Subpart%20I%20Personal%20Protective%20Equipment%20Hazard%20Assessment

1
Asbestos Awareness
2
Asbestos

• A mineral fiber
• Occurs naturally in nature
• Individual fibers not visible to the naked eye
• Fibers float in air when disturbed
• Dont dissolve in body

3
Asbestos Uses

• Insulating materials
• on pipes and ducts
• spray on insulation on steel structures
• Plaster materials
• Manufactured products
• transite sheet and pipe
• ceiling tile
• floor tile
• gaskets
• friction materials (brakes)

4
Still Used?

• Most uses stopped in mid 1970s
• sprayed on insulation
• floor tile
• ceiling tile
• Heating system insulation used through 1980s
• Gaskets and other materials still legal

5
Exposure?

• Asbestos needs to be breathed or eaten to cause
  disease
• Exposure often determined by whether asbestos is
  friable
• friable asbestos can be crumbled by hand pressure
  when dry
• Non-friable asbestos not usually a hazard unless
  disturbed

6
Asbestos Related Disease

• Asbestosis
• scarring of the lung - disabling
• develops in 10 plus years
• Lung Cancer
• develops 15 plus years
• often fatal
• Mesothelioma
• cancer of linings of upper and lower body
• develops in 20 plus years
• 100 fatal

7
How Can You Tell?

• Suspected material must be tested by a laboratory
  to know whether it contains asbestos
• For suspect materials (type and age) assume
  asbestos until lab tested negative

8
Work Practices

• Do not disturb sprayed on materials
• Do not disturb thermal system insulation
• Do not cut or drill transite board or pipe
• Report uncovered friable asbestos to supervisor
• Report damaged asbestos material to supervisor
• Do not enter asbestos abatement area

9
OSHA Regulations

• Do not exposure workers to more than .1 fiber per
  cubic centimeter in an 8 hour day (cant see this
  level)
• Air monitor
• Establish regulated areas
• Use wet methods to remove
• Dont use power tools without ventilation
• Medical testing
• Training

10
Asbestos and Your Employer

• Be aware of the presence of asbestos
• Do not disturb asbestos
• All work to be done by licensed contractors

11
Any Questions?

• Thank You.