Pine Tree ISDAsbestos Awareness Training

•Widely used, mineral basedmaterial

•Resistant to heat & corrosivechemicals

•Fibers may range from coarseto silky

WHAT IS ASBESTOS?

When is Asbestos Dangerous?

When it becomes airborne.Fibers are so light it hang in the air for days.If you step in asbestos you will push it backinto the air.It can go through air ducts, under doors, downhalls and stairs.

Air Sampling

Air pumps pull the air through a filter.The fibers collect on the filter.The fibers are counted with the

use of a microscope.Asbestos is measured in fibers

per cubic centimeter (f/cc) of air.

HumanHair

FiberglassFiber

AsbestosFiber

Asbestos Fibers are Hollow.

A Single Asbestos Fiber

* Suspended ceiling tiles* Thickening agents in paints

* Pipe insulation* Fireproof drapes and curtains* Vinyl flooring and mastic (glue)* Friction products (brake &clutch facings)

* Reinforcing materials (cement pipe &sheet materials)

* Primary insulation and lagging materialfor high temperature machinery,boilers, and piping

Areas Where Asbestos Can Be Found

Asbestos pipe and boiler insulation does notpresent a hazard unless the protective canvascovering is cut or damaged in such a way thatthe asbestos underneath is actually exposed tothe air.

Contains Asbestos Fibers

Avoid Creating Dust

Cancer & Lung Disease Hazard

Vinyl Floor Tiles Acoustical Ceiling Tile

Pipe Insulation Asbestos Board

Why is it used?

Good insulator for heat, sound, fire, etc.Plentiful (naturally occurring, easy to mine

and mill.Stronger than steel.

•Friable

•Non-friable

The Two States of AsbestosMaterials

Friable

Able to crumble into powder with handpressure when dry.Dangerous when airborne.Examples:

Boiler insulationSpray-on fireproofingPopcorn ceiling (Spray-on)

Non-Friable

May become Friable or airborne throughdeterioration or processes that disturb.Examples:

Vinyl Floor TileCeiling Tile

There is no way to visually identifyasbestos. Many materials thatcontain asbestos look justthe same as materials that don't. The only way toconfirm that a material is asbestos is to takesamples and analyze the material in a laboratory.Therefore, it is best to treat anything that lookslike it may contain asbestos as if it does until it isanalyzed and proven to not contain any asbestos.

Can asbestos beidentified visually?

Chrysotile

Amosite

Crocidolite

Three Types Found in Buildings

Unmilled mineral asbestos (chrysotile).

Chrysotile

Respirators

Protection Factor (PF)Maximum Use Levels (MUL)Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)

EXPOSURE LIMITS

OSHA PEL = .1f/cc for 8 hr time weighted avgAverage adult breathes in 10 M3 of air/shiftPEL = 1 million fibers per shift.

Working Safely with ACM’s If you have reason to suspect that something is asbestos,

either because it is labeled as such, or because it somethingthat is likely to contain asbestos (9" floor tile, for example)DO NOT DISTURB IT. Never:

Drill Hammer Cut Saw Break Damage Move Disturb

Control Methods

Limited activity when in contact with ACMsEncapsulation.Enclosure.Repair.Removal.Operations and Maintenance.

Building Systems

StructuralMechanicalElectricalArchitectural FinishesOther

HVAC SYSTEM

Block or board insulationBlanket or batt insulation.Gasket materialRope fillerValve packingVibration-dampening cloth

Plumbing System

Pipe Insulating MaterialsTransite water supply lines.

Electrical System

Transite ducts for electrical cable runsPartitions in electrical panelsAsbestos cloth to bind bare wiresInsulation on stage lightingMill board templates behind knock-out panelsBraided wire insulation on incandescent

lighting.Braided wire insulation in older buildings.

Exposure to Asbestos

DiseasesAsbestosisLung CancerMesotheliomaDigestive System Cancer

ASBESTOSISA progressively restrictive fibrosis ofthe lung and is recognized as adisabling and fataloccupational disease.

MESOTHELIOMAA rare malignant tumor of the lungmembrane which linesthe chest andabdominal cavity.

Age - cases of mesothelioma have occurred inthe children of asbestos workers whose onlyexposures were from the dust brought homeon the clothing of family members whoworked with asbestos. The younger people arewhen they inhale asbestos, the more likelythey are to develop mesothelioma. This iswhy enormous efforts are being made toprevent school children from being exposed.

Mesothelioma

Digestive System Cancer

Change in bowel patternsBlood in BMFeeling tiredWeight loss

BRONCHIAL LUNG CANCER

Malignant tumor of the bronchial tubes,this disease is more common than theother three.

Other Cancers

Evidence suggests that cancers in theesophagus, larynx, oral cavity, stomach,colon and kidney may be caused byingesting asbestos. For more informationon asbestos-related cancers, contact yourlocal chapter of the American CancerSociety.

LATENCY PERIOD(How long it takes to get sick)

10 - 40 years after initial exposure.

How Your Lungs WorkDefense Mechanisms

Exhaling contaminants back outNose hairMucousCilia

Health Hazards of Asbestosand Tobacco

Smoking sedates the cilia, disabling one ofyour key defense mechanisms.A smoker who does not work with asbestos is

about 22 times more likely to get cancer.Asbestos workers who

smoke are about 80 timesmore likely to get lungcancer.

Hazard CommunicationWho should you contact when you recognize

a damaged condition?What do you tell them when you call?

a) nature of damageb) amount of damagec) location of damaged) description of the scenee) occupancy issues

EPAAHERA - schoolsASHARA - public & commercial buildingsNESHAP - air quality districts

NIOSH - equipment approval

OSHA - worker protections

Agencies

Asbestos Regulating Agencies

Occupational Safety & Health AdministrationTexas Department of Public HealthEnvironmental Protection AgencyDepartment of Toxic Substance ControlContractor’s State License Board

REMEMBER!

Don’t disturb any substance or material thought to contain asbestos.Notify your supervisor if you suspect an ACM

has been compromised.Don’t allow high speed buffers to be used on

vinyl tile thought to contain asbestos.Don’t allow walls to be disturbed without first

notifying the Maintenance Department.