ENSPEC provides Project Oversight and Air Monitoring services during abatement, ensuring that remediation is conducted in accordance with contract requirements and in strict compliance with all applicable codes, regulations and guidelines. The intent of abatement oversight is to observe a contractor's performance to ensure that no environmental hazards are created, and to document the asbestos removal effort. Air Monitoring provides an objective measure of hazardous conditions that may exist by determining the level of airborne asbestos fibers at a project site. ENSPEC Project Oversight staff have both construction and asbestos related experience.

ENSPEC conducts continuous observations of the contractor's preparation, removal, final cleaning, and lockdown/encapsulation for each removal area. Observations include the contractor's removal methods and equipment, use of personal protective equipment and decontamination facilities and inspection of the High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) exhaust units. Containment areas are inspected regularly to document effective sealing of isolation barriers, work platforms, and decontamination facilities. ENSPEC inspects waste transfers from the facility to the transport vessel (e.g., drop-off container, tractor-trailer vehicle or temporary storage and pick up by a duly licensed vendor) by the Contractor and ensures completion of waste shipment records in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. Asbestos removal work area inspection services conform to the ASTM Standards for Final Visual Inspection of Asbestos Abatement Projects (E 1368-90).

ENSPEC prepares air monitoring plans in accordance with the requirements of the Project Specifications, including descriptions of proposed sampling locations, types, methods, and frequencies. Air monitoring is performed by our staff of fully trained certified Air Monitoring Technicians. Air monitoring is done to verify that engineering controls are working properly to protect the building outside the work area from possible contamination, to ensure the safety of abatement workers and building occupants, and to comply with final air clearance regulations. Air monitoring is conducted, as required by the project scope, before, during and after the abatement procedures and includes the collection and analysis of pre-work area air samples, daily work area samples, and final work area clearance samples.

Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) air samples are collected and analyzed on-site using the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 7400 Method. Personal air samples are collected on abatement workers as a quality assurance measure for comparison to the contractor's daily OSHA personnel monitoring (which must be performed in accordance with the OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1926.1101.)

Upon completion of abatement, final clearance testing is performed and, if the area passes the tests, final completion and re-occupancy certification is issued. PCM sampling and testing is performed for most projects. TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) testing is utilized if the project falls under AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986), if TEM is required by the project specifications, or if TEM is required by any local, county, or state regulation.

Project Oversight Services include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Daily Review of Removal Worker Licenses
  • Review of Required Warning Signs and Labels
  • Review of Contractor's Log Book
  • Daily Monitoring of Contractor Compliance With Project Specifications
  • Daily Monitoring of Contractor Compliance With OSHA Requirements
  • Daily Monitoring of Contractor Compliance With Applicable Federal, State and Local Regulations
  • Consultation With Architect On Any Proposed Change In Project Plan
  • Review of Waste Transporter Permit
  • Waste Dump Site Verification
  • Review of Worker Medicals and Respirator Fit Tests
  • Review of Required State and Federal Notifications
  • Attendance at Construction Meetings
  • Final Clearance Testing (PCM or TEM)
  • Final Completion and Re-Occupancy Certification