MERITOR-TP-9853

Asbestos and Non-Asbestos Fibers

ASBESTOS FIBERS WARNING

The following procedures for servicing brakes are recommended to reduce

exposure to asbestos ﬁber dust, a cancer and lung disease hazard. Material Safety

Data Sheets are available from Meritor.

Hazard Summary

Because some brake linings contain asbestos, workers who service brakes must

understand the potential hazards of asbestos and precautions for reducing risks.

Exposure to airborne asbestos dust can cause serious and possibly fatal diseases,

including asbestosis (a chronic lung disease) and cancer, principally lung cancer and

mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavities). Some studies

show that the risk of lung cancer among persons who smoke and who are exposed to

asbestos is much greater than the risk for non-smokers. Symptoms of these diseases

may not become apparent for 15, 20 or more years after the ﬁrst exposure to asbestos.

Accordingly, workers must use caution to avoid creating and breathing dust when

servicing brakes. Speciﬁc recommended work practices for reducing exposure to

asbestos dust follow. Consult your employer for more details.

Recommended Work Practices

Separate Work Areas. Whenever feasible, service brakes in a separate area away

from other operations to reduce risks to unprotected persons. OSHA has set a maximum

allowable level of exposure for asbestos of 0.1 f/cc as an 8-hour time-weighted average

and 1.0 f/cc averaged over a 30-minute period. Scientists disagree, however, to what

extent adherence to the maximum allowable exposure levels will eliminate the risk of

disease that can result from inhaling asbestos dust. OSHA requires that the following

sign be posted at the entrance to areas where exposures exceed either of the maximum

allowable levels:

DANGER: ASBESTOS

CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

RESPIRATORS AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

ARE REQUIRED IN THIS AREA.

Respiratory Protection.

Wear a respirator equipped with a high-efﬁciency (HEPA)

ﬁlter approved by NIOSH or MSHA for use with asbestos at all times when servicing

brakes, beginning with the removal of the wheels.

Procedures for Servicing Brakes.

Enclose the brake assembly within a negative pressure enclosure. The enclosure

should be equipped with a HEPA vacuum and worker arm sleeves. With the

enclosure in place, use the HEPA vacuum to loosen and vacuum residue from the

brake parts.

As an alternative procedure, use a catch basin with water and a biodegradable,

non-phosphate, water-based detergent to wash the brake drum or rotor and other

brake parts. The solution should be applied with low pressure to prevent dust from

becoming airborne. Allow the solution to ﬂow between the brake drum and the

brake support or the brake rotor and caliper. The wheel hub and brake assembly

components should be thoroughly wetted to suppress dust before the brake shoes

or brake pads are removed. Wipe the brake parts clean with a cloth.

If an enclosed vacuum system or brake washing equipment is not available,

employers may adopt their own written procedures for servicing brakes, provided

that the exposure levels associated with the employer’s procedures do not exceed

the levels associated with the enclosed vacuum system or brake washing

equipment. Consult OSHA regulations for more details.

Wear a respirator equipped with a HEPA ﬁlter approved by NIOSH or MSHA for use

with asbestos when grinding or machining brake linings. In addition, do such work in

an area with a local exhaust ventilation system equipped with a HEPA ﬁlter.

NEVER

use compressed air by itself, dry brushing, or a vacuum not equipped with a

HEPA ﬁlter when cleaning brake parts or assemblies.

NEVER

use carcinogenic

solvents, ﬂammable solvents, or solvents that can damage brake components as

wetting agents.

Cleaning Work Areas. Clean work areas with a vacuum equipped with a HEPA ﬁlter or

by wet wiping.

NEVER

use compressed air or dry sweeping to clean work areas. When

you empty vacuum cleaners and handle used rags, wear a respirator equipped with a

HEPA ﬁlter approved by NIOSH or MSHA for use with asbestos. When you replace a

HEPA ﬁlter, wet the ﬁlter with a ﬁne mist of water and dispose of the used ﬁlter with care.

Worker Clean-Up

After servicing brakes, wash your hands before you eat, drink or

smoke. Shower after work. Do not wear work clothes home. Use a vacuum equipped

with a HEPA ﬁlter to vacuum work clothes after they are worn. Launder them separately.

Do not shake or use compressed air to remove dust from work clothes.

Waste Disposal. Dispose of discarded linings, used rags, cloths and HEPA ﬁlters

with care, such as in sealed plastic bags. Consult applicable EPA, state and local

regulations on waste disposal.

Regulatory Guidance

References to OSHA, NIOSH, MSHA, and EPA, which are regulatory agencies in the

United States, are made to provide further guidance to employers and workers

employed within the United States. Employers and workers employed outside of the

United States should consult the regulations that apply to them for further guidance.

NON-ASBESTOS FIBERS WARNING

The following procedures for servicing brakes are recommended to reduce

exposure to non-asbestos ﬁber dust, a cancer and lung disease hazard. Material

Safety Data Sheets are available from Meritor.

Hazard Summary

Most recently manufactured brake linings do not contain asbestos ﬁbers. These brake

linings may contain one or more of a variety of ingredients, including glass ﬁbers,

mineral wool, aramid ﬁbers, ceramic ﬁbers and silica that can present health risks if

inhaled. Scientists disagree on the extent of the risks from exposure to these

substances. Nonetheless, exposure to silica dust can cause silicosis, a non-cancerous

lung disease. Silicosis gradually reduces lung capacity and efﬁciency and can result in

serious breathing difﬁculty. Some scientists believe other types of non-asbestos ﬁbers,

when inhaled, can cause similar diseases of the lung. In addition, silica dust and

ceramic ﬁber dust are known to the State of California to cause lung cancer. U.S. and

international agencies have also determined that dust from mineral wool, ceramic ﬁbers

and silica are potential causes of cancer.

Accordingly, workers must use caution to avoid creating and breathing dust when

servicing brakes. Speciﬁc recommended work practices for reducing exposure to

non-asbestos dust follow. Consult your employer for more details.

Recommended Work Practices

Separate Work Areas. Whenever feasible, service brakes in a separate area away

from other operations to reduce risks to unprotected persons.

Respiratory Protection.

OSHA has set a maximum allowable level of exposure for

silica of 0.1 mg/m

as an 8-hour time-weighted average. Some manufacturers of non-

asbestos brake linings recommend that exposures to other ingredients found in non-

asbestos brake linings be kept below 1.0 f/cc as an 8-hour time-weighted average.

Scientists disagree, however, to what extent adherence to these maximum allowable

exposure levels will eliminate the risk of disease that can result from inhaling non-

asbestos dust.

Therefore, wear respiratory protection at all times during brake servicing, beginning

with the removal of the wheels. Wear a respirator equipped with a high-efﬁciency

(HEPA) ﬁlter approved by NIOSH or MSHA, if the exposure levels may exceed OSHA or

manufacturers’ recommended maximum levels. Even when exposures are expected to

be within the maximum allowable levels, wearing such a respirator at all times during

brake servicing will help minimize exposure.

Procedures for Servicing Brakes.

Enclose the brake assembly within a negative pressure enclosure. The enclosure

should be equipped with a HEPA vacuum and worker arm sleeves. With the enclosure

in place, use the HEPA vacuum to loosen and vacuum residue from the brake parts.