Aspects of Asbestos Control - Research Paper Example

Running Head: ASPECTS OF ASBESTOS CONTROL Aspects of Asbestos control Name Institution Aspects of asbestos control Introduction Using asbestos in construction and renovation of any building is not recommended. Although asbestos use is illegal, it is approximated that over 1.5 million properties in workplaces still have some quantity of asbestos. Most educational facilities undoubtedly have asbestos, though not known by staff until refurbishments and repairs are conducted. This paper discusses aspects of asbestos by focusing on its control. It will conclude by summarizing the aspects of asbestos control. Background information Asbestos occurs in different forms. The most common types of asbestos found in buildings are the blue, brown, and white asbestos. A typical example is a chrysotile that is also called the white asbestos (CHR). This form belongs to the serpentine group, a type that is most common and therefore most used (Van Gosen, 2007). Its properties include most flexibility, soft, abundant, spun woven, and fiercest heat. The diagram below represents a picture of this form (Beard & Rook, 2000). Chrysotile (white) asbestos (CHR) 1 (Picture x 10 magnifications - cement based sheeting with white asbestos) The second form of asbestos is the Amosite or brown asbestos (AMO) this type belongs to the amphibole category but also called grey or brown form. Its features include resistance to heat, harsh spiky fibres, coarse nature, and good tensile strength (Van Gosen, 2007). A pictorial presentation of this form is shown below. Amosite (brown) asbestos (AMO) 1 2 (Picture x 25 magnification - low density board mix of brown and white asbestos) The least common form of asbestos is the crocidolite or the blue asbestos (CRO). This form belongs to the amphibole category. Its features include needle like fibres, high resistivity to acids, strongest, and the ability of being stiffer as well as straight. Its pictorial presentation is shown below. Crocidolite (blue) asbestos (CRO) 1 0 0 (Picture x 25 magnification – cement based sheeting with blue asbestos) 2 The white asbestos is the least dangerous of the three. It is advisable that if any building including a school or college built or renovated prior to 1985, be assumed to contain asbestos, unless the contractors prove otherwise through appropriate testing. The most common route of entry of this substance into the body is inhalation. Inhaled fibres becomes lodged within the lungs, this will expose the victim to several detrimental health effects like scarring as well as inflammation. The aftermath is interfered breaking leading to diseases. The most common side effects include the non-malignant, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. The severity of effect depends on the exposure duration, concentration, the frequency, chemical makeup shape, and size of fibres inhaled (Roach et al., 2002; Van Gosen, 2007). It is common to find materials containing asbestos in places like construction sites, asbestos mining sites, most processing plants (Sullivan, 2007). Some of the common items in construction sites containing asbestos are roof cement plastic containers, asbestos cement sheets, and asbestos sheet joints shown in the pictures below. Employer’s task in the control of asbestos It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that there is maximum control of asbestos in the work environment. They need to examine the workplace to verify if there is any asbestos present, what type of asbestos is present (if any), and what condition it is in. They are also need to assume that all materials contain asbestos unless proven otherwise and keep a record of asbestos location at all times. A risk assessment test on all the components containing asbestos should be undertaken and a written plan drawn to control asbestos in places of work (Circo & Little, 2009). Actions to avoid and control contact of asbestos with staff and other people like students and pupils are worth instituting. These actions needs frequent reviews and monitoring. In case of any clarifications on asbestos, trade union safety representatives would need consultation. Safety precautions and signs on asbestos should be put in places containing asbestos, to warn anybody likely to go near it. It is Queensland educational policy that no one should be on the school site when asbestos removal is taking place. Any work or repairs that may bring about contact to asbestos should be conducted unless it has been verified if asbestos is present, the kind present, its material, and its condition. A copy of the asbestos policy in schools (such as the School’s Built Environment Materials Information Register [BEMIR] Report) and colleges should be requested by safety representatives, containing information on the location of asbestos and measures that have been taken to supervise the position (Greene, 2005). If there is not enough information within available reports, further testing should be undertaken prior to any works commencing. Removal of asbestos If asbestos is located in a building and will not be disturbed, typically the asbestos is acceptable to stay undisturbed. However, if the asbestos is going to be disturbed, then an asbestos specialist should be engaged to determine the appropriate method of removal (Lampl, 2006). It is important to note that asbestos removal is required to be undertaken by an expert in this field. Furthermore, it is also important that the area of disturbance is not accessible to those parties not qualified as personal health can be affected. After the removal of asbestos, the area should be tested to ensure that the area has not been contaminated before reoccupation (Oberta, 2005). The dangers imposed by asbestos Asbestos can result in death caused by a serious disease, which occurs when asbestos fiber inhalation takes place. Asbestos causes serious and fatal diseases including cancer. The level of risk within any environment can be determined by the number of fibers breathed (Tillman, 2007). If the environment has impaired asbestos containing materials or high quantities of asbestos fibers are inhaled, these quantities can boost the likelihood of contracting a disease that is asbestos related (Stranks, 2006). Diseases caused by asbestos are not reflected immediately and typically evident later in life, so it is prudent for people to protect themselves and prevent asbestos related diseases in future. It is also important to note that those people who are exposed to asbestos fibres and smoke at the same time are more likely to develop lung cancer (Castleman, & Berger, 2004). Evaluation of exposure Evaluation of asbestos exposure depends on methods put in place to measure and monitor these substances according to the applicable exposure standards with regards to environmental aspect. For instance Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has some specifications that cover workers against potential exposures to asbestos (Lampl, 2006). Before instituting methods of measurement, potential sites should carryout clearance testing in air as well as monitoring inspections (Castleman & Berger, 2004). This certifies absence of asbestos debris in air, which ensures fibers likely to cause airborne effects are below a given limit (Burdorf & Swuste, 1999). The most gold standard aspect of measurement involves measurement of air through a filter, which helps in capturing fibers. Once captured, the fibre undergoes examination using either a phase contrast microscope or transmission electron microscope that aids in reporting results as fibers per cubic centimeters of air. The lowest limit is 0.01 fibre/cc. According to National Occupation Health and safety Commission (NOHS) prior to removal of ACM it is paramount to carry out air monitoring. This is a risk qualitative analysis especially if materials are friable. Control monitoring helps in testing the effectiveness of measures instituted to contain or remove asbestos containing materials (Burdorf & Swuste, 1999). Most owners of buildings have undertaken studies of asbestos on their buildings so as to control any materials that are put in place and to establish the removal needed before activities of renovation and demolition. Inspections on asbestos can essentially be faulted because of restricted scope, new regulations, errors in inspection, and poor sampling. Asbestos is evident in most commercial, residential and public buildings that have been built before 1980. People living in houses that were constructed during this period or workers working in organizations with very old buildings are advised to know where asbestos could be found (Beard & Rook, 2000). The fibrous arrangement on a spot that is destroyed usually indicates whether a material containing asbestos is involved (Institute of Medicine, 2006). To add on that, asbestos was majorly employed after the Second World War, just before 1993. The time in which the material was used can be an indicator whether asbestos may have been used. Facts on the products that use asbestos may also assist in ascertaining whether a material may have asbestos. The kind of asbestos in question can only be known by observing it in a microscope. Appropriate handling of materials that have not been tested and the materials recognized, as having asbestos, is crucial to the health and safety of people working in sites and the community (Wang & Hung, 2004). Asbestos control in the past and current asbestos control efficiency The root cause of occupational poor health from as early as 1950 is asbestos. It is still the biggest solitary work-related reason for death caused by ill health (Castleman & Berger, 2004). Exposure in the past is currently responsible for thousands of people killed by cancer linked to asbestos each year. This number is anticipated to continue to increase for many years before it begins to deteriorate. These are disastrous for the victims, triggering massive pain and suffering to the victim and their friends, and relatives (Great Britain, 2006). Regulations of asbestos were put in place in 1985. They were put in place to manage years of neglect and lack of awareness towards ACM. Most buildings in universities were constructed in the 1950s, when poor health linked to asbestos was not well known. When a realization of the epidemic caused by asbestos was occurring in the 1960s, universities reacted by fulfilling the new regulations and documented the entire ACMs within and around each campus. This included identification of possible sites of contamination, applying effective methods of eliminating any hazards as well as maintaining good practices to prevent recontamination during building repairs and innovations. The same approach is underway in the Australian context. These new and current regulations are efficient if taken seriously (Great Britain, 2006). Control measures Prior to instituting an effective control measure, it is pivotal to ascertain the presence of asbestos and if present, determine its type and condition. People in charge of maintaining public premises are responsible to advise where asbestos is in those buildings and its state. They should also provide any available information regarding assumed or known asbestos. If there is no immediate information on asbestos condition in those particular area or building, the area should be examined and the material under study analyzed or tested. Conversely, it is recommended to assume that potential materials intended to be used contains asbestos and measure taken to ensure safety (Circo & Little, 2009). Upon identification of potential materials likely to contain asbestos, the gold standard method of measuring their presence involves using debris from suspected materials and examining under Transmission electron microscopy after conducting a risk assessment. This helps in deciding if it is possible to conduct the construction or maintenance work evading the danger of contact with asbestos all the same (Gupta, 2007). If not, find out the people at risk and the quantity of exposure to asbestos. From this, efficient work methods can be derived to give maximum control of the risks. A decision should then be made on what method of removal is required. This will also determine the level of contractor / professional required to remove the asbestos. Asbestos removal, most of the time, needs a professional bearing a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) license. If the work does not require a license, it should be decided whether the work needs notification and then maintenance can be done on asbestos containing materials (ACMs) with the suitable controls in place. Additional work is necessary on non-licensed work. Lastly, people undertaking the work should be trained appropriately. Any worker who is likely to be in contact with asbestos during their daily chores requires proper training to allow them to safeguard themselves and others. Who has the duty of controlling asbestos The person responsible for asbestos control is that person or institution in charge of maintenance and renovation of non-domestic buildings through a clear agreement for example a tenancy contract (Oberta, 2005). The heights of responsibility rely on the type of contract. In a premise inhabited by one occupant, the contract might be for the tenant or occupant to assume the complete duty for the entire building; or it may be sharing of responsibilities. In premises with many occupants, the contract might be that the landlord assumes full responsibility for the entire building. It might otherwise be shared (Tillman, 2007). The landlord takes charge of shared parts while the occupants take charge for the areas they occupy. At times, there might be a contract to extend the duties to a managing agent. In other areas, a tenancy contract may not be present. If present, it may not point out whose duty it is for repair and maintenance and renovation of non-domestic buildings. In these instances, or where the buildings are not occupied, the responsibility is put on whoever has charge of the premises, or a section of the premises. In most cases, it is usually the owner. Conclusion Most institutions are on the right track to ensure adherence of these control measures owing to the fact that OSHA requires every construction site takes asbestos factor seriously. A comprehensive analysis should guarantee the owner of the building or manager accessible places have been appropriately inspected to ensure that there are no ACMs present. An action plan with listed priorities to help in addressing pressing issues should be provided. This action plan should also outline all the data required to develop and put in practice an efficient asbestos operation and maintenance plan. The action plan should also provide all the relevant information to record (e.g. an electronic record) to ensure future data is accessible regarding ACMs in an institution/building. Strict measures are in place to ensure the personnel without proper means of containing asbestos do not carry on with their chores. Environmental consultants should be provided software that organizes, analyzes, retrieves, and renews data on asbestos and its position in premises (Tillman, 2007). The program will help the manager of the building to examine what types of ACMs exist, where they are placed and which one must be attended to immediately if disturbance is imminent. This data should be constantly updated as renovation, abatement and maintenance activities take place around the building, and the priorities on its removal changed consequently. For instance, when a maintenance team intends to make repairs anywhere in a premises, the asbestos program leader should access the computerized data to establish whether ACMs exist. This is particularly important where construction workers may not have the knowledge on ACMs and could put themselves at risk by exposing themselves or others to asbestos containing materials. The appropriate way of managing asbestos is to design an asbestos maintenance program, which operates as a detailed way of how to manage ACMs during the property life. This documented plan should indicate the administrative ways for controlling ACMs, as well as employee training programs, which act as a complete road map of how to manage ACMs during the existence of the property (Wang & Hung, 2004). This plan should indicate the administrative practices for controlling ACMs, including training of employees, programs and policies of operations and ways of carrying out asbestos-control interests. Supporting records may include a yearly asbestos abatement agreement, local and government regulations, and individual programs of protection. The plan lies on the comments of clients, information on analysis and assessment, and interviews with facility management on ways of conducting maintenance operations are carried out and controlled. The client should employ this information to delegate an asbestos program director that will be in charge of maintaining and renovating the premises. References Beard, M., & Rook, H. (2000). Advances in environmental measurement methods for asbestos. West Conshohocken: American Society for Testing Materials. Burdorf, A., & Swuste, P. (1999). An Expert System for the Evaluation of Historical Asbestos Exposure as Diagnostic Criterion in Asbestos-related Diseases, Ann Occup Hyg, 43(1), 57-66 Castleman, B., & Berger, S. (2004). Asbestos: medical and legal aspects. New York: Aspen Publishers. Circo, C., & Little, C. (2009). 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Asbestos: when the dust settles an imaging review of asbestos-related disease. Radiographics, 22(SpecNo), S167-S184. Stranks, J. (2006). The manager’s guide to health & safety at work. London: Kogan Page. Sullivan, P.A. 2007. Vermiculite, Respiratory Disease and Asbestos Exposure in Libby, Montana: Update of a Cohort Mortality Study. Environ. Health Perspect,115 (4),579-85. Tillman, C. (2007). Principles of occupational health and hygiene: An introduction. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin. Van Gosen, B.S. (2007). The Geology of Asbestos in the United States and Its Practical Applications. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, 13(1), 55-68. Wang, L., & Hung, Y. (2004). Handbook of Industrial and Hazardous Wastes Treatment. London: CRC Press. Read More