Transcript NEW YORK MEDICAL COLLEGE Environmental Health and Safety

NEW YORK MEDICAL COLLEGE
Environmental Health and Safety Department
ASBESTOS
Training Program
6/27/2011
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Objectives
To define asbestos
Identify asbestos containing materials
(ACM)
Identify the health hazards of ACM
List ways to avoid asbestos exposure
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What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is the name applied to six naturally occurring minerals
that are mined from the earth. The different types of asbestos are:
Amosite
Chrysotile
Tremolite
Actinolite
Anthophyllite
Crocidolite
Chrysotile is the most common,
and is found in over 95% of all
asbestos containing material.
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Asbestos Properties
•All types of asbestos tend to break into very tiny fibers.
•Once released into the air, they may stay suspended there for hours
or even days.
•Asbestos fibers are virtually indestructible.
•The properties of asbestos are what makes it
so dangerous.
•Once inhaled it is impossible to remove from
lung tissue.
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Where is Asbestos Found?
Asbestos can be found virtually anywhere and is still mined
in other countries.
•Sprayed on fire proofing and
insulation in buildings
•Insulation for pipes and boilers
•Wall and ceiling insulation
•Ceiling tiles
•Floor tiles
•Putties, caulks, and cements
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Where is Asbestos Found ?
•Roofing shingles
•Siding shingles on older buildings
•Wall and ceiling texture in older buildings
and homes
•Joint compound in older buildings
and homes
•Brake linings and clutch pads
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Asbestos Properties
•Asbestos is most hazardous when it is friable.
•The term "friable" means that the asbestos is easily crumbled
by hand, releasing fibers into the air.
•When asbestos is friable, it is easily inhaled.
•Sprayed on asbestos insulation is highly friable.
•Asbestos is non-friable when it is bound into other fibers. These
fibers are harder to break down, but can be released by drilling,
sanding or grinding the material.
•Asbestos containing floor tile and asbestos containing lab
benches are an example of non-friable asbestos.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTACT THE ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY DEPARTMENT AT EXT. 4078 BEFORE
WORK IS PERFORMED.
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Health Effects
•The body cannot break down or remove asbestos fibers once they
are lodged in lung or body tissues.
•They remain in place where they can cause disease.
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Diseases Associated with Asbestos
Asbestosis
–
Caused by repeated, longterm exposure to airborne
asbestos
Lung Cancer
–
The risk of lung cancer
increases with repeated
exposure to airborne
asbestos
Mesothelioma
–
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Can be caused by even a
minimal exposure to airborne
asbestos and is generally
fatal
Injured Lung
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Avoiding Asbestos Exposure
•If you do not know whether something is asbestos or not, assume
that it is until it is verified otherwise.
•You cannot tell if floor or ceiling tiles contain asbestos just by
looking at them.
•If you have reason to suspect that something is asbestos DO
NOT DISTURB IT.
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Asbestos Program & Notification
Asbestos Program Notification Memo
–
–
The memo provides a brief summary of the results of a survey
conducted to determine the presence, location, and condition of
asbestos on campus
Click link to view memo
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR YOU WOULD LIKE MORE
INFORMATION ON ASBESTOS PLEASE CONTACT EHS
@ 594-4078
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All right, you are done, congratulations!
Now take a test, click on the link and follow
the instructions
http://www.proprofs.com/quizschool/story.php?title=1-asbestos
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