RMS-LB 2018 with 12/20 Revisions

ANSI/AARST RMS-LB 2018 (with 1220 revisions) Radon Mitigation Standards for Schools and Large Buildings 47 11.0 HEALTH AND SAFETY Advisory Although this document contains specific health and safety recommendations, it cannot address all of the health and safety concerns associated with mitigation installations. Users of this document own the responsibility for establishing appropriate safety practices. 11.1 Mitigation Installers Federal, state and local standards or regulations relating to mitigation installer safety and health, including occupational radon exposure, shall be complied with. References for some applicable publications from OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are provided at the close of this document in “Referenced Publications.” In addition, the following requirements that are specifically or uniquely applicable for the safety and protection of radon mitigation installers shall be met: 11.1.1 All mitigation installers shall be advised of the hazards of exposure to radon and the need to apply protective measures when working in areas of elevated radon concentrations. 11.1.2 Mitigation installer’s exposure to radon Each mitigation installer’s exposure to radon or radon decay products at each work site shall be recorded and maintained in a manner as required by jurisdictions of authority. For calculating exposure estimates: Working Level Month (WLM) calculations shall be based upon the mitigation installer’s exposure hours times radon measurements divided by 200 (or the radon decay product measurements), divided by 170. Calculations for pCi/L/day shall be based on the mitigation installer’s exposure hours, divided by 24. These calculations shall apply to one of the following radon or radon decay product measurements for the mitigation installer’s exposure at each work site: a) the highest pre- mitigation indoor radon measurements or radon decay product measurements. b) jobsite radon or radon decay product measurements. c) measurements from a radon dosimeter such as an alpha track or comparable device consistently worn at the job site by a mitigation installer . The radon dosimeter shall be stored in a low radon environment during nonworking hours, and thereby all exposure to the radon detector is assumed to be jobsite exposure. 11.1.3 Radon exposure limits A mitigation installer’s exposure shall be limited to less than 5700 pCi/L/days or 4 working level months (WLM) over any 12-month period. An equilibrium ratio of 100 percent shall be used to convert radon levels to radon decay product levels. Practices shall be arranged to keep mitigation installer’s WLM or pCi/L/day exposure as low as can be reasonably achieved. 11.1.4 Worker protection plan A mitigation installer protection plan shall be maintained. Where applicable, the mitigation installer protection plan shall be approved by any state or local regulating agencies that require such a plan. The plan shall be available to all mitigation installers and be reviewed with each mitigation installer at least once a year. Informative advisory —Confirmation of a mitigation installer’s knowledge of the mitigation installer protection plan should be recorded with the mitigation installer’s signature and date. Review of the mitigation installer protection plan should include: a) Safe use of all job site equipment including safe practices when using ladders or scaffolding; b) Safe procedures for crawl space work and avoidance of job site hazards; and c) Discussion of hantavirus symptoms. Hazards and protective response by mitigation installers should be identified for: hantavirus symptoms; suspected contaminants in soil; or accidents including those that can occur when handling caustic solvents and bonding chemicals. 11.1.4.1 Safety Equipment Appropriate safety equipment shall be available on the job site such as hard hats, eye protection, hearing protection, respiratory protection, steel-toe boots and protective gloves during cutting, drilling, grinding, coring or other activities.