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Asbestos Awareness

Asbestos Awareness. NSTC-18. Introductions. Name Company and/or Position Experience related to working in an area with asbestos-containing materials. Administration and Safety. Emergency Procedures Restrooms/Breaks/Smoking Safety Minute. Goal.

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Asbestos Awareness

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  1. Asbestos Awareness NSTC-18

  2. Introductions • Name • Company and/or Position • Experience related to working in an area with asbestos-containing materials

  3. Administration and Safety • Emergency Procedures • Restrooms/Breaks/Smoking • Safety Minute

  4. Goal • To introduce employees to the potential hazards and safe work practices for working near asbestos-containing materials (ACM). Elbow with asbestos joint compound

  5. Objectives • Describe the properties of asbestos. • Describe the health effects from exposure. • Recognize asbestos hazards and practice effective control measures Asbestos roofing mastic on access door

  6. Importance of Training • Asbestos containing material (ACM) is found in buildings and work areas where workers may come into contact with it. • Asbestos is potentially hazardous to health. • Exposure to asbestos is governed by federal and state regulations.

  7. What Is Asbestos?

  8. Properties of Asbestos • Naturally occurring fibrous mineral consisting of complex silicates • Virtually indestructible because • Fibers are resistant to heat, cold, and chemicals • Fibers are not water soluble and remain in the air • Fibers can be densely packed to make a tough, flexible material for insulation and other industrial uses

  9. Properties of Asbestos Individual fibers are microscopic in size; some may be up to 700 times smaller than a human hair

  10. Definition of Terms • ACM: Asbestos-containing material containing more than 1% asbestos • PACM: Presumed asbestos-containing material; thermal system insulation and surfacing material found in buildings constructed prior to1980 • Surfacing material: Material that is sprayed, troweled-on or otherwise applied to surfaces • Thermal system insulation (TSI) ACM applied to pipes, fittings, boilers, tanks, ducts, or other structural components to prevent heat loss or gain and contains more than 1% asbestos. 29 CFR 1910.1001 (b)

  11. Types of Asbestos • Chrysotile (white) — used in insulation, fire- and sound-proofing, surfacing materials, adhesives • Amosite (brown) — used in high friction applications; brake shoes, clutches, and other equipment • Crocidolite (blue) — not as common as the other two forms; high-temperature applications such as gaskets

  12. Hazard Recognition

  13. Potential Asbestos Locations • Thermal system insulation (TSI) on furnaces, ducts, boilers, and water pipes • Sprayed-on or troweled-on surfacing materials • Asphalt and vinyl flooring and mastics • Suspended ceiling tiles Asbestos-containing pipe insulation BP ASH, page 21

  14. Potential Asbestos Locations 14 • Drywall, joint compound, drapes, and curtains • Roofing shingles, exterior siding shingles • Fireproofing on metal beams & columns • Gypsum blocks used in older wall construction • High temperature gaskets and packing in valve stems Asbestos-containing gasket BP ASH, page 21

  15. Potential Asbestos Locations Insulating blocks between flow lines and pipe supports 15 15 BP ASH, page 21

  16. Potential Asbestos Locations Mastic and sealants on insulation and piping 16 16 BP ASH, page 21

  17. When Is Asbestos a Hazard? • ACM becomes hazardous when its bonding material breaks down and it becomes friable. • Friable ACMs can easily be crushed or crumbled by hand pressure releasing fibers into the air.

  18. When Is Asbestos a Hazard? • TSI and surfacing ACM are potentially friable. • ANY activity involving ACM is capable of releasing hazardous fibers. • Assume that dust or debris contains asbestos fibers when friable ACM is in the vicinity.

  19. Potential High Risk Areas • A work area that contains friable asbestos • A work area that is near construction or renovations that contain asbestos • Maintenance or custodial activities in work areas containing asbestos Report any deterioration of ACM to your supervisor!

  20. When Is Asbestos Safe? • It is safe to work in areas with non-friable ACM. • The fibers in non-friable ACM are tightly bonded and won’t be released unless disturbed or damaged in some way.

  21. Health Effects

  22. Health Effects • Asbestos fibers are dangerous when inhaled because they cannot be broken down and in time damage the lungs. • Symptoms may take 15 to 30 years or more to develop. • The long-term effects of asbestos exposure can result in: • Asbestosis • Lung cancer • Mesothelioma

  23. Asbestosis • Asbestosis is a chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease in which inhaled asbestos fibers cause lung tissues to scar. • Scar tissue is not able to transfer oxygen so as scarring increases, lung function decreases • Symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath, and a dry crackling sound when inhaling.

  24. Lung Cancer • Causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure • Common symptoms include: • Shortness of breath • Coughing up blood • Fatigue • Persistent chest pains • Weight loss • Anemia

  25. Mesothelioma • Rare form of cancer occurring in the membrane (mesothelium) which lines the lungs, chest, abdomen, and the pericardium (heart sac) • Symptoms include fatigue, chest pain, weight loss • Very invasive although it may take years to develop • Is painful and always fatal.

  26. Asbestos Exposure and Smoking • Smoking combined with asbestos exposure increases the risk of asbestosis and lung cancer. • Asbestos workers who smoke are 60-90 times more likely to develop lung cancer than those who don’t smoke nor have been exposed to asbestos. • Quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung cancer by 50% in just five years.

  27. Control Measures

  28. Employer Responsibility • Provide asbestos awareness training for employees working near ACM or PACM • Provide notification of exposure risks • Post warning signs on known ACM and entrances to asbestos work areas • Materials suspected to contain asbestos must be tested before they are disturbed (BP ASH page 21). • Only trained workers may sample and remove asbestos-containing materials. (BP ASH page 21).

  29. Employee Responsibility • Follow safety procedures • Be alert to the presence of warning signs/labels • Report any disturbances or damage to ACM or PACM Damaged asbestos-containing drywall

  30. Controlling Exposure DO NOT: • Drill holes or hammer nails in ceiling or walls with ACM or PACM. • Remove ceiling tiles or light fixtures from suspended ceiling grids. • Cut through pipe insulation. • Scrape floor tiles, walls or ductwork. • Dust, sweep or vacuum up debris that may contain asbestos. • Hang plants from insulated pipes. ASH, page 159; BP ASH, page 202

  31. Reporting Procedure If you find disturbed material, not previously marked, that you SUSPECT may contain asbestos, notify your supervisor or your Safety/Industrial Hygiene Representative. Damaged asbestos pipe insulation

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