1. Asbestos Awareness Training
Presented By:
Winchester, Environmental Consultants Inc.

2. 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.

3. 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)

4. 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”

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. ASBESTOSIS Heavy and regular exposure. Incurable.
Restricts lung function.
Increased risk of lung cancer.

9. 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.

10. MESOTHELIOMA Caused by all kinds but particularly blue asbestos.
Form of cancer.
Small dose required.
Incurable, painful.
years from exposure to development.
Deaths estimated to peak at 25,000 between 2011 and 2015.

11. 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.

12. Which premises could contain asbestos?
Answer… any type (pre-1988).
Schools.
Factories.
Offices.
Farms.
Hospitals.
Homes.

13. ASBESTOS PRODUCTS ASBESTOS CEMENT SHEETS - FLAT OR CORRUGATED
USED AS: ROOFING, WALLS, CEILINGS
PANELS/PARTITIONING, BATH
PANELS, 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)

14. ASBESTOS PRODUCTS
Bath Panel
Corrugated
Roofing
Fire Door

15. 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

16. ASBESTOS PRODUCTS
ASBESTOS BOARD
Seen in Offices and in Shopping Malls

17. ASBESTOS PRODUCTS ASBESTOS BOARD Damage caused by cable
Acoustic Panel - School Hall

18. Examples of asbestos in buildings

19. Asbestos cement

20. Sprayed asbestos

21. Sprayed asbestos

22. Lagging

23. Asbestos insulating board

24. Asbestos insulating board

25. Asbestos textiles

26. ASBESTOS PRODUCTS
Pipe Lagging, Gaskets and
Woven Asbestos

27. Common School Asbestos Uses
electrical insulation
floor tiles
paper and cardboard
decorative textural coatings
pipe lagging
boiler insulation
acoustic tile

28. 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.

29. 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.
COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF BUILDING AND ASSOCIATED TRADES FROM ELECTRICIANS AND PLUMBERS TO BURGLAR ALARM INSTALLERS
PAINTERS/DECORATORS MORE AT RISK AT WORK THAT DEEP SEA DIVERS

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. Where does the law apply?
All non-domestic premises.
Doesn’t apply to domestic premises themselves.
Except in the cases of renovation or demolition.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. Identifying asbestos Presume asbestos.
Conclude it is not asbestos (requires strong evidence). OR
Establish identity by sampling.
A combination of all of the above.

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. 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

41. Personal Protective Equipment for Removal and Repair
Respirator with appropriate filters
Limitations of respirators
Protective clothing
Boots
Glasses
Gloves

42. 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.

43. How are the Regulations going to be implemented?
Local Authorities, Bureau of Public Health
Building inspectors
EPA region III
OSHA

44. 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!

45. THE END OF THE PRESENTATION BUT
ASBESTOS AWARENESS
THE END OF THE PRESENTATION BUT
NOT
THE END OF BEING AWARE
ASBESTOS CAN KILL !