A contractor is renovating a building built in 1975 and discovers friable asbestos insulation. According to Cal/OSHA, what is the first required action?
Correct Answer
C) Stop work and notify Cal/OSHA within 24 hours
Cal/OSHA Section 1529 requires work to stop immediately upon discovery of friable asbestos and notification to Cal/OSHA within 24 hours before any asbestos work can begin.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Cal/OSHA Section 1529 (Construction Industry Asbestos Standard) requires that upon discovery of friable asbestos during renovation or demolition, work must stop immediately and Cal/OSHA must be notified within 24 hours before any asbestos-related work can proceed. Friable asbestos — material that can be crumbled by hand pressure — is the most hazardous form because it releases airborne fibers that cause mesothelioma and other fatal lung diseases.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Hire a certified asbestos contractor immediately
While hiring a certified asbestos contractor is eventually required, it is not the first required action. The mandatory sequence is: (1) stop work, (2) notify Cal/OSHA within 24 hours, and then (3) engage certified abatement professionals. Skipping the notification step violates Section 1529.
Option B: Wet the material and continue with caution
Wetting friable asbestos to suppress dust is a handling technique used only by certified asbestos abatement workers using proper PPE and containment. Untrained workers must not attempt any contact with the material. 'Continuing with caution' is never acceptable under Cal/OSHA when asbestos is discovered.
Option D: Continue work using standard dust masks
Standard dust masks (N95 or lower) provide no meaningful protection against asbestos fibers, which are microscopic. Cal/OSHA requires minimum half-face respirators with P100 filters or supplied-air respirators for asbestos work — and even then, only by trained, certified workers after proper notification.
Memory Technique
Use the acronym STOP-NOTIFY: Stop work, Notify Cal/OSHA (24 hours), Order a certified abatement crew. Pre-1981 buildings = assume asbestos present. The '24 hours' window is a key number to memorize for the exam.
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