Chapter 3. Standards And Administration of California Labor Code >> Division 5. >> Part 10. >> Chapter 3.

(a) Pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 140) of Division 1, the standards board shall adopt standards for carcinogens at least as restrictive as the federal requirements for use of carcinogens promulgated under Section 6 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-596), as these federal requirements may be revised from time to time. Within six months after the effective date of any change in the federal requirements, the standards board shall amend its standards as necessary to comply with this subdivision.
  (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the state shall exercise strong leadership in preventing employees, employers, and other persons from being exposed to carcinogens. In this connection, it is the further intent of the Legislature that the standards board adopt standards for substances as to which there exists a preponderance of evidence of carcinogenicity, but for which the federal government has not yet promulgated requirements specified in subdivision (a). The division shall determine the necessity for the standards and shall develop and present the proposed standards to the standards board pursuant to Section 147.1.

All standards relating to the use of carcinogens which are in effect on January 1, 1986, including standards set forth in Sections 5208, 5209, and 5210 of Title 8 of the California Administrative Code, shall remain in effect until amended or repealed by the standards board.

(a) Not later than January 1, 1987, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health shall propose a regulation concerning asbestos-related work, as defined in Section 6501.8, to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board for review and adoption so as to protect most effectively the health and safety of employees. The regulation shall also include, but not be limited to, specific work practices and specific requirements for certification of all employees engaged in asbestos-related work.
  (b) (1) Not later than July 1, 1991, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health shall propose regulations for the certification of asbestos consultants and site surveillance technicians to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board for consideration and action. By January 1, 1992, the board shall adopt regulations regarding certification. The regulations shall address and encompass procedures to determine the requirements for the certification provided for by Article 11 (commencing with Section 7180) of Chapter 9 of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code. The division shall prepare and administer an examination to determine qualifications for certification pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 7184 and subdivision (c) of Section 7185 of the Business and Professions Code. The examination shall be administered on a periodic, regularly scheduled basis.
  (2) The division may, in lieu of preparing and administering its own certification examination, approve one or more public or private institutions which offer programs in asbestos abatement training to prepare and administer the examination described in subdivision (b) of Section 7184 and subdivision (c) of Section 7185 of the Business and Professions Code. However, the division shall not approve any institution, organization, individual, or other entity for administering a certification examination if that institution, organization, individual or other entity engages, for compensation, in any aspect of asbestos abatement work. For purposes of developing or approving a certification examination pursuant to this section, the division shall consult with an advisory committee of individuals who have academic and professional experience in asbestos abatement work, including a certified industrial hygienist, representatives of asbestos abatement workers, and asbestos abatement contractors.
  (c) This section does not exempt any employer from complying with the Hazardous Substances Information and Training Act (Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 6360) of Part 1 of Division 5 of this code) and regulations adopted thereunder, nor does it exempt any employer from complying with Section 5208 of Title 8 of the California Administrative Code. For products not requiring contractor certification pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 7058.5 of the Business and Professions Code, training and certification of employees shall be done by the employer.

The division may charge a fee to each asbestos consultant and site surveillance technician who applies for certification pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 9021.5 and Article 11 (commencing with Section 7180) of Chapter 9 of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code. The fee shall be sufficient to cover the division's cost for administering the certification process, including preparation and administration of the examination. The fees collected shall be deposited in the Asbestos Consultant Certification Account. Establishment of any fee pursuant to this section shall be accomplished through the regulatory process required by subdivision (b) of Section 9021.5.

(a) There is hereby created the Asbestos Training and Consultant Certification Fund, which shall consist of the Asbestos Training Approval Account and the Asbestos Consultant Certification Account. Moneys in the Asbestos Training Approval Account shall consist of the fees collected pursuant to Section 9021.9. Moneys in the Asbestos Consultant Certification Account shall consist of the fees collected pursuant to Section 9021.6.
  (b) Moneys in the Asbestos Training Approval Account shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for expenditure only for administering the training entity approval process provided for in Section 9021.9. Moneys in the Asbestos Consultant Certification Account shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, only for administering the certification process provided for in Section 9021.6.

All asbestos consultant and site surveillance technician certifications shall be renewed annually. The division shall require asbestos consultants and site surveillance technicians to complete the annual refresher courses as required under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (Subchapter II (commencing with Section 2641) of Chapter 53 of Title 15 of the United States Code) or the equivalent, as determined by the division.

(a) The division shall establish an advisory committee to develop and recommend by September 30, 1994, for action by the standards board in accordance with Section 142.3, specific requirements for hands-on, task-specific training programs for all craft employees who may be exposed to asbestos-containing construction materials and all employees and supervisors involved in operations pertaining to asbestos cement pipe, as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 6501.8. The training programs shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
  (1) The physical characteristics and health hazards of asbestos.
  (2) The types of asbestos cement pipe or asbestos-containing construction materials an employee may encounter in his or her specific work assignments.
  (3) Safe practices and procedures for minimizing asbestos exposures from operations involving asbestos cement pipe or asbestos-containing construction materials.
  (4) A review of general industry and construction safety orders relating to asbestos exposure.
  (5) Hands-on instruction using pipe or other construction materials and the tools and equipment employees will use in the workplace.
  (b) The division shall approve training entities to conduct task-specific training programs that include the requirements prescribed by the standards board pursuant to this section for employees and supervisors involved in operations pertaining to asbestos cement pipe or asbestos-containing construction materials.
  (c) The division shall charge a fee to each asbestos training entity approved by the division pursuant to subdivision (b). The fee shall be sufficient to cover the division's cost for administering the approval process provided for in subdivision (b). The fees collected shall be deposited in the Asbestos Training Approval Account. Establishment of any fee pursuant to this section shall be accomplished through the regulatory process required by subdivision (b) of Section 9021.5.

The division shall have primary responsibility for enforcement of standards relating to carcinogens. However, the State Department of Health Services shall assist the division in the enforcement of the standards, in the manner prescribed by this chapter, and as shall be further defined by a written agreement between the State Department of Health Services and the department, pursuant to Section 144.