Asbestos is the generic name given to a number of naturally occurring inorganic fibrous silicate minerals. Asbestos materials have been widely used in the construction industry and may be present in a number of manufactured products such as cement sheeting, insulation, gaskets, ropes, blocks, fire resistant boards,
ASBESTOS AND OTHER FIBERS.
ASBESTOS.
· Asbestos is the generic name
given to a number of naturally occurring inorganic fibrous silicate
minerals. Asbestos materials have been widely used in the construction
industry and may be present in a number of manufactured products such as cement
sheeting, insulation, gaskets, ropes, blocks, fire resistant boards, etc.
INSTRUCTIONS AND STANDARDS.
· Work Permit System.
· Breathing Apparatus.
· Asbestos Regulations.
Types of Asbestos.
· These exist in two main
rock-forming mineral groups:
· 1) Serpentine group, which
includes chrysotile (white asbestos); and,
· 2) Amphibole group, which
includes crocidolite (blue asbestos) and amosite (brown asbestos).
Health Risks.
· Asbestosis.( scarring of lung).
· Lung cancer.
· Mesothelioma.(cancer of the
thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen).
Before Work Starts.
· The contractor shall submit a
Hazard Identification Plan to Loss Prevention Department and to the Industrial
Hygiene Service, Preventive Medicine Services Division for review and
concurrence prior to job start-up, when removing or using asbestos materials.
Unless approved of in advance by the Industrial Hygiene Unit, asbestos products
shall not be used in new construction.
· Air Sampling.
· Job Details.
· Chest X-rays.
Storage and
Transportation.
· All asbestos materials removed
from or used on a job shall be stored in an approved container at all
times. For new construction, only that amount of asbestos material that
is immediately required for the operation shall be moved to the work area.
Approved containers shall be used during the transportation of asbestos
materials. All such containers that contain asbestos shall be clearly
marked in English and Arabic: "Caution: Health Hazard - Contains
Asbestos".
Work
Area.
· The work area shall be clearly
defined and where feasible roped off and notices displayed warning persons of
the presence of asbestos dust. Signs shall be posted at all approaches to
the work area. These signs shall be posted at readily visible locations
near work areas and these notices shall read in both English and Arabic.
o Also Read These Program
Handling and Use.
· Wetting/Ventilation.
· The handling, mixing, applying,
removing, cutting, and spraying of asbestos materials shall be done in a wet
state so as to prevent the emission of harmful fibers in excess of allowable
concentration. Before removing asbestos cement mortar, coating, grouting,
plaster, or similar material containing asbestos from bags, cartons, or
shipping containers, the material shall be wetted or enclosed, or the operation
shall be carried out under total exhaust ventilation.
CUTTING
· Shearing or punching shall be
used in preference to sawing or drilling of asbestos. Where it is
necessary to cut or saw materials containing asbestos using hand or power
tools, it shall be done in a separate cordoned off area with an approved
exhaust and dust collection system.
Protective
Equipment.
· Protective Clothing.
· Respiratory Equipment.
· Washing and Changing Facilities.
· Disposal of Waste Asbestos
Materials/Clothing.
· Cleanliness of Work Areas and
Equipment.
A permissible exposure
limit (PEL) of 0.1
fiber of asbestos per
cubic centimeter of air
as averaged over an 8-hour
period, with an
excursion limit of 1.0
asbestos fibers per
cubic centimeter over a
30-minute period
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