Asbestos, a natural mineral, is a fibrous silicate that was well utilized in construction and manufacturing, more so in the 20th century, due to its properties of fire resistance and durability. It has however been linked with numerous serious health issues like lung cancer and mesothelioma. Consequently, asbestos has been banned or subject to strict regulations in many nations around the world. Notwithstanding the enforcement of these restrictions, asbestos could still be present in older buildings and could thus pose risks to workers. It is, therefore, essential that both employer and employee be aware of how to identify asbestos at work.
Asbestos Overview
Asbestos refers to the minerals applied in the production of goods such as building insulation, roofing, flooring. These are also mainly composed of microscopically sized fibers; one cannot avoid ingesting it and serious alterations to one’s health condition will be the outcome.
Types of Asbestos
There are also six types of asbestos, of which three are most familiar and crops up at places:
- Crocidolite or Blue Asbestos found in insulation materials, mainly in cement pipes.
- Chrysotile, or White Asbestos may be found in cement sheets, roofing materials, and brake linings.
- Amosite or Brown Asbestos was largely used in insulation materials, ceiling tiles, and cement sheets
Common Asbestos-Containing Materials
Asbestos has been incorporated into hundreds of building products, including:
- Insulation materials, such as pipe and boiler insulation
- Roofing materials, including shingles and cement sheets
- Flooring materials, including vinyl tiles and adhesives
- Ceiling tiles and acoustic materials
Health Effects Because of Asbestos
The health effects of asbestos exposure are lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Since asbestos takes many years to manifest into diseases, symptoms can not appear until the disease has already reached a stage that is advanced. It is very important to take measures to limit the number of asbestos fibers released while working with asbestos or working around materials that contain asbestos.
Asbestos Identification Procedures
Identifying asbestos in the workplace is crucial for ensuring the safety of employees and avoiding exposure to this harmful substance. The following procedures can be used to identify asbestos in your workplace:
Visual Inspection Guidelines
The first method to identify ACMs in the workplace is through visual inspection. Specifically, these are the locations where inspection should be conducted:
- Insulation on all pipes, boilers and air ducts
- All ceiling tiles, vinyl floor tiles and adhesives
- Roofing and siding
- Cement products, including all pipes and shingles
- Damaged or deteriorated condition of ACMs is crucial to observe during this inspection because the disturbance of damaged or deteriorated ACMs may release asbestos fibers into the air.
Sampling and Analysis
Where ACMs are suspected, samples should be taken for laboratory analysis. The sampling should be done by a competent person following the set procedures to limit the release of fibers. The samples will then be labeled and dispatched to an accredited laboratory for correct analysis; this is because not all materials which look like they contain asbestos have asbestos.
Legal and Safety Compliance
Regulations and Standards
Because asbestos is a health hazard, there are some legal and safety issues that must be followed. For example, OSHA has established standards on asbestos exposure-0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter of air based on an eight-hour time-weighted average being the permissible exposure limit. It is the employer’s responsibility not to exceed this limit and to provide appropriate protective equipment and training.
Responsibilities of Employers
Employers are required to take such steps as are necessary to protect employees who may be exposed to asbestos. This includes:
- Preliminary survey of the building to identify ACMs and assess their condition.
- Asbestos management plan on how ACMs are to be dealt with and disposed of.
- Asbestos awareness and safe handling training of employees, including use of PPE
- Regular refresher courses are needed to update employees on new safety practices
Management and Control of Asbestos
Risk Assessment
Pre-management measures involve the risk assessment that decides upon the presence and condition of ACMs present at a workplace. This assessment, if required, must be conducted by a qualified competent professional considering the location, condition, and type of ACMs, if present, in relation to possible exposure. Recommendations on asbestos management are based on conclusions from such assessments.
Asbestos Removal and Abatement Procedures
Where the risk assessment shows that asbestos presents a risk to workers, removal or abatement may be required. Such procedures should be undertaken strictly by licensed professionals who are properly trained in carrying out the procedure. The removal process involves encapsulation, full removal, or sealing in place, the conditions being determined by the type of ACM and the risks involved with each.
Removal or abatement should be done with strict safety precautions taken, from the use of protective equipment to the decontamination procedures.
Good management regarding asbestos would protect the workers from its deadly effects. Employers can ensure a safe and healthy working environment by carrying out a proper assessment and introducing applicable measures to control measures.
