Asbestos Awareness

1. AsbestosAwareness

2. Session Objectives • Know what asbestos is and how it is used • Understand the health impacts of asbestos • Recognize potential occupational exposure • Identify regulated work areas • Understand PPE requirements • Know safe work practices to use around asbestos

3. What Is Asbestos? • Group of natural minerals • Still mined in some countries • Long, thin, and strong fibrous crystals • Resistant to heat and corrosive chemicals

4. Use of Asbestos • Building materials prior to 1980 • Fire protection and insulation • Cement products like sheeting, tiles, tanks • Brake pads • Fireproof blankets • Gaskets and filters

5. Friable Asbestos • Friable materials • Pipe insulation • Insulating boards • Insulating textiles • Nonfriable materials • Floor and ceiling tiles • Caulking

6. Occupational Exposure • 1.3 million workers face asbestos exposure • Construction and demolition • Manufacturing of asbestos materials • Maintenance and janitorial workers • Automotive brake and clutch work

7. Exposure Awareness • Be aware of potential for asbestos-containing materials in older buildings • Know where asbestos-containing materials are located • Know what precautions to take around asbestos-containing materials

8. Exposure Considerations • Length of exposure • Concentration of airborne fibers • Smoking and asbestos • Health effects from long-term exposure to high concentrations

9. Health Hazard • No health risk when asbestos materials are intact • Potential inhalation hazard from damaged asbestos materials • Airborne fibers are usually microscopic

10. Health Impacts • Asbestosis, a scarring of the lungs • Mesothelioma, cancer of the lungs and abdomen • Cancers of the lungs, esophagus, stomach, colon, and rectum • No cure for asbestos-related illnesses

11. Asbestos-related Diseases Asbestosis Mesothelioma Lung Cancer Other cancers . • Usually symptoms take 15 to 30 years or more to develop. • Health effects from asbestos exposure may continue to progress even after exposure is stopped.

12. Asbestosis Example Joe, 1989. Forced to retire in 1974 at age 50 from poor health; he died from asbestosis in 1990 at age 66.. Joe Darabant, 1949, covered with chrysotile asbestos fibers. Worked for 30+ years at the Johns-Manville Plant in New Jersey, cutting asbestos shingles and making asbestos block and pipe-covering materials. Asbestosis is a serious chronic, progressive disease that can eventually lead to disability or death in people exposed to high amounts of asbestos over a long period. Asbestos fibers cause the lung tissues to scar; when the scarring spreads, it becomes harder and harder to breathe. Symptoms include shortness of breath, a dry crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling, coughing, and chest pain. This condition is permanent and there is no effective treatment.

13. Asbestos-related diseases The potential for asbestos related disease depends on: • Amount of fibers inhaled • Length of exposure • Whether exposed worker smokes • Age – because of delayed effects Don’t smoke! An asbestos worker is at much greater risk of developing lung cancer if he/she smokes.

14. In-Place Management • EPA recommends an in-place management program • Removal may create hazards • Removal is required only during building demolition or renovation

15. Asbestos Control Program • Survey asbestos-containing materials in the building • Make repairs • Implement operations and maintenance procedures • Train all affected employees • Conduct periodic surveillance

16. Asbestos Work • Only trained, authorized employees should work with asbestos • Report damaged asbestos-containing materials • Following asbestos regulations will help protect everyone exposed

17. Exposure Limits • 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter of air (f/cc) over an 8-hour workday • 1 f/cc over a 30-minute period • Respiratory protection required when exposure exceeds OSHA limits

18. Exposure Monitoring • General industry • Initial monitoring if suspected >0.1 f/cc • Subsequent monitoring every 6 months • Construction • Initial monitoring if suspected >0.1 f/cc • Daily monitoring until <0.1 f/cc • Wear positive pressure supplied-air respirator

19. Regulated Work Areas • Areas that exceed PEL • Warning signs posted • Only authorized personnel wearing respirators • No eating, smoking, drinking, or chewing gum

20. Protective Clothing • Employees exposed above the PEL • Coveralls • Gloves • Foot coverings • Eye protection • Do not wash contaminated work clothing at home

21. Hygiene Facilities • Enter/exit through decontamination area • Change rooms with showers • Separate lockers for work clothes and street clothes • Lunchroom with filtered air supply

22. Safe Work Procedures • Use work procedures that prevent dust • Keep asbestos material damp • Use hand tools • Wear required PPE • Wash hands before eating, drinking, smoking

23. Asbestos Dust • Clean up dust using a dustless method • Special vacuum with high-efficiency filter • Use wet method • Never use brooms, brushes, or compressed air

24. Asbestos Waste • Place asbestos waste in a sealed container, such as a bag • Place the waste container inside a second bag • Label the bag

25. Medical Exams • Assignment to occupations with airborne exposure above OSHA limits • Pre-placement, annually, and upon termination • Construction: Annually when exposed for 30 days or more per year

26. Recordkeeping • You have a right to see records • Records must include: • Monitoring measurements • Respiratory protection devices worn • Names and Social Security numbers • Records must be retained for 30 years

27. Key Points to Remember • Asbestos is primarily an inhalation hazard • Health effects are long term and can include cancer • Know the location of asbestos-containing materials • Wear your respirator and other protective clothing when needed