials to be removed: address, phone numbers.

· Type, physical conditions and amount of asbestos or asbestos materials to be removed.

· Copy of the service request by the owner or responsible party for asbestos or materials of
asbestos remover.

· Reason for removal.

· Activities of the removal process in which you will provide services (Dismantling, adaptation, transportation, storage)
temporary or final disposal, sanitation of the area

Such communication must be accompanied by the following requirements:

· Copy of the Authorization as a Handler of Substances, Materials, and Hazards granted by the Ministry of Power
Popular for the Environment. In case of applying as a Specialist, according to the established Regulations for Control of
the Recovery of Hazardous Materials and the Management of Hazardous Waste, submit the documentation that
allows to demonstrate verifiable technical sufficiency in the subject, both in expertise and in training (credentials
of formal studies at the third or fourth level, specialization courses, among others); as well as a copy of the registration
Mercantile in whose corporate name the activity to be carried out is contemplated.

· Copy of the certificate signed by each worker confirming receipt of the respective training, copy of the information
provided in that activity, and a copy of the Risk Notification delivered to each worker.

[Link] Powered by Joomla! Generated: July 12, 2011, 09:40

 The Health Portal

· Health assessment results of the involved personnel, conducted by an occupational or workplace doctor, with
no more than one year in advance.

· When applying, Commitment letter for the safekeeping of waste, issued by the legal representative of the facility.
in which the temporary storage of them will take place.

· When applying, Authorization issued by the Ministry of Popular Power for the Environment, for the use of the place of
final disposition.

· When applied, Certificate issued by the Ministry of Popular Power for Infrastructure through the Institute
National Traffic and Land Transport to have vehicles suitable for the transportation of hazardous materials
(asbestos waste).

· When applying, a detailed sketch of the route to be taken by the vehicle from the generation site to the location of
temporary storage or final disposal. Whenever possible, preference should be given to less traveled routes and
less populated.

· Material safety data sheet, adjusted to the standards established in the Venezuelan Standard COVENIN 3059:
Hazardous materials. Minimum requirements that the data sheet for non-radioactive materials must meet, in effect.

· Two (2) games of the Work Protocols corresponding to the activities of the removal process that will be
to undertake

· Emergency/contingency plan according to the activities of the removal process to be carried out, prepared according to
established in Venezuelan Standards COVENIN 2226: 'Guide for the preparation of plans for control of
emergencies", and 3058: "Hazardous materials. Emergency plan that must accompany the carrier's guide"
in force, when applicable.

NOTE 1: Present each Protocol separately.

NOTE 2: To grant the Authorization for the corresponding Activities of the removal process, it is essential that
ensure, for the purposes of the generated waste, the application of one of the following alternatives: its
temporary storage or its final disposal.

ASPECTS TO DEVELOP IN THE WORK PROTOCOLS

[Link] Powered by Joomla! Generado: 12 July, 2011, 09:40

 The Health Portal

For the development of the content of the Work Protocols, all the legal framework governing should be considered.
different aspects involved in the asbestos removal process, including those related to risk factors
that coexist in the areas involved, and to which those who intervene in this may be exposed.
process, like the community.

The Work Protocols must be signed by the professional responsible for their preparation, and
when required, they must be accompanied by the respective accreditation and supporting documents, about
aspects of its content.

The Work Protocols for the activities corresponding to a removal process must contain a
Introduction where the particular case is described or presented, indicating the regulations considered in the development.
of the same; when it comes to a building: the corresponding zoning (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.);
geographic location, location regarding housing or buildings, exact address; economic activity and processes
specific productive activities that occur in the particular area when applicable; amount of asbestos or material
from asbestos to be removed expressed in units of area, weight, volume or any other that may be applicable;
characteristics and physical conditions of these, spatial location, when applicable, height at which they are found
installed, and other aspects that are considered important to mention.

When it is necessary to make any modifications to the execution of some of the activities of the removal process, that
involves the modification of the content of the respective approved Work Protocol, the person responsible for the activity
must previously present said change to the Competent Environmental Health Authority for approval
same.

WORK PROTOCOL FOR THE ASBESTOS MATERIALS DISMANTLING ACTIVITY, in this

must develop or describe what is related to:

· Personal protection that those involved in the activity will have, indicating type, level of protection and
certification.

· Treatment of the installed material, and technique/methodology to be used for its disassembly, ensuring no dispersion.
of asbestos fibers, also indicating the materials, equipment, and supplies to be used, and other aspects that
it is appropriate to mention.

· Technique/methodology for the on-ground location of the material, in case it is installed at height, that guarantees no
dispersion of asbestos fibers, including materials, equipment and supplies to be used, and other aspects to be considered
it is convenient to mention.

· Procedure for the decontamination of personnel and equipment involved; including materials, supplies,
equipment to be used, and other aspects that are deemed appropriate to mention.

When the conditions of the involved material are such that it is also dispersed in the area,
indicate the planned treatment for this prior to its intervention, in order to ensure the non-dispersion of fibers
asbestos during the development of the activity, describing the respective procedure, equipment and supplies to be used, and
other aspects that it is deemed appropriate to mention.

[Link] Powered by Joomla! Generated: 12 July, 2011, 09:40

 The Health Portal

WORK PROTOCOL FOR THE ACTIVITY OF ASBESTOS WASTE ADJUSTMENT in this it must
desarrollar o describir lo relativo a:

· Personal protection that will be available to those involved in the activity, indicating type, level of protection and
certification.

· Treatment/technique/methodology used for the adjustment of waste that ensures the non-dispersion of fibers.
of asbestos during its mobilization or transport, also indicating materials, substances, equipment, and supplies to
use, and other aspects that are deemed convenient to mention.

· Procedure for the decontamination of personnel and equipment involved, including materials, supplies,
equipment to be used, and other aspects considered relevant to mention

Cuando las condiciones del material sean tales que este se encuentre disperso en el área, indicar el tratamiento
scheduled for this prior to its intervention, in order to ensure that there is no dispersal of asbestos fibers during the
development of the activity, also indicating technique/methodology, materials, equipment, and supplies, and other aspects that
it is considered appropriate to mention.

WORK PROTOCOL FOR THE ACTIVITY OF ASBESTOS WASTE TRANSPORT, in this it

must develop or describe what relates to:

· Identification of authorized personnel for transportation, and training received by them in transportation of
hazardous materials according to the provisions of the Venezuelan Standard COVENIN 3061 'Hazardous materials. Guide for the
training for people who handle and/or transport hazardous materials
that this will be available if required, indicating type, level of protection, and certification.

· Description of the vehicle's loading area, indicating the safety system or mechanism it has, as well as the
corresponding identification and signaling that it will carry.

· Portable warnings that would be used in case of an accident, to alert people of the risk that
involves exposure to asbestos, whose content must comply with the provisions established in the Venezuelan Standard COVENIN
2251.

· Elements or materials that will be available to isolate and collect the material in case of an accident, which
prevent their dispersion, and with it the exposure of individuals.

· Procedure for the decontamination of the equipment used, including vehicles.

WORK PROTOCOL FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE OR FINAL DISPOSAL ACTIVITY

ASBESTOS WASTE, in this one must develop or describe, as appropriate, the related aspects:
[Link] Powered by Joomla! Generated: July 12, 2011, 09:40
 The Health Portal

· Personal protection available to those involved in the activity, indicating type, level of protection and
certification.

· Presentation of waste for the purposes of temporary storage or final disposal, in such a way that
healthwise, ensure that it is not dispersed or accessed by any person in the first case, or its
total lockdown in the second case.

· Identify and describe in detail the temporary storage location, also indicating the conditions of
security that it has; or

· Identify the authorized place for final disposal.

· Procedure for the decontamination of personnel and equipment involved, including vehicles, materials,
supplies and equipment to be used, and other aspects that are deemed convenient to mention.

WORK PROTOCOL FOR THE SANITATION ACTIVITY OF AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN
INCLUDED WITH ASBESTOS WASTE, this should develop or describe what is related to:

· Personal protective equipment that those involved in the activity will have, indicating type, level of protection and
certification.

· Treatment/technique to be used for cleaning the area, ensuring its condition of asbestos-free, including
materials, equipment and supplies to be used, and other aspects that may be considered relevant to mention.

· Procedure for the decontamination of personnel and equipment involved, indicating materials and supplies
and equipment to be used, and other aspects that are deemed relevant to mention.

GLOSSARY

(WITH A SPECIFIC HEALTH FOCUS FOR

THE REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS AND ASBESTOS MATERIALS

Adequacy: activity of the removal process that allows for the conditioning of asbestos waste, for the purpose of its
mobilization or transportation to the temporary storage or final disposal site, in such a way that it guarantees the
no fiber release, once stored or during transport.
[Link] Powered by Joomla! Generated: 12 July, 2011, 09:40
 The Health Portal

Temporary storage of asbestos waste: activity that involves isolation under sanitary conditions
secured the removed material (waste), until its final disposal is authorized. This activity may not exist in
a removal process, in the event that the final disposal occurs directly.

Competent Environmental Health Authority: a dependency of the Ministry of Popular Power for Health, to which they have been
has been legally or regulatorily attributed administrative and control powers to apply or enforce the laws and
other regulations in the area of environmental health.

Removal authorization: document issued by the Competent Environmental Health Authority, which empowers the one who
receive to carry out the corresponding activities of the asbestos removal process or asbestos materials
that they are indicated in it. When all activities of the removal process, including transportation, are executed
for a single Handler, a single Removal Authorization will be issued; when the transportation activity of the
waste should be carried out by a handler different from the one who made the adjustment and/or disassembly, a
corresponding Removal Authorization for Transport.

Asbestos: a generic term used to refer to a family of fine inorganic fibers (silicates)
minerals), belonging to the serpentine and amphibole groups of lithogenic minerals, which includes actinolite,
the amosite, the anthophyllite, the chrysotile, the crocidolite, and the tremolite. In the text of this Procedure, when it is made
reference to asbestos shall be understood to refer to unprocessed asbestos fibers.

Removal Compliance: document issued by the Competent Environmental Health Authority, through which it carries out
note that the activities authorized by her for the asbestos removal process or asbestos materials are
they were developed in accordance with what is established in the respective approved Work Protocols, and as established in the
Present Procedure. The issuance of such Conformity determines the completion of a removal process.

Asbestos waste: those generated during a removal, include both asbestos waste (fibers) and
asbestos materials.

Dismantling of asbestos materials: activity that includes the uninstallation or removal of asbestos materials,
until they are left on land for their preparation, temporary storage, or final disposal. This activity does not apply.
for the case of asbestos, nor for those asbestos materials that are not installed.

[Link] Powered by Joomla! Generated: 12 July, 2011, 09:40

 The Health Portal

Final disposal of asbestos waste: activity that involves the permanent deposition of asbestos waste, under
safe sanitary conditions.

Building: any construction, public or private, whether occupied or not, which may or may not have any of
the works defined as installation; and whose use can be residential, industrial, commercial, recreational, military, etc.

Installation: Works intended for services such as sewers, water storage tanks, drainage of waters
rain, steam driving, and similar.

Asbestos-free: condition that an area must present in which removal work has been carried out; it
it will be considered an asbestos-free area when the result of the air sampling conducted in the area in question is
less than or equal to 0.01 f/cc.

Asbestos handler: a legal entity that has qualified as such before the Ministry of Health, to carry out the
activities corresponding to a removal process.

Asbestos materials: any product, substance or material that contains fibers of

asbestos, such as: joint filling material, reinforcements, partitioning panels, thermal insulation
acoustic, refractory materials, roofing covers, textiles, vinyl tiles for floors, ponds for
water storage, pipes, among others.

Air sampling: it involves the capture of air samples to determine the concentration of fibers in them.
of asbestos, always under standardized methods. Two basic types of sampling are distinguished, personal and
area. Personal sampling will apply to individuals involved in the removal, and will take place during the development
of the different activities of the removal process; area sampling will apply during the activities of
dismantling and adaptation, as well as in the areas involved once the decontamination or sanitation is carried out
the same, and in the temporary storage place once the waste has been deposited in it; this sampling of
area should also consider the adjacent areas where there is potential exposure to risk. The number of
Required samples will depend on the magnitude of the area involved, its location, and the scope of the work performed. The
sampling must be carried out or supervised by a professional with demonstrable experience in the field of hygiene
occupational.

Asbestos removal: process aimed at removing asbestos (fibers) once it has been declared waste, and giving it as
destination the temporary storage or final disposal, all under safe sanitary conditions. This process
understand the activities of adaptation, temporary storage or final disposal as applicable, transportation and
sanitation of the area.

[Link] Powered by Joomla! Generated: 12 July, 2011, 09:40

 The Health Portal

Removal of asbestos materials: process aimed at removing asbestos materials, whether installed or not, and giving them as
destination the temporary storage or final disposal; all under safe sanitary conditions. This process
comprende las actividades de: desmontaje, adecuación, transporte, saneamiento de las áreas, y almacenamiento
temporary or final disposal as applicable.

Sanitation of areas: activity aimed at ensuring the condition of 'asbestos-free' of the affected area or
involved in the process of asbestos removal or asbestos materials.

Supervisor: person who maintains a working relationship with an Asbestos Manager, in which the latter delegates
surveillance activities for compliance with the established Working Protocols approved, of the
safe work procedures, as well as current legal regulations in environmental health, throughout all
the removal process, with an emphasis on the protection of individuals.

Asbestos waste transportation: activity that involves the transfer of asbestos waste under
safe sanitary conditions, from the generation site to the temporary storage or disposal site
final, or between these two last ones.

[Link] Powered by Joomla! Generated: 12 July, 2011, 09:40