Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act (ASHARA) - passed in 1990, required accreditation of personnel working on asbestos activities in schools and public and commercial buildings.

AHERA School Rules - Requires all public school districts and private schools known as local education agencies or LEAs, to inspect all school buildings for both friable and non-friable asbestos; to develop plans to manage asbestos in schools; and to carry out plans in a timely fashion. This rule also provides an opportunity for parents, teachers, and other school employees to become familiar with and involved in their school’s asbestos management program. School officials are required to notify parent, teacher, and employee groups about asbestos-related activities.

Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM) - Any material containing more than 1% asbestos.

CFR - Code of Federal Regulations.

Class I Asbestos Work – One of the four classes of activities covered in the Construction Standard. Refers to activities involving the removal of TSI and sprayed-on, troweled-on or otherwise applied surfacing ACM and PACM.

Class II Asbestos Work – One of the four classes of activities covered in the Construction standard. Refers to activities involving the removal of ACM, which is not TSI, or surfacing ACM or PACM. This includes, but is not limited to, the removal of asbestos-containing wallboard, floor tile and sheeting, roofing and siding shingles, and construction mastics.

Class III Asbestos Work – One of the four classes of activities covered in the Construction standard. Refers to repair and maintenance operations, which are likely to “disturb” ACM or PACM, including TSI and surfacing ACM.

Class IV Asbestos Work – One of the four classes of activities covered in the Construction standard. Refers to maintenance and custodial construction activities during which employees contact but do not “disturb” ACM or PACM, and activities to clean up dust, waste, and debris resulting from Class I, II and III activities. This includes dusting surfaces, vacuuming carpets, mopping floors, cleaning up ACM or PACM materials from thermal system insulation or surfacing ACM/PACM. Incidental disturbance could include activities such as changing a battery in a smoke detector attached to a ceiling containing ACM or PACM; polishing floors containing asbestos, and changing a light bulb in a fixture attached to an asbestos containing ceiling.

Competent Person - One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions, which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them (29 CFR 1926.32 (f)). Also, the "competent person" must be designated by the employer (29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2)). OSHA notes that this "competency" is independent of the training required to be an asbestos competent person. "Competency" as well as training is required. Thus, a "competent person" is not merely someone with a specified level of training but connotes a high level of knowledge of worksite safety and health issues as well.

Competent Person Training Requirements - Asbestos
One who is capable of identifying existing asbestos hazards in the workplace and selecting the appropriate control strategy for asbestos exposure, and has the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them, as specified in 29 CFR 1926.32(f). For Class I and Class II work, the “competent person” must take a course (or an equivalent course), which meets the criteria of EPA's Model Accreditation Plan (40 CFR 763) for supervisor. For Class III and Class IV work, the “competent person” must be trained in a manner consistent with EPA requirements for training of local education agency operations and maintenance staff as set forth at 40 CFR 763.92 (a)(2).

Delamination – Separation of materials as a result of water damage, abrasion, sanding, drilling, sawing, gouging.

"Disturbance,” in Reference to Asbestos and Class II Work - Activities that disrupt the matrix of ACM or PACM, crumble or pulverize ACM or PACM, or generate visible debris from ACM or PACM. Operations may include drilling, abrading, cutting a hole, cable pulling, crawling through tunnels, or attics and spaces above the ceiling where asbestos is actively disturbed or asbestos-containing debris is actively disturbed.

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

Lockout/Tagout – Refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities. I personally don’t feel that this needs to be defined. Anyone interested in this class would know what it is. If they don’t they should not be taking this class – just my opinion KG

OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Oxy-fuel or Oxyfuel (oxygenated fuel) – A special type of gasoline which burns more completely than regular gasoline in cold start conditions; more complete burning results in reduced production of carbon monoxide, a criteria air pollutant. In some parts of the country, carbon monoxide release from cars starting up in cold weather makes a major contribution to pollution. In these areas, gasoline refiners must market oxygenated fuels, which contain a higher oxygen content than regular gasoline. Some gasoline companies started selling oxyfuels in cities with carbon monoxide problems before the 1990 Clean Air Act was passed.

PACM (Presumed Asbestos Containing Material) – PACM is limited to thermal system insulation and sprayed or troweled on, or otherwise applied surfacing material in buildings constructed no later than 1980. The material is "presumed" to contain asbestos unless it is demonstrated, in accordance with the standard, that PACM does not contain asbestos. Asphalt and vinyl flooring material installed no later than 1980 must also be considered as asbestos containing unless the employer determines them to be asbestos free.

Surfacing ACM – Material that is sprayed, troweled-on, or otherwise applied to surfaces (such as acoustical plaster on ceilings and fireproofing materials on structural members, or other materials on surfaces for acoustical, fireproofing, and other purposes), and that contains more than 1% asbestos.