north slope training cooperative © 1997-2010 north slope training cooperativerevised 2010. all...

North Slope Training Cooperative

© 1997-2010 North Slope Training Cooperative—revised 2010. All rights reserved.

Asbestos Awareness

NSTC-18

© 1997-2010 North Slope Training Cooperative—revised 2010. All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC-18

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Name

Company and/or Position

Experience related to working in an area with asbestos-containing materials

Introductions


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Emergency Procedures

Restrooms/Breaks/Smoking

Safety Minute

Administration and Safety


4Goal

To introduce employees to the potential hazards and safe work practices for working near asbestos-containing materials (ACM).

Elbow with asbestos joint compound


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Describe the properties of asbestos.

Describe the health effects from exposure.

Recognize asbestos hazards and practice effective control measures

Objectives

Asbestos roofing mastic on access door


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Asbestos containing material (ACM) is found in buildings and work areas where workers may come into contact with it.

Asbestos is potentially hazardous to health.

Exposure to asbestos is governed by federal and state regulations.

Importance of Training


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What Is Asbestos?


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Naturally occurring fibrous mineral consisting of complex silicates

Virtually indestructible because

Fibers are resistant to heat, cold, and chemicals

Fibers are not water soluble and remain in the air

Fibers can be densely packed to make a tough, flexible material for insulation and other industrial uses

Properties of Asbestos


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Individual fibers are microscopic in size; some may be up to 700 times smaller than a human hair

Properties of Asbestos


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ACM: Asbestos-containing material containing more than 1% asbestos

PACM: Presumed asbestos-containing material; thermal system insulation and surfacing material found in buildings constructed prior to1980

Surfacing material: Material that is sprayed, troweled-on or otherwise applied to surfaces

Thermal system insulation (TSI) ACM applied to pipes, fittings, boilers, tanks, ducts, or other structural components to prevent heat loss or gain and contains more than 1% asbestos.

Definition of Terms

29 CFR 1910.1001 (b)


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Chrysotile (white) — used in insulation, fire- and sound-proofing, surfacing materials, adhesives

Amosite (brown) — used in high friction applications; brake shoes, clutches, and other equipment

Crocidolite (blue) — not as common as the other two forms; high-temperature applications such as gaskets

Types of Asbestos


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Hazard Recognition


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Potential Asbestos Locations

Thermal system insulation (TSI) on furnaces, ducts, boilers, and water pipes

Sprayed-on or troweled-on surfacing materials

Asphalt and vinyl flooring and mastics

Suspended ceiling tiles

BP ASH, page 21

Asbestos-containing pipe insulation


1414


Drywall, joint compound, drapes, and curtains

Roofing shingles, exterior siding shingles

Fireproofing on metal beams & columns

Gypsum blocks used in older wall construction

High temperature gaskets and packing in valve stems Asbestos-containing gasket

BP ASH, page 21


1515


Insulating blocks between flow lines and pipe supports

BP ASH, page 21


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Mastic and sealants on insulation and piping

BP ASH, page 21


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When Is Asbestos a Hazard?

ACM becomes hazardous when its bonding material breaks down and it becomes friable.

Friable ACMs can easily be crushed or crumbled by hand pressure releasing fibers into the air.


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When Is Asbestos a Hazard?

TSI and surfacing ACM are potentially friable.

ANY activity involving ACM is capable of releasing hazardous fibers.

Assume that dust or debris contains asbestos fibers when friable ACM is in the vicinity.


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A work area that contains friable asbestos

A work area that is near construction or renovations that contain asbestos

Maintenance or custodial activities in work areas containing asbestos

Potential High Risk Areas

Report any deterioration of ACM to your supervisor!


20When Is Asbestos Safe?

It is safe to work in areas with non-friable ACM.

The fibers in non-friable ACM are tightly bonded and won’t be released unless disturbed or damaged in some way.


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Health Effects


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Asbestos fibers are dangerous when inhaled because they cannot be broken down and in time damage the lungs.

Symptoms may take 15 to 30 years or more to develop.

The long-term effects of asbestos exposure can result in:

Asbestosis

Lung cancer

Mesothelioma

Health Effects


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Asbestosis is a chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease in which inhaled asbestos fibers cause lung tissues to scar.

Scar tissue is not able to transfer oxygen so as scarring increases, lung function decreases

Symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath, and a dry crackling sound when inhaling.

Asbestosis


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Causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure

Common symptoms include:

Shortness of breath

Coughing up blood

Fatigue

Persistent chest pains

Weight loss

Anemia

Lung Cancer


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Rare form of cancer occurring in the membrane (mesothelium) which lines the lungs, chest, abdomen, and the pericardium (heart sac)

Symptoms include fatigue, chest pain, weight loss

Very invasive although it may take years to develop

Is painful and always fatal.

Mesothelioma


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Asbestos Exposure and Smoking

Smoking combined with asbestos exposure increases the risk of asbestosis and lung cancer.

Asbestos workers who smoke are 60-90 times more likely to develop lung cancer than those who don’t smoke nor have been exposed to asbestos.

Quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung cancer by 50% in just five years.


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Control Measures


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Provide asbestos awareness training for employees working near ACM or PACM

Provide notification of exposure risks

Post warning signs on known ACM and entrances to asbestos work areas

Materials suspected to contain asbestos must be tested before they are disturbed (BP ASH page 21).

Only trained workers may sample and remove asbestos-containing materials. (BP

ASH page 21).

Employer Responsibility


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Follow safety procedures

Be alert to the presence of warning signs/labels

Report any disturbances or damage to ACM or PACM

Employee Responsibility

Damaged asbestos-containing drywall


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DO NOT:

Drill holes or hammer nails in ceiling or walls with ACM or PACM.

Remove ceiling tiles or light fixtures from suspended ceiling grids.

Cut through pipe insulation.

Scrape floor tiles, walls or ductwork.

Dust, sweep or vacuum up debris that may contain asbestos.

Hang plants from insulated pipes.

Controlling Exposure

ASH, page 159; BP ASH, page 202


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If you find disturbed material, not previously marked, that you SUSPECT may contain asbestos, notify your supervisor or your Safety/Industrial Hygiene Representative.

Reporting Procedure

Damaged asbestos pipe insulation

north slope training cooperative © 1997-2010 north slope training cooperativerevised 2010. all...

Documents

course number

asbestos awareness nstc

asbestos hazards

presumed asbestos

asbestos pacm

importance of training

asbestos joint compound

safety slide