Tag Archives: Asbestos Danger

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Respiratory Safety

ASBESTOS PART II

According to OSHA, there are an estimated 1.3 million employees in the construction and general industry that face significant asbestos exposure on the job.  Other workers involved are those in the manufacture of products that contain asbestos: textiles, friction products, insulation and other building materials, and persons that do automotive brake and clutch repair work.
Structures that were built before 1980 likely contain asbestos, and those constructed thereafter still may have ACM’s (asbestos containing materials.)  Plaster, insulation, tiles on floors and ceilings ductwork, roof shingles, adhesives are among the parts of buildings that have ACM’s.

Although asbestos is still legal, under federal rules, it is classified as a toxic substance. Your home, school, or office more than likely has asbestos.  It is not a threat as long as it is undisturbed and in good condition.  If you plan to continue living/working in this building, here are ways to ensure safety:

  • If the floor, ceiling, etc. are in good shape, leave them alone and undisturbed.  Be sure to check them often to see that they are in good condition.
  • Enclose with airtight barriers.  For example, floor tiles could be covered with another type of flooring.
  • Encapsulate with materials that surrounds or embeds the fibers with materials such as foams.

If your only option is to renovate or destroy the building, here is some valuable information:  individual owners may do it themselves, but they still must follow federal, state and local guidelines regarding waste transport and disposal.  Removal is a very expensive and complex option, and is better handled by contractors with special training, who understand the importance of personal safety equipment, isolation of dust, and monitor waste containment.  Contractors must follow OSHA guidelines and regulations.

If non-friable ACM can be removed whole and undamaged, the precautions listed below may be overkill, but for common situations such as removing ACM’s where free-floating asbestos fibers are an invisible hazard, these are instructions must be followed to ensure the workers’ safety:  they should

  • Be covered, head to toe, with disposable protective clothing
  • Wear special respirators with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters
  • Use rubber boots and gloves

OSHA prevention measures include requiring companies to provide engineering controls such as evaluating exposure time, furnishing showers, and ensuring that proper respiratory protection and clothing are furnished.

There are “many do-it-yourselfers” that may not understand the underlying respiratory problems that can be caused by little critters hiding in their houses.  We hope this article aids in their becoming conscious of the importance of using proper protection when undertaking projects that require extra safety measures.
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General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety

ASBESTOS PART I

Asbestos is a natural mineral that is found on just about every continent.  It is still mined in some countries, including Canada and Russia, but others have outlawed mining of asbestos.  It is a highly fibrous mineral with long, thin, separable fibers that can be spun together to create valuable heat-resistant properties to be used in insulation and other products.  Studies estimate that there are more than 3,000 different types of commercial products that include asbestos.  The mineral itself is not harmful, as long as it is intact.  But when it is damaged and fibers become airborne, it can have harmful health effects.

Since the 1980’s asbestos use has dropped.  But the 4.5 million people who worked in U.S shipyards during World War II have been the greatest group of individuals at risk.  Well known as an excellent fire retardant and heat insulator, asbestos was used for insulating boilers, steam pipes, and hot water pipes in ships.  Shipyard workers were exposed to what is known as “friable asbestos”.  When it can be crumbled and released into the air, breathing asbestos fibers will stay in the body and cannot be expelled.

Our family lost a member to mesothelioma this past year.  She had worked in the shipyards back in the ‘40’s, running electrical wiring in the interiors of warships, during WW II.  About seven years before her death, she developed some respiratory symptoms.  Her doctors attributed it to heart failure, which she was prone to have due to a heart attack many years earlier. About six months before she died, she was experiencing particularly acute respiratory distress. This time, her chest x-ray showed something very suspicious.  Her doctor thought it might be some sort of cancer.  She specifically referred to it as “sheet like” infiltration.   She was diagnosed with mesothelioma.   Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause inflammation, which eventually results in the form of cancerous tumors, particularly on the mesothelium (lining of the lungs).  Mesothelioma usually takes decades to surface.  In her case, it took several decades; however, her pain and suffering was not diminished.

In our next segment, we will talk about removal/abatement of asbestos: whether it is hiding in your home or school, how to contact the proper authorities, and use of proper tools, personal protective equipment, including breathing protection.