Asbestos Inspector Test UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
3 uncommon types of Asbestos - CORRECT ANSWER - Anthophyllite, Tremolite, and
Actinolite
Most common varieties of Asbestos - CORRECT ANSWER - Chrysotile, amosite and
crocidolite
PLM - CORRECT ANSWER - Polarized Light Microscopy
To detect if a building material is asbestos... - CORRECT ANSWER - you take a BULK
sample and have it analyzed by PLM
A bulk sample is analyzed by what method? - CORRECT ANSWER - PLM
PLM-EPA requires you to report... - CORRECT ANSWER - percent and type of asbestos.
Asbestosis - CORRECT ANSWER - is scarring of air sacs (alyeoli in the lungs) this is not
cancer. Also called white lung disease.
Mesothelioma - CORRECT ANSWER - cancer of the lung or stomach (peritoneal) lining, rare
and deadly. Even one fiber could cause it, called the marker disease.
What are the required components of the medical exam? - CORRECT ANSWER - Required:
Medical Questionnaire, pulmonary fit test (PFT), physical exam.
Recommended: chest x ray, EKG, Sputum cytology
How often must a medical exam be done? - CORRECT ANSWER - Initially and every year
and at termination of job within 30 days.
,Two broad categories of respirators. - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Air purifying RP
2. Air supplied RP also called atmosphere supplied.
ASHARA - CORRECT ANSWER - Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act-
all public and commercial buildings must use accredited personnel.
What two methods of analysis are commonly used for AIR sample and analysis. - CORRECT
ANSWER - Transmission Electron Microscopy and Phase Contrast Microscopy
AHERA - CORRECT ANSWER - Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
CFR - CORRECT ANSWER - Code of Federal Regulations
OSHA - CORRECT ANSWER - Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Asbestos is - CORRECT ANSWER - a naturally occurring mineral and it is made into many
different products. Chemical and fire retardant. A fibrous mineral.
Why do you need to know the percent of asbestos? - CORRECT ANSWER - If it's 1% or
lower it is not considered asbestos by EPA rules. OSHA considers any amount of asbestos a
possible exposure until air sampling proves otherwise.
The two major grouping of asbestos are - CORRECT ANSWER - Serpentine and Amphibole
Serpentine - CORRECT ANSWER - 95% of all asbestos is chrysotile (white)
Amphilbole has 5 types - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Amosite
2. Crocidolite
, 3. Anthophyllite
4. Tremolite
5. Actinolite
Most amphibole is found in - CORRECT ANSWER - TSI and usually doesnt absorb water
easily
Analyzing the bulk samples is the only way to positively document the presence of asbestos. -
CORRECT ANSWER - True
Even if a lab by PLM shows a material is 1% or lower including trace then it must be tested by
Point Counting (and be 1% or lower) otherwise assume it's still asbestos. - CORRECT
ANSWER - The exception to this is if it is NAD (No Asbestos Detected). EPA regulations
state that all samples below 10% must be point counted or presumed to be asbestos.
PLM and TEM are the two most currently used methods to detect asbestos in materials. -
CORRECT ANSWER - True
Other methods to detect asbestos besides PLM are - CORRECT ANSWER - TEM-
Transmission Electron Microscopy
X-ray diffraction-old method and inaccurate
SEM- Scanning Electron Microscopy (expensive)
PCM - CORRECT ANSWER - Phase Contrast Microscopy- you collect a sample on a filter
cassette to detect asbestos in the air. Light is shifted 3 degrees. Used on job sites to determine
workers exposure.
OSHA has TWO basic limits - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL)
0.1 f/cc for 8 hours or 480 minutes (a full work day)
2. Excursion Limit (EL) 1.0 f/cc for 30 minutes (one required for an 8 hour day, during highest
fiber count). This helps to make sure that workers wearing half face respirators are not at risk to
being overexposed to asbestos fibers.
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
3 uncommon types of Asbestos - CORRECT ANSWER - Anthophyllite, Tremolite, and
Actinolite
Most common varieties of Asbestos - CORRECT ANSWER - Chrysotile, amosite and
crocidolite
PLM - CORRECT ANSWER - Polarized Light Microscopy
To detect if a building material is asbestos... - CORRECT ANSWER - you take a BULK
sample and have it analyzed by PLM
A bulk sample is analyzed by what method? - CORRECT ANSWER - PLM
PLM-EPA requires you to report... - CORRECT ANSWER - percent and type of asbestos.
Asbestosis - CORRECT ANSWER - is scarring of air sacs (alyeoli in the lungs) this is not
cancer. Also called white lung disease.
Mesothelioma - CORRECT ANSWER - cancer of the lung or stomach (peritoneal) lining, rare
and deadly. Even one fiber could cause it, called the marker disease.
What are the required components of the medical exam? - CORRECT ANSWER - Required:
Medical Questionnaire, pulmonary fit test (PFT), physical exam.
Recommended: chest x ray, EKG, Sputum cytology
How often must a medical exam be done? - CORRECT ANSWER - Initially and every year
and at termination of job within 30 days.
,Two broad categories of respirators. - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Air purifying RP
2. Air supplied RP also called atmosphere supplied.
ASHARA - CORRECT ANSWER - Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act-
all public and commercial buildings must use accredited personnel.
What two methods of analysis are commonly used for AIR sample and analysis. - CORRECT
ANSWER - Transmission Electron Microscopy and Phase Contrast Microscopy
AHERA - CORRECT ANSWER - Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
CFR - CORRECT ANSWER - Code of Federal Regulations
OSHA - CORRECT ANSWER - Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Asbestos is - CORRECT ANSWER - a naturally occurring mineral and it is made into many
different products. Chemical and fire retardant. A fibrous mineral.
Why do you need to know the percent of asbestos? - CORRECT ANSWER - If it's 1% or
lower it is not considered asbestos by EPA rules. OSHA considers any amount of asbestos a
possible exposure until air sampling proves otherwise.
The two major grouping of asbestos are - CORRECT ANSWER - Serpentine and Amphibole
Serpentine - CORRECT ANSWER - 95% of all asbestos is chrysotile (white)
Amphilbole has 5 types - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Amosite
2. Crocidolite
, 3. Anthophyllite
4. Tremolite
5. Actinolite
Most amphibole is found in - CORRECT ANSWER - TSI and usually doesnt absorb water
easily
Analyzing the bulk samples is the only way to positively document the presence of asbestos. -
CORRECT ANSWER - True
Even if a lab by PLM shows a material is 1% or lower including trace then it must be tested by
Point Counting (and be 1% or lower) otherwise assume it's still asbestos. - CORRECT
ANSWER - The exception to this is if it is NAD (No Asbestos Detected). EPA regulations
state that all samples below 10% must be point counted or presumed to be asbestos.
PLM and TEM are the two most currently used methods to detect asbestos in materials. -
CORRECT ANSWER - True
Other methods to detect asbestos besides PLM are - CORRECT ANSWER - TEM-
Transmission Electron Microscopy
X-ray diffraction-old method and inaccurate
SEM- Scanning Electron Microscopy (expensive)
PCM - CORRECT ANSWER - Phase Contrast Microscopy- you collect a sample on a filter
cassette to detect asbestos in the air. Light is shifted 3 degrees. Used on job sites to determine
workers exposure.
OSHA has TWO basic limits - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL)
0.1 f/cc for 8 hours or 480 minutes (a full work day)
2. Excursion Limit (EL) 1.0 f/cc for 30 minutes (one required for an 8 hour day, during highest
fiber count). This helps to make sure that workers wearing half face respirators are not at risk to
being overexposed to asbestos fibers.
