Which of the following best describes the difference between containment and enclosure in asbestos work?

• A. Containment includes barriers and negative pressure to limit dispersion; enclosure is a physical barrier around ACM to isolate it from the workspace
• B. Containment includes barriers and negative pressure to limit dispersion; enclosure is a physical barrier around ACM to isolate it from the workspace
• C. Containment refers to ventilation only; enclosure is a barrier around all equipment
• D. Containment is the same as enclosure

Answer: (B)

The difference hinges on what each control method does to prevent fiber release. Containment is about creating a controlled work zone through physical barriers and negative pressure to stop airborne fibers from escaping the area. It uses barriers plus a system that maintains air flow into the work space and out through negative pressure, keeping potentially contaminated air from spreading.

Enclosure, on the other hand, focuses on isolating the asbestos-containing material itself by surrounding it with a physical barrier so fibers stay contained during removal or handling.

So the best description is that containment includes barriers and negative pressure to limit dispersion, while enclosure is a physical barrier around the asbestos-containing material to isolate it from the workspace. The other statements don’t fit because containment isn’t only ventilation, enclosure isn’t about all equipment, and containment and enclosure aren’t the same.