- If exposed to enough asbestos, it will kill you as asbestos fibers are invisible and remain in the body for life, causing deadly diseases like asbestosis or mesothelioma. - Asbestos materials are most dangerous when friable, meaning they can easily crumble and release asbestos fibers into the air. - When working with or near asbestos, take precautions to prevent fibers from becoming airborne such as dampening materials, avoiding activities like sanding that cause fibers to break off, and using proper cleaning methods and equipment.

1. A
Hand and Knife S
| Drims#5
Asbestos Safetyy
Ella Agbettor
SHEQ F d tiSHEQ Foundation
Safety | April 2010
5505437

2. Asbestos Kills
Asbestos is a Naturally Occurring MAsbestos is a Naturally Occurring M
Amosite, and Crocidolite and conta
Products including ceiling material,
materialsmaterials
If you are exposed to enough asbe
It’s an invisible killer - You need sp
asbestos fibersasbestos fibers
Asbestos has been used to make t
Maintenance and construction wor
Mineral made up of ChrysotileMineral made up of Chrysotile,
ainer in over >3,000 Building
, pipe insulation and flooring
estos, it will kill you
pecial equipment to even see
thousands of products
kers are most at risk
Slide 2

3. How Do Asbestos Fibers Ent
Asbestos fibers are released from dam
asbestosasbestos
These fibers enter your body when you
They may remain in your body for life
They cause deadly diseasesThey cause deadly diseases
• Once the asbestos fibers are airborne, it is veryOnce the asbestos fibers are airborne, it is very
you breath, eat or drink. You will not be able
entering your
• The human respiratory system will try to f
your natural defenses at work, some of the dany ,
the walls of your lungs. Once attac
be trapped in yo
• Once asbestos has attached to the walls of you
life. Because it is so hard to destroy asbestos fiby
it, causing many health problems. If enough asb
develop a deadly
er Your Body?
maged materials containing
u breath, eat or drink
y easy for them to enter your body wheny easy for them to enter your body when
to feel or taste the hazardous particles
r body.
filter the air you breathe. Even with
gerous particles will attach themselves tog p
ched, the asbestos fibers will
our body.
ur lungs, it may remain for the rest of your
bers, scar tissue will begin to form aroundg
bestos accumulates in your lungs, you will
y disease.
Slide 3

4. Diseases Caused By Asbesto
Asbestos must be disturbed and inAsbestos must be disturbed and in
Latency Period (15 to 40 years).
The risk level is based on duration
Asbestosis is a deadly respiratory d
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lin
Lung cancer accounts for the most
exposureexposure.
It can also cause cancer of the rect
intestines and pancreas
os
haled to cause problems it has ahaled to cause problems, it has a
of exposure, diseases include
disease
ning of the chest or abdomen
t deaths related to asbestos
tum, colon, esophagus, stomach,
Slide 4

5. Beware of Materials That Cru
Materials that crumble easily are ca
containing asbestos can release dag
contact with friable materials. Non-f
asbestos can become friable when
as not disturbed
If you must disturb AsbestIf you must disturb Asbest
Turn off the ventilation syste
Spray the material with wate
Pl d l h b l hPlace a drop cloth below the
Double bag, label all materia
for proper disposalfor proper disposal
umble Easily
alled friable. Friable materials
angerous fibers into the air. Avoidg
friable materials containing
damaged. They’re safe as long
tostos
m
er
ke work area
als exposed to asbestos
Slide 5

6. Activities That Cause Asbestos T
Before starting a project make sure thaBefore starting a project make sure tha
not be disturbed
A ll t t i l t iAssume all suspect material contains a
If you encounter suspect material whe
immediately
Fallout continuously releases asbestos
Impact causes high concentrations of a
Reentrainment moves asbestos fibers
o Become Airborne
at asbestos-containing material willat asbestos-containing material will
b tasbestos
n performing work STOP
s fibers from a damaged substance
asbestos fibers to be released
that have settled
Slide 6

7. Pictures of Asbestos containing m
Your goal is to prevent asbestos
f b i i bfrom becoming airborne
When cleaning areas containing friag g
asbestos-containing materials:
• Use dampened mops
• Do not use brooms
• Do not use traditional vacuum
cleaners
Stay away from damaged materialsy y g
containing asbestos
material
ble,,
Slide 7

8. Summary
If d t h b t it il• If you are exposed to enough asbestos, it wil
you can’t see, smell or taste asbestos. Asbe
equipment
• Materials containing asbestos are most dan
which means that the materials can be easwhich means that the materials can be eas
asbestos fibers into the air. Try to avoid con
slightest contact can cause the material to
fibers int
• If you must work near asbestos your go• If you must work near asbestos, your go
becoming airborne. Here are
o Saw, sand, scrape or dr
o Use abrasive pads on power stripp
o Sand or try to level asbo Sand or try to level asb
• When cleaning in areas with friab
o Use dampened m
o Do not
o Only use High Efficiency Po Only use High Efficiency P
• Regulated areas have dangerous levels of a
without proper protective equipment. The
messages such as, “Danger, Cancer and
Protective Clothing Rg
ll kill U lik th d b tll kill you. Unlike other dangerous substances,
estos fibers are so small that you need special
to see them.
ngerous when they are in a friable condition,
sily crumbled by hand releasing dangeroussily crumbled by hand, releasing dangerous
ntact with this type of material since even the
o crumble and release dangerous asbestos
to the air.
oal is to prevent the asbestos fibers fromoal is to prevent the asbestos fibers from
e some rules of thumb. Do not:
rill holes in asbestos material.
pers to strip wax from asbestos flooring.
bestos flooring or its backingbestos flooring or its backing.
ble, asbestos-containing materials:
mops and dust cloths.
use a broom.
Particulate Air vacuum cleaners.Particulate Air vacuum cleaners.
airborne asbestos and should not be entered
re will be signs identifying these areas with
Lung Disease Hazard, or Respirators and
Required in This Area.”
Slide 8
q