Asbestos Awareness Training

Presented By:

Winchester, Environmental Consultants Inc.

Objective• To introduce you to asbestos, including:

– Types of asbestos– Properties of asbestos– Places you may encounter asbestos in your

work– Selected regulations that may effect you.

What is asbestos?

• A naturally Occurring mineral• Has many beneficial properties

– Cheap– Chemical resistant– Fire resistant– Low conductivity

• But it can be deadly• Three most common types

– Chrysotile (white)– Amosite (brown)– Crocidolite (blue)

What is ACM?

• Asbestos Containing Material– Also known as ACBM (asbestos containing

building material)

• Any material containing more than 1% of asbestos by weight

• Can be “friable” or “non-friable”– Friable = “able to be crushed or reduced to

powder under normal hand pressure”

Why is asbestos harmful?

• When disturbed it can break down into sharp fibers and be breathed in.

• The fibers lodge in the lungs and do not dissolve.

• Blue and brown asbestos can be even more hazardous than white.

• Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to three main diseases:• Asbestosis• Lung cancer• Mesothelioma

HEALTH RISKS

• ASBESTOS FIBRE BUNDLES CAN SPLIT WITH SMALL FINE FIBRES BREAKING AWAY.

• IF INHALED THE BODY IS ABLE TO RESIST MOST OF THE LARGE PARTICLES, BUT FINE FIBERS, TOO SMALL TO SEE, CAN LODGE DEEP IN THE LUNGS

WHEN IS ASBESTOS A RISK TO HEALTH ?

• CONSIDER THE TYPE OF PRODUCT.• HOW WELL IS THE ASBESTOS BONDED INTO

IT?• IS IT LIKELY TO CONTAIN A SMALL OR LARGE

AMOUNT OF ASBESTOS?

And, consider the condition;• GOOD? E.G. SEALED, PAINTED.• DAMAGED? EXTENT OF DAMAGE

ASBESTOSIS

• Heavy and regular exposure.

• Incurable.

• Restricts lung function.

• Increased risk of lung cancer.

LUNG CANCER

• Smoking multiplies risk.• Smoker 15 times more likely to suffer

lung cancer.• Smoking asbestos worker 75 times

more likely to suffer lung cancer.

MESOTHELIOMA• Caused by all kinds but particularly blue

asbestos.• Form of cancer.• Small dose required.• Incurable, painful.• 20- 40 years from exposure to

development.• Deaths estimated to peak at 25,000

between 2011 and 2015.

Why is it still a problem?

• Between 1940s and 1980s asbestos used extensively in US as building material.

• Some uses banned in the 1980’s.• Thousands of tons of asbestos still remain

in buildings.• About 4 to 5 million non-domestic

premises may contain asbestos.

Which premises could contain asbestos?

• Answer… any type (pre-1988).

– Schools.– Factories.– Offices.– Farms.– Hospitals.– Homes.

ASBESTOS PRODUCTSASBESTOS CEMENT

SHEETS - FLAT OR CORRUGATED USED AS: ROOFING, WALLS, CEILINGS

PANELS/PARTITIONING, BATHPANELS, UNDER STAIRS, DOOR-LININGS, CLADDING TO DUCTS

FLUES - FROM BOILERS / WATER HEATERS RAINWATER PIPES / GUTTERING

WATER STORAGE TANKS

DECORATIVE PLASTER FINISHES (ARTEX)

FLOOR TILES/ ROOF TILES/ CAR PARTS (BRAKE CLUTCH LININGS)

ASBESTOS PRODUCTS

Bath Bath Panel

Fire Door

CorrugatedRoofing

ASBESTOS PRODUCTS

ASBESTOS INSULATING BOARD

USED AS: CEILING PANELS / TILES

WALL PANELS/PARTITIONING

SOFFITS - INTERNAL/EXTERNAL

DOOR LININGS, ESPECIALLY TO FIRE DOORS, HEATING UNIT

CUPBOARDS

CLADDING TO DUCTS

ASBESTOS PRODUCTSASBESTOS BOARDASBESTOS BOARD

Seen in Offices and in Shopping MallsSeen in Offices and in Shopping Malls

ASBESTOS PRODUCTS

Damage caused by cableDamage caused by cableAcoustic Panel - School HallAcoustic Panel - School Hall

ASBESTOS BOARDASBESTOS BOARD

Examples of asbestos in buildings

Asbestos cement

Sprayed asbestos

Sprayed asbestos

Lagging

Asbestos insulating board

Asbestos insulating board

Asbestos textiles

ASBESTOS PRODUCTS

Pipe Lagging, Gaskets andPipe Lagging, Gaskets and

Woven AsbestosWoven Asbestos

Common School Asbestos Uses

• electrical insulation• floor tiles• paper and cardboard• decorative textural coatings• pipe lagging• boiler insulation• acoustic tile

Why are people at risk?• Asbestos is most harmful if fibres are released

into the air.• cutting, machinery, removal, drilling, sawing,

repair/replacement, unintentional damage.• People may have been unknowingly exposed

to asbestos.• Previous regulations did not cover those

people who could come into contact with asbestos unknowingly.

Who are these people?• Heating and

ventilation engineers.

• Roofing contractors.• Fire and burglar

alarm installers.• General

maintenance staff.• Electricians. • Plumbers.

• Carpenters and joiners.

• Plasterers.• Gas fitters.• Cable layers.• Demolition workers.• Painters and

decorators.

EPA, OSHA and AHERA require schools to:

• Assess any buildings for the presence of asbestos.

• Develop a management plan for any asbestos found.

• Periodically monitor the buildings for any changes in the condition of the ACM.

• Inform all private contractors and staff about the locations of ACM.

Who is responsible for following the regulations?

• Those with a contractual obligation in relation to maintenance and/or repair of premises – could include owners, occupiers, managing agents and others.

• Person ‘in control’ where no contract or tenancy agreement exists.

• There may be joint control.• Every person shall cooperate with the responsible

party to enable them to comply with their duties.

Where does the law apply?

• All non-domestic premises.• Doesn’t apply to domestic premises

themselves.

Except in the cases of renovation or demolition.

Assessing whether premises contain asbestos

Only a state licensed asbestos inspector may determine with certainty the presence of ACM by:• looking at building plans etc.;• consulting others, e.g. architects, employees; • carrying out a thorough inspection of the premises.

• Assess the condition of these materials.• Record the findings.• Material can be “presumed” ACM but must be lab

tested to be confirmed negative.

AHERA• Asbestos Hazard Emergency

Response Act.• Set forth by the EPA to regulate

asbestos in public schools and private non-profit schools.

• Dictates, cleanup actions, monitoring, and final clearance of asbestos projects.

What is an Asbestos Project?

• Under AHERA, there are four types of asbestos projects.– Class I: Includes removal of friable materials,

generally the most dangerous work– Class II: Includes removal of non-friable material– Class III: Includes repair or cleanup of Class I and II

work in addition to other projects where staff might disturb asbestos

– Class IV: Includes working in areas where ACBM is present but not likely to be disturbed.

Identifying asbestos• Presume asbestos.• Conclude it is not asbestos (requires

strong evidence).OR

• Establish identity by sampling.OR

• A combination of all of the above.

Assessing the risk: Decisions

• If in good condition:• leave it in place; and• introduce a management system.

• If in poor condition:• seal it or enclose it; or• remove it.

Assessing the risk: DecisionsAttention!!

•Damaged asbestos is likely to release fibres into the air.•Need to take immediate action to protect people.•Licensed asbestos contractor may be necessary.

Assessing the risk: Action

• Prepare and implement a written action plan.

• When materials are to remain in premises:•inform others of their location and condition;•carry out regular checks on the condition of the material; and•review and revise the plan and update the asbestos record as necessary.

Removal and Repair

• School system employees can remove or repair > 3 square or linear feet of ACM if they have been given proper training.

• Two types of removal, gross and glove bag.• Repair operations, “the candystripe”.• When removing ACM, the two most important

things to remember are:– Try to remove the material intact;– Wet methods

• Airflow is also important

Personal Protective Equipment for Removal and Repair

• Respirator with appropriate filters– Limitations of respirators

• Protective clothing

• Boots

• Glasses

• Gloves

What are the consequences of poor management?

• Asbestos is very useful but also harmful if fibres are released.

• 3000 people die each year from asbestos-related diseases and 25% of these have worked in building trades.

• A bad survey is potentially worse than no survey at all.

• Enforcement action.

How are the Regulations going to be implemented?

• Local Authorities, Bureau of Public Health

• Building inspectors

• EPA region III

• OSHA

SummarySummaryAsbestos is relatively safe if handled with proper care

Everybody is responsible for helping to comply with regulations

State licensed workers, supervisors, inspectors etc. are required for most jobs

Friable versus non-friable

Wet Methods

When in doubt, check it out!

ASBESTOS AWARENESS

THE END OF THE PRESENTATIONTHE END OF THE PRESENTATION BUTBUT

NOTNOTTHE END OF BEING AWARETHE END OF BEING AWARE

ASBESTOS CAN KILL !ASBESTOS CAN KILL !