Transcript Asbestos Safety - Welcome to the website for the SC State

Asbestos Safety
Copyright 2008 Deatherage Associates, LLC
Asbestos Kills
 If you are exposed to enough asbestos,
it will kill you
 It’s an invisible killer - You need special
equipment to even see asbestos fibers
 Asbestos has been used to make
thousands of products
 Maintenance and construction workers are
most at risk
Copyright 2008 Deatherage Associates, LLC
How Do Asbestos Fibers
Enter Your Body?
 Asbestos fibers are released from damaged
materials containing asbestos
 These fibers enter your body when you
breath, eat or drink
 They may remain in your body for life
 They cause deadly diseases
Diseases Caused By Asbestos
 Lung cancer accounts for the most deaths
related to asbestos exposure
 Asbestosis is a deadly respiratory disease
 Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the
chest or abdomen
 It can also cause cancer of the rectum, colon,
esophagus, stomach, intestines and pancreas
Three Things That Determine
Likelihood Of Disease
 The amount and duration of exposure
 Whether or not you smoke
 Age
Beware of Materials That
Crumble Easily
 Materials that crumble easily are called friable
 Friable materials containing asbestos can
release dangerous fibers into the air
 Avoid contact with friable materials
 Non-friable materials containing asbestos can
become friable when damaged
 They’re safe as long as not disturbed
3 Activities That Cause
Asbestos To Become Airborne
1) Fallout continuously releases asbestos fibers
from a damaged substance
2) Impact causes high concentrations of
asbestos fibers to be released
3) Reentrainment moves asbestos fibers that
have settled
If You Must Work Near Asbestos
 Talk to your supervisor first
 You have the right to
see results of air
monitoring tests
 Your goal is to
prevent asbestos
from becoming
airborne
Safe Housekeeping
 When cleaning areas containing friable,
asbestos-containing materials:
– Use dampened mops
– Do not use brooms
– Do not use traditional vacuum cleaners
 Stay away from damaged materials
containing asbestos
Regulated Areas
 Contain dangerous levels of airborne asbestos
 Will be marked with signs
 Require you to follow these precautions:
– Wear respirators and protective clothing
– Leave all protective clothing and equipment
in the workplace
– Shower after leaving the regulated area
If You Must Disturb Asbestos
 Turn off the ventilation system
 Spray the material with water
 Place a drop cloth below the work area
 Double bag, label all materials exposed
to asbestos for proper disposal
Summary
 Asbestos kills
 Beware of material that easily crumbles
containing asbestos
 If you must work near asbestos, your goal is
to prevent asbestos from becoming airborne
 Regulated areas contain dangerous levels of
airborne asbestos