ASBESTOSON-BOARD

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENGINEERING SA

Environmental Protection Engineering S.A. (EPE)24, Dervenakion Str., 18545 Piraeus - Greece,Tel: +30 210 5530600 , Fax: +30 210 5574684www.amiantos.gr, www.asbestos.gr

ASBESTOS REGULATIONIMO MSC/Circ.1045/2002 (Guidelines for maintenance and monitoring

of ON-BOARD materials containing asbestos).

PD 212/2006 (Protection of employees who are exposed in asbestos at

work).

MD 8243/1113/91 (Determination of methods for the prevention and

reduction of the pollution of the environment from asbestos emissions).

MD 13588/725/06 (Terms and restriction for the management of haz-

ardous waste).

SOLAS (Chapter II-I) Regulation 3-5 (New installation of materials con-

taining asbestos).

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONENGINEERING S.A.Environmental Protection Engineering S.A. is the leading Greek Asbestos

Removal Company. Since 2003 EPE S.A. has successfully conducted

more than 400 Asbestos Removal related projects and has managed

more than 5000 tons of asbestos waste material, thus providing with an

important lifework the society and the environment in general.

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ASBESTOS ON BOARDWHAT IS ASBESTOS Asbestos is the name given to a number of naturally occurring

fibrous silicate minerals that have been mined for their useful

properties such as thermal insulation, chemical and thermal sta-

bility, and high tensile strength. The three most common types of

asbestos are: a) chrysotile, b) amosite and c) crocidolite.

Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos and a member of the

Serpentine mineral group is the commonest. Asbestos can only

be identified under a microscope.

ASBESTOS AND SHIP INDUSTRYThe shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers,

steam pipes, hot water pipes, and incinerators. Asbestos dust

collects around these areas and in poorly ventilated compart-

ments of a ship.

Many workers employed in shipyards were heavily exposed to

asbestos in ships and buildings. In later years, those who worked

around asbestos–contaminated pipes, boilers, and other items in

shipyards were also exposed to asbestos dust. Overhauling an

old ship, which most likely contains asbestos, poses a very high

health risk.

ASBESTOS DISEASESThe health consequences of asbestos exposure in the shipyard

are great. One medical study followed a group of workers with 20

or more years of employment in ship repair work, and found that

86% developed asbestos–related lung disease or lung cancer.

The risk continues as attempts are made to renovate

asbestos–containing ships and control damaged asbestos in

shipyard buildings and structures.

TYPES OF ASBESTOS - CONTAININGMATERIALS ñ Sprayed-on fireproofing/soundproofing/thermal insulation.

These vary from hard, impervious and well-sealed materials to fri-

able materials applied by spraying or trowelling. The colour will

normally vary from white to brown/grey to blue, although in some

instances products may have been painted or dyed.

These materials are found on structural steel members and decks

(as fireproofing), ceilings, fireplugging, fire doors and occasional-

ly on walls (as fireproofing and/or soundproofing). They may be

exposed or may be concealed by suspended ceilings or other

decorative structures. It should be noted that where the material

has been used exclusively for fireproofing, it will probably be

found to have been used for the same purpose throughout the

ship.

ñ Acoustic plaster soundproofing. This is a firm, open-pored,

plaster-like material, applied by a trowel. The soundproofing

material is usually exposed and not usually painted.

ñ Insulation. Asbestos-containing material used in the insulation

of air conditioning ducts, hot and cold water pipes, hot-water

reservoirs, pressure tanks, and boilers is generally covered with a

fabric or metal jacket. Fire doors often contain laminates of

asbestos materials covered by wood or metal.

RISK EVALUATION If analysis of material samples confirms the presence of

asbestos, the potential exposure of persons entering the ship

should be evaluated. Many factors associated with the condition

and composition of the material need to be assessed in this

process.

The general condition of all asbestos products contained in the

workplace, including those used in the ship for thermal or sound

control, shall be visually assessed by a person who is competent

to assess the associated risk (that is, the potential of such

asbestos products to release airborne dust).

The period between each visual assessment will be determined by

the condition and location of the asbestos. In some cases a visu-

al assessment will be required on at least an annual basis.

ASBESTOS ABATEMENTEncapsulation or sealingEncapsulation involves coating the asbestos material with a

sealant, which usually penetrates to the substrate and hardens the

material. Sealing is the process of covering the surface of the

material with a protective coating impermeable to asbestos.

Encapsulation or sealing is not considered to be an acceptable

alternative to repair or removal of severely damaged asbestos

materials. Sealing would be inappropriate where the sealed

asbestos is likely to suffer mechanical damage, for example,

through impact, drilling or sanding.

EnclosureEnclosure is the placing of a barrier between the asbestos mate-

rial and the surrounding environment. Enclosure of asbestos the

material is particularly suitable where the material or its protective

coating is liable to mechanical damage. An example of this would

be building a box enclosure around exposed asbestos-lagged

steam pipes.

RemovalIn general, asbestos insulation should be removed:

ñ when it is breaking away from the substrate base; or

ñ when the insulation is likely to be abraded or otherwise

damaged; and

ñ when the surface is friable and other control techniques are not

deemed to be satisfactory.

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