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Asbestos: Risks and Safety Measures

Learn about asbestos, its uses, the real risks associated with it, recent legal developments, and what to do to protect yourself.

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Asbestos: Risks and Safety Measures

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  1. ASBESTOS • What is it ? • Why was it used ? Where was it used ? • What are the REAL ( Compared with PERCIEVED) risks ? • What (legally) has just happened, and why ? • What do I do ?

  2. ASBESTOS WHAT IS ASBESTOS ? A FAMILY NAME GIVEN TO THE FIBOUS FORMS OF A GROUP OF NATURALLY OCCURING MINERAL SILICATE FIBRES.

  3. TYPICALLY WHERE WAS IT USED? INTERNALLY PIPE/BOILER INSULATION FIRE PROTECTION BOARDS CEILING TILES WALL CLADDING FIRE DOORS (EXTERNAL PANEL OR SANDWICH) HOT AIR CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS NIGHT STORAGE HEATERS BEHIND RADIATORS GASKETS FRICTION MATERIALS FLOOR TILES ARTEX

  4. IT IS USED • EXTERNALLY • WATER AND SEWAGE PIPES • DRAIN PIPES • SOFFITS EXTERNAL WALL CLADDING • (CORRUGATED) ROOFS OF OUT BUILDINGS

  5. Pipe insulation

  6. Ceiling tiles

  7. Ceiling Tiles - perforated

  8. Floor (vinyl) tiles

  9. Soffits

  10. Brake shoes

  11. WHY WAS IT USED ? ELECTRICITY NOISE VIBRATION GOOD INSULATOR AGAINST: HEAT RELATIVELY IMPERVIOUS TO: ACID WEATHER VERMIN ORIGINALLY CHEAP TO PRODUCE AND IMPORT

  12. Sources of Damage Resulting in Fiber Release • Chemical spills, leaks or fumes • Fans and blowers • Exposure to elements • Vibration • Impact from other objects • Drilling

  13. Exposure Limits Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) • 0.1 Fibers per cubic centimeter of air calculated as an 8 hour (TWA) • Environmental Exposure 0.01 f/ml Maximum Limit (MEL) • 1 Fiber per cubic centimeter averaged over a 30 minute sampling period.

  14. AIRBORNE LIMITS TYPICAL AIRBORNE CONCENTRATIONS f/ml • DRY STRIPPING UP TO 100 • REMOVAL OF LIMPET UP TO 1000 WORKING WITH TILES • BREAKING AND REMOVAL 5 - 20 • DRILLING OVERHEAD 4 - 10 • HAND SAWING 5 - 12

  15. WHAT IS THE REAL RISK ? HSE PROJECTIONS FOR ENGLAND & WALES (TYPES OF DEATH NUMBERS) • HEART DISEASE 165 000 • CANCER 140 000 • RESPIRATORY DISEASE 56 000 • HOME ACCIDENTS 4 500 • SUICIDES 4 000 • ROAD ACCIDENTS 3 000 • HOMICIDES 630 • WORK ACCIDENTS 235 • ASBESTOS DEATHS 2 000

  16. How Asbestos Enters The Body • By INHALATION • By INGESTION Asbestos fibers can become embedded in the tissues of the respiratory tract or the digestive system. There have been cases of 20-40 years of latency before malignancy appears.

  17. 3 Distinct Diseases MESOTHELIOMA • A rare malignant tumor of the lung • membrane which lines the chest and • abdominal cavity. ASBESTOSIS • A progressively restrictive fibrosis of the lung and is recognized as a disabling and fatal occupational disease. • (FIBROSIS - A condition marked by the increase of connective, fibrous tissue BRONCHIAL LUNG CANCER Malignant tumor of the bronchial tubes, this disease is more common than the following two.

  18. The Results We are surrounded by asbestos products. Post mortem studies show that more than 60% of people in the UK have asbestos fibres in their lungs at point of death (over 36 000000 people). It was nothing to do with cause of death.

  19. WHAT IS THE REAL RISK ? LUNG CANCER

  20. Working with Asbestos SHALL BE WORKED IN A WET STATE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT EMISSION OF AIR-BORNE FIBERS IN EXCESS OF MEL. • NO: • Eating • Drinking • Chew tobacco • Chew gum • Smoke • Apply cosmetics • IN THE WORK AREA. ASBESTOS WHEN: • HANDLED • MIXED • APPLIED • REMOVED • CUT SCORED

  21. Personal Protective Equipment • Full body, one-piece disposable coveralls • Hoods extending beyond the collar • Medium weight rubber gloves and a thin cotton under glove • Lightweight Rubber Boots. • Face Shields/vented goggles, • Proper respiratory protection • vacuuming clothing • Shower facilities shall be located between the clean and dirty facility. • Take showers at the endof each shift.

  22. Disposal Procedures • Must be adequately wetted. • Double bagged in heavy duty plastic. • Exercise care to prevent rupturing when being moved. • Dumpsters shall be labeled "Asbestos Waste Only". • Label-Contains (Asbestos Fibers Avoid Creating Dust Cancer and Lung Disease Hazard)

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