How often should workers exit the contaminated area if unable to use a respirator?

Workers should exit the contaminated area every 10 minutes if they are unable to use a respirator. This guideline is in place to minimize exposure to airborne contaminants, particularly asbestos fibers, which can pose serious health risks when inhaled. By having a structured time frame for exiting the contaminated space, workers allow for the chance to breathe fresh air and reduce their overall exposure levels.

Shorter intervals, such as every 5 minutes, may not provide enough time to effectively manage exposure or to allow for necessary routines between exits, such as decontamination protocols or monitoring equipment. Longer intervals, such as 15 or 30 minutes, would increase the risk of accumulating harmful exposure without sufficient breaks.

In practice, the 10-minute guideline is a balanced approach to maintaining safety while allowing for task completion in environments where respirators cannot be utilized.