ASBESTOS AWARENESS
The
purpose of this pamphlet is to provide information about asbestos, the
potential health effects associated with exposure, and safety procedures
that should be followed to reduce exposure and protect the health of
students, staff, patients and visitors. Most of this pamphlet is extracted
from the two source documents referenced below and which can be viewed by
the links below. For help with this topic or to request a one hour
awareness training session please contact the department of Environmental
Health, Safety and Risk Management (EHSRM) at extension 2360.
“WHAT IS ASBESTOS?
Asbestos is a general name
given to a group of naturally occurring minerals found throughout the
world. The asbestos mineral is composed of bundles of fibers that are very
durable, heat resistant and noise absorbing. Asbestos products have proven
to be very resilient and have been used in building products since the late
1800’s. Since the 1970’s, there have been strict US EPA rules regulating
the removal and disposal of asbestos materials. Asbestos must be released
from a product and become air-borne to be considered a hazard.”1
“IS ASBESTOS
DANGEROUS?
Asbestos is a carcinogen and
exposure to it can lead to several types of health effects. Health effects
from exposure to asbestos have a delayed effect or latency period. Health
effects resulting from exposure to asbestos may not appear for 10 to 40
years after the exposure.”1
“Some
asbestos-related diseases include:
Asbestosis: A scarring of the
tissues of the lungs which cause a reduction in lung capacity.
Mesothelioma: A
rare form of cancer involving the lining of the lungs, chest, or abdomen.
This disease is always associated with asbestos exposure and is fatal.
Cancer:
Lung, stomach and colon cancer, and
other pleural diseases are also asbestos-related diseases. Studies
determining health effects from asbestos exposure have been based on
airborne asbestos fibers.”1
“Exposure to asbestos does not
necessarily create health problems. However, people exposed to higher
concentrations of airborne asbestos have a greater risk of developing
asbestos related diseases, and no safe level of asbestos exposure has been
determined.”1
“The
most dangerous exposure to asbestos is from inhaling airborne fibers. The
body's defenses can trap and expel many of the particles. However, as the
level of asbestos fibers increase many fibers bypass these defenses and
become embedded in the lungs. The fibers are not broken down by the body
and can remain in body tissue indefinitely.”2
“The
body has several mechanisms to filter the air we breathe. Large particles
are trapped by the hairs in the nose. Smaller particles impact on the
mucous coated walls of airway and are caught. The airway has hair-like
linings (ciliated cells) which constantly beat upward. Dust particles
caught in the mucous are swept upwards into the back of the mouth and
swallowed. Cigarette smoking temporarily paralyzes these hair-like
projections preventing them from discharging the dust particles. This is
one reason cigarette smokers who work with or are exposed to asbestos are
at increased risk. A smoker exposed to asbestos may have 50-100 times the
risk of developing lung cancer compared to a non-exposed non-smoker.”2
“WHERE CAN
ASBESTOS BE FOUND?
Asbestos is present in many
common building materials used in private homes and in public buildings. An
asbestos containing product can not be determined by sight. The only
way to determine if asbestos is definitely present in a material is through
microscopic analysis by an approved laboratory. Some common materials that
may contain asbestos include:
Flooring materials including: 9
inch by 9 inch floor vinyl asbestos tile (VAT) (older, thicker floor tile)
12 inch by
12 inch floor tile (commonly used today)
Sheet
linoleum
Mastic
(glue located under the floor tile or linoleum)
Thermal system
insulation: Pipe wrap
Boiler/furnace
insulation
Fire proof
surfacing in or around fireplaces
Door
gaskets on wood-burning stoves
Cementous
Products:
Exterior siding on private
homes
Roof
shingles
Underground
water pipe”1
At AUB these include "Eternit" boards, pipies,
planters and other "Eternit" materials.
“Although
exposure to asbestos is potentially hazardous, health risks can be
minimized. In most cases the fibers are released only if the asbestos
containing materials (ACM) is disturbed. Intact and undisturbed asbestos
materials do not pose a health risk. The mere presence of asbestos does not
mean that the health of occupants is endangered. When ACM is properly
managed, release of fibers into the air is prevented or minimized, and the
risk of asbestos related disease can be reduced to a negligible level.
However, asbestos materials can become hazardous when they release fibers
into the air due to damage, disturbance, or deterioration over time.”1
“At present there is no requirement to
remove asbestos materials from commercial and industrial buildings unless
the identified asbestos material has deteriorated to the point that it may
become air-borne and, therefore, a possible health hazard.”1
“Removal
is often not the best course of action to reduce asbestos exposure. In
fact, improper removal can create a dangerous situation where none
previously existed. Asbestos removals tend to elevate the airborne level of
asbestos fibers in a building. Unless all safeguards are properly applied,
an improper removal operation can actually increase rather than decrease
the risk of asbestos related disease.”2 “Once asbestos is
released in an area, it can remain in that area for an indefinite amount of
time. Disturbed asbestos fibers become air-borne and eventually settle down
onto objects in an area. These fibers can become airborne again upon any
disturbance or activity in that area.”1
SAFE PRACTICES TO REDUCE EXPOSURE
All
work concerning asbestos shall be approved and performed under the strict
supervision of EHSRM.
Any
suspect material or powder should be treated as if it is ACM until proven
otherwise. Contaminated dust and microscopic particles can easily be
carried on shoes, clothes or skins to peoples’ homes, cars, etc. this may
be especially dangerous to children or other family members.
“ACM
may readily release fibers into the air when certain mechanical operations
are performed directly on it. For example, fiber release can occur when
drilling, cutting, sanding, breaking, or sawing VAT or ACM. Maintenance or
repair operations involving those actions should be eliminated or carefully
controlled to prevent or minimize asbestos fiber release. Certain
activities that occur near ACM can also cause damage which may result in
asbestos fiber release. For example, maintenance and custodial staff may
damage ACM accidentally with broom handles, ladders, and fork-lifts while
performing other tasks. Activities performed near the ACM should always be
done in a way that minimizes fiber release.”1
1. Report any
evidence of disturbance or damage of ACM to EHSRM.
2. Report any dust
or debris that might come from ACM or any changes in the condition of ACM
to EHSRM.
3. Cleaning and maintenance
personnel shall take special precautions to properly clean up any dust
using wet methods and to guard against disturbing ACM.
4. Do not Drill,
saw, or use nails on ACM because as this can release asbestos fibers.
5. When drilling
there should be no dust generation
6. Floor tiles,
ceiling tiles or adhesives that contain asbestos shall never be sanded.
7. Use care not to
damage ACM when moving furniture, ladders, or any other object.
8. Do not remove or
attempt to repair loose floor tiles. Improperly removed asbestos containing
floor tiles could result in the release of high levels of asbestos.
9. Report
loose floor tiles to EHSRM immediately.
10. Avoid running housekeeping
machines over loose tiles.
1: www.co.forsyth.nc.us/envaffairs/asbestos/default.htm
2: www.radford.edu/~fac-man/Safety/asbestos/awareness_prog.htm
