Asbestos Awareness

UNIVERSITY of

NORTHERN COLORADO

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What is AsbestosA mineral mined

from the earthAsbestos is

composed of silicon, oxygen, hydrogen, and various positively charged metal ions.

What is AsbestosThere are many varieties

of asbestos: the three most common are Chrysotile (white), Amosite (brown), and Crocidolite* (blue).

Chrysotile fibers are pliable and cylindrical, and often arranged in bundles (most common).

Amosite and crocidolite fibers are like tiny needles.

Why do we use asbestos? Because of its useful properties asbestos has

been incorporated into over 3000 products – often in construction materials. These materials are referred to as ACM or Asbestos Containing Materials

Fire and heat resistant

Flexible, yet strongChemical

resistanceGood insulator -

poor electrical conductor

Sound absorptionVibration

DampeningDurable

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007.lnk

Where is Asbestos Found?Sprayed on fire proofing and insulation in

buildings Insulation for pipes and boilers Wall and ceiling insulation Ceiling and floor tiles Water piping (Transite)Putties, caulks, and cements (such as in chemical

carrying cement pipes) Roofing shingles Siding shingles on old residential buildings Wall and ceiling texture in older buildings and

homes Joint compound in older buildings and homes Brake linings and clutch pads

Where is Asbestos Found?At UNC asbestos may be present in:

Sprayed on insulation - items such as steel reinforcing beams and some ceilings in older buildings.

Ceiling tiles in buildings (usually built prior to 1981*)

Most 9" floor tiles in buildings built prior to 1981*

A few 12" floor tiles in buildings built prior to 1981*

Insulation around pipes and boilersInteriors of fire doorsLaboratory bench tops of existing buildings

(today)Wallboard joining compounds and even in some

wall textures.Roofing materials

* Just a guide – ACM may be in newer buildings as well

What Are the Health Effects?Unlike most minerals, which turn into dust

particles when crushed, asbestos breaks up into fine fibers that are too small to be seen by the human eye.

The shape, size and make-up of these fibers are what pose a hazard to the human body.

Because the fibers are so small, they may stay suspended in the air for hours or days.

Their size makes them easy to inhale and they can travel deep into our respiratory system or be ingested.

What Are the Health Effects?Because it is so hard to destroy asbestos fibers, the body cannot break them down or remove them once they are lodged in lung or body tissues. They remain in place where they can cause disease. There are three primary diseases associated with asbestos exposure:

Asbestosis Lung Cancer Mesothelioma

AsbestosisAsbestosis is a serious, chronic, non-

cancerous respiratory disease. Inhaled asbestos fibers aggravate lung tissues, which causes them to scar.

There is no effective treatment for asbestosis; the disease is usually disabling or fatal.

The risk of asbestosis is minimal for those who do not work with asbestos routinely (e.g., manufacture, building demolition, frequent asbestos abatement)

Lung CancerLung cancer causes the largest number of

deaths related to asbestos exposure.The incidence of lung cancer is much higher

for people directly involved in the mining, milling, manufacturing and use of asbestos and its products.

People who smoke have a significantly greater risk of developing lung cancer than people who have only been exposed to asbestos. One study found that asbestos workers who smoke are about 90 times more likely to develop lung cancer than people who neither smoke nor have been exposed to asbestos.

MesotheliomaRare form of cancer occurring in the thin

membrane lining of the lungs, chest, abdomen, and (rarely) heart.

200 cases are diagnosed annually in the United States.

Virtually all cases of mesothelioma are linked with asbestos exposure.

People who work in asbestos mines, asbestos mills and factories, and shipyards that use asbestos, as well as people who manufacture and install asbestos insulation, have an increased risk of mesothelioma. So do people who live with asbestos workers, near asbestos mining areas, near asbestos product factories or near shipyards where use of asbestos has produced large quantities of airborne asbestos fibers.

VSFriable AsbestosEasily crumbles in

your handFibers are more

likely to be able to enter the air

Example: Sprayed on ceiling

insulation

Non-friable AsbestosDoes not easily

crumbleIf undisturbed,

unlikely to enter the air

Can become friableExample:

Vinyl-asbestos floor tile

What Happens During an Abatement?4 types of abatements

RemovalEncapsulationEnclosureRepair

Some determining factors includeMaterial type and conditionBuilding useFuture plans

What Happens During an Abatement?Abatement area containment

Area to be abated is sealed off from rest of building to prevent release of fibers into atmosphere

Negative pressure air machines Draws outside air in, cleans inside air

Wet methodsWet down of materials before and during work to

prevent unnecessary release of fibers into the airGlove bags

Sealed from outside, removal occurs insideDecontamination Units

Keeps asbestos inside work area; larger projects often use 3 stage decon. unit

What Happens During an Abatement?

Cleanup Use HEPA vacuum

HEPA filter retains 99.97% of all fibers Containing waste as soon as practical, but no later

than end of work shift prevents the release of asbestos fibers into the air

Final air clearances preformed to ensure no asbestos fibers have been released before containment of abated area is removed.

How Can You Reduce Risk?Before performing any activity that might disrupt

a building material, check it out!Minimize the amount and duration of

exposureStop smoking

Always use personal protective equipment if you suspect a risk of exposure.

How Can You Reduce Risk?

Damaged or fallen ceiling tiles should be left in place until identified as non-ACM.

Damaged asbestos floor and ceilings tiles should only be removed by trained workers using proper protective procedures.

Report damaged ACM to Facilities Management at

351-2446

Accidental Release Emergency Response

If you notice an ACM spill or damage that could release fibers…..what do you do?

Do NOT attempt to clean up the spill yourselfDo NOT disturb the areaBlock off the spill and secure the area Notify your Supervisor, EHS or UNC Police

Department immediately

How Do I Know If a Material Contains Asbestos at UNC?

Warning signs may be posted at entrances and on the doors of mechanical rooms.

Don’t assume if there is no sign, that there is no ACM!

Some signs may read “Danger Asbestos-authorized personnel only”

How Do I Know If a Material Contains Asbestos at UNC?

A campus-wide survey was conducted to inventory ACM locations.

The information was placed into a comprehensive database (ADAM).

Who has access to the database currently:Facilities Planning and ConstructionFacility ManagementEnvironmental Health and Safety

What information is availableFull inventory of ACM for most UNC BuildingsFloor Plans for all surveyed buildingsLocations of ACM by space or material typeAnalytical lab data of samples collected

Contact Facilities Management or EHS for information

Remember, it’s up to you . . .so ask first.

University of Northern ColoradoEnvironmental Health & Safety

351-1963 or 351-1149

Call for questions or concerns!“Protect Yourself”