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Occupational Exposure to Asbestos Occupational Exposure to Asbetsos: The risks are greatest for workers in industries which produce and use asbestos, such as mining and milling. In the past, workers in these environments were exposed to 100 - 1,000 times more asbestos than today's workers. Today's strict standards limit workers' exposure and the ban of most uses of amphibole asbestos have reduced the risks. During renovations and repairs to older buildings, construction workers, tradespeople and other building maintenance workers may be exposed to very high concentrations of asbestos fibers. The environment and work methods of these occupations are more difficult to control than fixed workplaces, but most tradespeople are trained in the proper handling of asbestos-containing materials. Environmental Negligible levels of asbestos fibers are found in the soil, water and air, both naturally and from man-made sources. Asbestos concentrations in the air in rural areas are about ten times lower than those in larger cities, which are about 1,000 times lower than levels accepted in today's asbestos-related jobs. With such low exposure, environmental risks are negligible. Due to natural erosion, high concentrations of chrysotile asbestos fibers may be found in some raw water supplies. Conventional water treatment methods can substantially reduce asbestos levels and there is no evidence that swallowed chrysotile fibers are a health hazard. Asbestos Workers Linked to Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cancer Buildings and Homes: Because it is a valuable reinforcing, insulating and fire-proofing material, asbestos was used widely in construction materials such as insulation board, asbestos cement, and floor and ceiling tiles. These products are very dense and do not release significant amounts of fibers under normal use. However, fibers may be released if these products are cut or damaged. Asbestos fibre concentrations in the air in buildings are usually about the same as in the air outside, and are not a significant risk. However, levels may be higher if friable asbestos materials are disturbed. There is also concern about vermiculite insulation which may contain small amounts of amphibole asbestos, principally tremolite or actinolite. These amphibole fibers may cause health risks if disturbed. However, there is currently no evidence of risk to your health if the insulation is sealed behind wallboards and floorboards, isolated in an attic, or otherwise kept from exposure to the home or interior environment. The Health Risks of Asbestos Workers: Asbestos poses health risks only when fibers are present in the air that people breathe. How exposure to asbestos can affect you depends on: the concentration of asbestos fibers in the air; how long the exposure lasted; how often you were exposed; the size of the asbestos fibers inhaled; or the amount of time since the initial exposure. When inhaled in significant quantities, asbestos fibers can cause asbestosis (a scarring of the lungs which makes breathing difficult), mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity) and lung cancer. The link between exposure to asbestos and other types of cancers is less clear. Smoking, combined with inhaled asbestos, greatly increases the risk of lung cancer. Asbestos Workers - Minimizing Your Risk: Construction and maintenance workers should avoid creating asbestos dust from scraping, brushing, rubbing or cutting damaged insulation. Insulation damage should be reported to the appropriate authority, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Manager. If you work in this area, determine whether asbestos is present before beginning work and take appropriate precautionary measures. Public and commercial building owners should keep an inventory of asbestos-containing materials to inform users, authorities and contractors. Homeowners should receive expert advice before removing materials that may contain asbestos. If you think your home may contain asbestos, check regularly for signs of wear or damage. However, you can't always tell just by looking at a material. If in doubt, have it analyzed by a qualified professional, who can be found by looking up experts in "asbestos abatement /removal". If you must handle small amounts of damaged asbestos-containing materials, follow these steps: Keep other people and pets away, and seal off the work area Wet the material to reduce dust, making sure it is not in contact with electricity If possible, do not cut or damage the materials further and do not break them up Clean the work area afterwards using a damp cloth, not a vacuum cleaner, and seal the asbestos waste and cloth in a plastic bag. Check with your local municipality on how to dispose of asbestos-containing waste Wash or dispose of clothing and shower after finishing the job. Before you start any work you must make sure you know where all asbestos containing materials are.The Health and Safety Executive says that the most common uses for asbestos are: Sprayed asbestos and asbestos loose packaging - generally used as fire breaks in ceiling voids; Moulded or preformed sprayed coatings and lagging - generally used in thermal insulation of pipes and boilers; Sprayed asbestos mixed with hydrated asbestos cement - generally used as fire protection in ducts, firebreaks, panels, partitions, soffit boards, ceiling panels and around structural steel work; Insulating boards used for fire protection, thermal insulation, wall partitions and ducts; Asbestos cement products which can be compressed into flat or corrugated sheets; corrugated sheets are largely used as roofing and wall cladding; other asbestos cement products include gutters, rainwater pipes, soil stacks and cold water cisterns; Some reinforced plastics, mastics and sealants; Millboard, paper and paper products used for the insulation of electrical equipment. Certain textured coatings, decorative plasters and paints; Asbestos ropes, gaskets and cloth; Flues; The duty to manage is directed at those who manage non-domestic premises: the people with responsibility for protecting others who work in such premises, or use them in other ways, from the risks to ill-health that exposure to asbestos causes. How can I protect myself if I am exposed to asbestos? Along with the use of respirators you can take further action to prevent contact with asbestos fibers: Dampening down asbestos-containing materials can lower the amount of fibers in the air; use of hand tools over power tools (power tools create more dust, it is not advisable to use them on an asbestos-containing material); Clear up asbestos dust using a 'Type H' vacuum cleaner or damp cloths; Clean up, as you go - don't let asbestos-containing waste build up; Wash your hands and face when you take a break and at the end of work; Don't take home any overalls, worn while you have been in contact with asbestos Put asbestos waste into a suitable sealed container. Asbestos waste has to be double-bagged in heavy-duty polythene bags and clearly labelled as containing the substance with the label prescribed for asbestos; Don't eat or drink in the work area; Don't smoke