Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)

Regulations

Asbestos Abatement Regulations, 2020

19. Personal protective equipment and facilities

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(1)An employer or self-employed person must—
(a)provide respiratory protective equipment and protective clothing suitable for protection against regulated asbestos fibres to all persons who may be exposed to asbestos;
(b)ensure that the respiratory protective equipment provides the appropriate level of protection for the type of asbestos work to be undertaken; and
(c)ensure that a person's exposure is adequately controlled as contemplated in regulation 9.

 

(2)Where respiratory protective equipment is provided, the employer or self-employed person must ensure that—
(a)the relevant equipment is capable of keeping the exposure level below the OEL for asbestos;
(b)the relevant equipment is correctly and properly used, stored and maintained;
(c)information, instruction, training and supervision that are necessary with regard to the use of the equipment are provided to the persons; and
(d)the equipment is kept in good, condition and efficient  working order.

 

(3)An employer or self-employed person must, as far as is reasonably practicable—
(a)issue no personal protective equipment to a person unless such equipment  is cleaned, decontaminated  and, where appropriate, sterilised;
(b)provide separate containers or storage facilities for personal protective equipment not in use; and
(c)ensure that all personal protective equipment not in use is stored only in the place provided.

 

(4)An employer or self-employed person must, as far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that all  personal protective equipment contaminated with asbestos dust is thoroughly cleaned and handled in accordance with the following procedures—
(a)Where personal protective equipment is cleaned on the premises of the asbestos client, care must be taken to prevent contamination during handling, transport and cleaning; and
(b)water that is used for decontamination or cleaning of equipment must be filtered in accordance with regulation 9(3) before being released into any water system.

 

(5)Subject to sub-regulation (3)(a), an employer or self-employed person must ensure that no person removes dirty or contaminated personal protective equipment from the work place: Provided that where personal protective equipment contaminated with asbestos dust has to be disposed of, it must be treated as asbestos waste as contemplated in regulation 21.

 

(6)Subject to the Facilities Regulations, 2004, published as Government Notice R.924 in Gazette No. 26636 of 3 August 2004, the employer must—
(a)provide employees involved in type 1 and type 2 asbestos work with adequate washing facilities, which are readily accessible and located in an area where the facilities will not become contaminated, to enable employees to meet a standard of personal hygiene consistent with the adequate control of exposure, and to avoid the spread of asbestos dust;
(b)provide employees involved in type 3 asbestos work with a decontamination facility , in accordance with HSG 248, Chapter 9, which facility is readily accessible and located in an area where it will not become contaminated, to enable employees to meet a standard of personal hygiene consistent with the adequate control of exposure, and to avoid the spread of asbestos dust.