|
| |
ASBESTOS: LET’S CLEAR THE AIR!
By Bob Del Prete
Former Southern Region Safety/Health Rep.
One matter that causes much confusion on the workroom floor is when the
possibility of an asbestos exposure takes place. It seems that whenever such an
incident occurs a great deal of anxiety pervades the work environment and rumors
abound. A good deal of this anxiety may be attributable to a lack of
understanding, which I hope will be reduced with the information contained in
this article.
Is an asbestos release cause for concern? Yes, most definitely . . . but in
most instances it is not cause for panic. Below is a summary from a wide variety
of sources that I believe will adequately highlight the significant aspects of
asbestos and its ramifications. Hopefully, this will help members of this local
better understand asbestos and asbestos exposures, and thus respond
appropriately.
Here are some things I think you should know about asbestos:
 | "Asbestos" is the name of a class of magnesium-silicate minerals
that occur in fibrous form; examples are chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite,
tremolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos, and actinolite asbestos. |
| Asbestos, if dense enough, can be seen in a dust like state. Conversely,
asbestos fibers can also be completely undetectable to the naked eye. |
| Asbestos is not flammable and is extremely durable. |
| Asbestos has been widely used in ceiling tiles, floor tiles, brake
linings, clutch assemblies, and as insulation for pipes. |
| Asbestos becomes aerodynamic once it has become agitated; e.g. if a
ceiling tile containing asbestos breaks and crumbles to the floor, asbestos
fibers can be released into the air. |
| Because of its aerodynamic nature, floor tiles with asbestos MUST be wet
stripped with low abrasion pads (at speeds lower than 300 rpm) to avoid an
aerodynamic release of such asbestos particles; this is an OSHA
requirement. In addition, the sanding of asbestos containing floor material
is prohibited. |
| Asbestos fibers can stay in the atmosphere for hours. |
| Since asbestos is a natural mineral, there is asbestos in the air that we
breathe daily. |
| It can not be said how much contact with asbestos one can have before it
will lead to "asbestosis," or any other asbestos related cancer.
Some can be exposed to it for 20, 30, or 40 years without any effect; others
can be exposed for much shorter periods and their fates are sealed. It is
believed that smoking can accelerate this process. |
| In general, a brief, singular exposure to asbestos probably will not lead
to cancer later on in life. It is similar to smoking one cigarette . . . one
cigarette probably will not kill you. |
| Asbestos fibers attach themselves to the linings of the lungs. They can
neither be absorbed by the human body nor flushed out by the human body. As
a result, scar tissue continuously develops around these fibers, thus
leading to more serious problems. |
| "Non-friable" asbestos is not as much of a threat as
"friable" asbestos because it is much more difficult to pulverize
and release into the air. |
| Building owners must tell where any friable or non-friable asbestos is
present within a facility. All employees are entitled to this information;
it is an OSHA requirement. |
| Warning labels must be placed on locations containing asbestos to notify
employees that asbestos is present. In those areas where it is not certain
whether asbestos is present, they must be marked as if they have asbestos. |
| If an exposure occurs that may be at or above the permissible exposure
limit, the USPS should call in a qualified professional to take sample
readings. OSHA is usually accepting of the contracted professional’s
findings. APWU stewards have the right to a copy of the report. |
| If the USPS refuses to summon a qualified professional, a grievance should
be filed ASAP. If the manner in which asbestos is being released into the
air from known areas is blatant and with little or no regard for safety and
health of workers, OSHA should be contacted immediately. |
| Once notified, OSHA will decide whether to investigate, and they may
decide to take an air sample. A citation could be issued, followed by a
fine. |
| The PEL (permissible exposure limit) is the average concentration of
asbestos fibers in the air, over an 8-hour day; the OSHA PEL for asbestos is
0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter of air, which is about the size of one die. |
| If this level is exceeded, many of the more restrictive requirements e.g.,
medical surveillance (including a questionnaire and medical tests deemed
necessary by an attending physician), respirators, and additional work
practices of 29CFR 1910.1001 (the OSHA Asbestos Standard) would apply. |
| Medical expenses for an examination and treatment of an asbestos exposure
at or above the PEL are paid for by the USPS and not by workmen’s
compensation or by medical insurance. |
| If an exposure at or above the PEL is confirmed, a CA-1 or CA-2 (based on
the physician’s opinion) should be filed. However, the Department of Labor
may contest the claim because "exposure" does not necessarily mean
an injury has been incurred or an illness has been contracted. |
| Records pertaining to an asbestos exposure incident must be kept for 30
years; records pertaining to the medical surveillance following such an
incident must be kept for the duration of employment PLUS 30 years. This is
an OSHA requirement. |
| If an exposure below the PEL occurs, employees should seek medical
attention and advice, and proceed accordingly. It is important to note that
an exposure of any magnitude may not show any deleterious effects until
decades later, if at all. |
| If contractors are hired to remove asbestos from any USPS facility, those
contractors must adhere to the provisions specified under 29CFR1926.1101 in
order to protect the health and welfare of workers employed at the site. |
I hope this summary of key points related to asbestos does indeed "clear
the air" and promotes a better understanding of this beneficial yet very
hazardous material. If you have any asbestos related questions or asbestos
related problems, please contact your steward prior to calling OSHA. |
