AOC Addresses Asbestos Steam Pipes in Tunnel Issues

Asbestos: When the utility tunnels were constructed in the 1930s and 1950s, asbestos was used to insulate the steam pipes. In January 2006, OOC issued a citation calling for AOC to address the potential asbestos hazards in the tunnels. Since then, AOC has begun repairing damaged asbestos; begun asbestos removal in some areas; and required anyone entering the tunnels to wear protective equipment, including respirators.

Federal Occupational Health, a component of the U.S. Public Health Service, is on site to conduct asbestos monitoring of each team that enters the tunnels and reports that the results of the monitoring do not indicate exposure to asbestos above acceptable levels.

At the tunnel workers’ request, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted an investigation of the employees’ exposure to certain hazards. Preliminary findings from NIOSH indicate that there is currently not a general concern about asbestos exposure that would require protective equipment to be worn, but heat is a major concern that could in part be reduced by eliminating the requirement to wear the protective equipment.