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October 2010

Occupational Health Department

Asbestos Awareness (OEMP005)Occupational Health Department

NOTE: Detailed speakers notes included to support delivery of material.

Outline

1. What is asbestos?

2. What are the health concerns?

3. Common materials found at Vale

4. Asbestos installation/removal procedures

5. Inadvertent discovery process

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What is Asbestos?

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Asbestos and Properties of Asbestos

There are 3 main types:

CHRYSOTILE White Asbestos

AMOSITE Brown Asbestos

CROCIDOLITE Blue Asbestos

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Asbestos Containing Material (ACM)

In Ontario, ACM means material that contains 0.5% or more asbestos by dry weight.

ACM can be divided into two groups on the basis of their friability.

Definitions:

‘friable material’: means material that when dry can be crumbled, pulverized or powdered by hand pressure.

When ACM does not meet the above definition, it is considered to be a ‘non-friable ACM’.

Friable Non-Friable

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Asbestos Containing Material (ACM)

A binder such as cement, vinyl or asphalt can be used to lock the asbestos fibres within the matrix rendering an ACM non-friable.

Products made from non-friable material will generally release fibres only when they are cut, shaped or crushed.

The installation and removal of such products can be classified as “Type 1, 2 or 3” Operations.

What are the potential health effects from exposure to asbestos?

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Health Risks

•Asbestos fiber bundles can split and small fine fibres can break away.

•If inhaled the body is able to resist most of the large particles, but fine fibres, too small to see, can lodge deep in the lungs.

•This can cause these diseases:

Asbestosis

Lung cancer

Mesothelioma

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Risk Factors

Various factors determine how exposure to asbestos affects an individual:

Exposure concentration

Exposure duration 

Exposure frequency  

Size, shape and chemical makeup of asbestos fibers

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When Is Asbestos a Risk to Health?

Consider the type/content of material:How well is the asbestos bonded into its matrix? Is it likely to contain a small or large amount of asbestos?

Consider the condition:GOOD (low risk) e.g. sealed, painted. Damaged, and the extent of damage. (High risk)

Asbestos containing material found in Vale operations

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Asbestos Products

The following are examples of non-friable ACM:

•Transite sheets - flat or corrugateUsed as: roofing, walls, ceilings, panels/partitioning, under stairs, door-linings, rainwater pipes / guttering

•Floor tiles/ roof tiles

•Car parts (brake clutch linings)

•Gaskets

Note: An ACM non-friable product may become friable if the matrix becomes deteriorated.

All ACM material should be confirmed in the survey before commencing any work on the product.

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Asbestos Products

The following products are example of ACM that are classified as friable

Lagging - to boilers, pipes

Sprayed coatings to - ceilings; insulation

Torn pipe laggingPipe insulation

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Asbestos Products at Vale

Parging and cement around tank opening

Floor Tile

Pipe Gallery siding (transite), Crushing Plant siding (transite)

Some ceiling tiles may contain asbestos

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Asbestos Products at Vale

Pipe Lagging, Gaskets andWoven Asbestos

ElbowsGasket (between two pipes at sealing section)

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Asbestos Inventory

• Each facility is required to have an Asbestos inventory.

• The inventory documents the location, the product that contains asbestos including the types and concentration of asbestos.

• Each site has an Occupational Health contact Addressing asbestos related issues Conducts annual survey of the materials identified in the

inventory

Installation/Removal Procedures:Classification of Work

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Asbestos “Operations”

Work on Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) is divided into three categories:

• Type 1 Operation• Type 2 Operation• Type 3 Operation

The operation type is dependant upon various factors including the nature of the work and the amount of ACM involved.

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Vale employees may be involved in Type 1 Operations (e.g. ACM gasket removal or Transite panel replacement).

You must be trained before doing work that is designated as a Type 1 Asbestos Operation

Type 2 and 3 Operations are only performed by qualified asbestos contractors.

Asbestos “Operations”

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Identification of Potential ACM

• Do not work on or disturb any materials until you have confirmed that the material does not contain asbestos.

• To confirm the absence or presence of asbestos, contact your Occupational Health site contact.

Do not sample the material yourself

Inadvertent discovery of suspected asbestos

Discovery of Suspected Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) Flow Sheet

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Document Control

Revision # DATENATURE OF

CHANGE

PAGE INSERTED, REPLACED, REVISED OR CANCELLED

APPROVED BY DOCUMENT

OWNER

01 August 9, 2012 Updated presentation to include updated flow sheet for inadvertant discovery of asbestos contanining material

Slide 18 Cassidy Throssell, Sr. Specialist Occ Health

02 October 29, 2012

Updated speakers notes. Changed order of slides.

Removed slide regarding Time Weighted Average.

Multiple slides

Slide 4

Cassidy Throssell, Sr. Specialist Occ Health

Thank you!