OSHA Issues Safety Bulletin for Technicians Working on Asbestos Brakes and Clutches

   The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a Safety and Health Information Bulletin to inform employees and employers in the automotive brake repair industry of the precautions that must be taken when working with automotive brakes and clutches containing asbestos. According to the agency, while the use of asbestos in friction products is declining annually, it remains a substantial source of potential exposure in both old and replacement brakes and clutches. The two preferred OSHA methods to control asbestos dust during brake and clutch    repair and service are a negative pressure enclosure/HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) vacuum system and the low pressure/wet cleaning methods. Further, according to the agency, the spray can/solvent system method can be used as an  alternative preferred method since it meets the equivalency criterion of the negative pressure enclosure/HEPA vacuum system method. Proper training is essential to ensure that employees use the methods in an effective method.