Level of Effort Required for Operations and Maintenance Work Practices

Abstract

For the building owner to make a justifiable decision of whether an operations and maintenance (O&M) program, versus some other abatement action, is the appropriate course to take in a building containing asbestos, an estimate of O&M costs must be made. The specific objective of this study was to estimate the time required to perform certain work practices recommended in the Guidance Manual: Asbestos Operations & Maintenance Work Practices, published by the National Institute of Building Sciences. Selected work practices were observed and timed during simulated performance. The study was focused on work practices for asbestos-containing materials commonly found in commercial office buildings. Depending upon the type of material and the ability of the work force, O&M practices increase work performance time, by factors from 2 to 14, beyond what is required for the same work tasks when asbestos control procedures are not used.