Transcript Professional Services Overview

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
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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:
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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
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Heavy and regular exposure.
Incurable.
Restricts lung function.
Increased risk of lung cancer.
LUNG CANCER
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Smoking multiplies risk.
Smoker 15 times more likely to suffer
lung cancer.
Smoking asbestos worker 75 times
more likely to suffer lung cancer.
MESOTHELIOMA
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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).
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Schools.
Factories.
Offices.
Farms.
Hospitals.
Homes.
ASBESTOS PRODUCTS
ASBESTOS CEMENT
SHEETS - FLAT OR CORRUGATED
USED AS: ROOFING, WALLS, CEILINGS
PANELS/PARTITIONING, BATH
PANELS, UNDER STAIRS, DOORLININGS, 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 Panel
Corrugated
Roofing
Fire Door
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 PRODUCTS
ASBESTOS BOARD
Seen in Offices and in Shopping Malls
ASBESTOS PRODUCTS
ASBESTOS BOARD
Damage caused by cable
Acoustic Panel - School Hall
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 and
Woven Asbestos
Common School Asbestos Uses
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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?
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Heating and
ventilation
engineers.
Roofing contractors.
Fire and burglar
alarm installers.
General
maintenance staff.
Electricians.
Plumbers.
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Carpenters and
joiners.
Plasterers.
Gas fitters.
Cable layers.
Demolition workers.
Painters and
decorators.
EPA, OSHA and AHERA require
schools to:
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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
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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
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If in good condition:
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leave it in place; and
• introduce a management system.
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If in poor condition:
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seal it or enclose it; or
• remove it.
Assessing the risk: Decisions
Attention!!
•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
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Protective clothing
Boots
Glasses
Gloves
What are the consequences of
poor management?
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Asbestos is very useful but also harmful if
fibres are released.
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3000 people die each year from asbestosrelated diseases and 25% of these have
worked in building trades.
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A bad survey is potentially worse than no
survey at all.
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Enforcement action.
How are the Regulations
going to be implemented?
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Local Authorities, Bureau of Public Health
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Building inspectors
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EPA region III
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OSHA
Summary
Asbestos 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 PRESENTATION BUT
NOT
THE END OF BEING AWARE
ASBESTOS CAN KILL !