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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 WABCO.
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
1. 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
2. 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.
3. Procedures for Servicing Brakes.
a. 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.
b. 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.
c. 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.
d. 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.
e. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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 FIBER 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 WABCO.
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
medical experts 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
1. Separate Work Areas. Whenever feasible, service brakes in a separate area away
from other operations to reduce risks to unprotected persons.
2. Respiratory Protection. OSHA has set a maximum allowable level of exposure for
silica of 0.1 mg/m3as 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.
3. Procedures for Servicing Brakes.
a. 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.
b. 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.
c. If an enclosed vacuum system or brake washing equipment is not available,
carefully clean the brake parts in the open air. Wet the parts with a solution
applied with a pump-spray bottle that creates a fine mist. Use a solution
containing water, and, if available, a biodegradable, non-phosphate,
water-based detergent. 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.
d. Wear a respirator equipped with a HEPA filter approved by NIOSH or MSHA
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.
e. 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.
4. 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, if the exposure levels may exceed OSHA or
manufacturers' recommended maximum levels. When you replace a HEPA filter, wet
the filter with a fine mist of water and dispose of the used filter
with care.
5. 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.
6. 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.
