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Asbestos handling is the most important issue that comes under debate whenever a mesothelioma case is discovered. Regarded as the primary cause of mesothelioma, a malignant cancer caused only by its inhalation; asbestos was banned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of US in 1989. However, in spite of this, it is being used by the industrialists as a result of which every year, thousands of people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in US alone.
Asbestos handling is the most significant issue as all the prevention and cure of this disease depends on it. Even though most of the employers were aware of the dangers of asbestos inhalation, yet they did nothing to ensure safety of asbestos handling or show any regard for people working with asbestos day and night.
To avoid asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma, it is very important to take proper asbestos safety measures. These measures include suitable handling of asbestos by people working in mines, construction sites or industrial setups. Proper handling ensures that asbestos is used safely and human life is not affected by this deadly carcinogen.
Handling Asbestos Safely
As contrary to the old belief that nothing can be done to save yourself from asbestos, it is 100% possible to prevent its inhalation. People working in places where asbestos is handled can protect themselves by wearing safety gear and masks.
The responsibility for this lies in the hands of employers as well as the workers. They both should be aware of the harmful effects of asbestos. The employers should make sure that they provide necessary safety equipment such as clothing, hair covering, shoes, masks and any other things that will protect the workers from asbestos. It is important for employees to change clothing before leaving work as asbestos particles and dust are very light and they travel far distances, exposing many others to this harmful toxic.
Measures for Handling Asbestos
Handling Asbestos at Workplace
The first thing to do in this regard is to establish an Asbestos Management Program. Whether you are an employee or an employer, it is your duty to ensure that no asbestos containing materials are used without appropriate asbestos safety measures. There are specific laws and rules established by the EPA and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that make sure asbestos is handled carefully and the workers are provided proper equipment to handle it.
It is the employers’ responsibility to ensure that the work environment is safe and free of all hazards. These asbestos safety measures include:
• A written health and safety policy
• Written emergency response procedures
• Proper training for asbestos handling
• Regular onsite inspections to determine the safety of asbestos handling procedures and ensuring that no contamination is present
• Provision of equipment (masks, respirators, gloves, aprons) for the safe handling of asbestos
• Regular inspection of equipment
• Availability of decontamination facilities to ensure that no asbestos dust is taken home
• Notification of the risk associated with a particular task involving asbestos
• Accident investigations if contamination occurs
• A health and safety representative available at all times to address concerns about asbestos safety
It is very important to handle asbestos appropriately to minimize the risk of exposure. It is the employers’ duty to provide the employees with necessary safety from asbestos. If these above mentioned procedures are not followed, the employees have a right to contact law enforcement agencies and take legal action.
Asbestos Handling at Home
There might be asbestos present in your homes in the form of tiles, shingles, ceiling or water pipes and other things. You are at a high risk of inhaling this asbestos during any repair work or when these things are damaged. It is advised that whenever any repair work is needed or if you see any of these things crumbling or falling, do not handle them yourself. You might be exposing yourself and your family members to asbestos. Consult licensed asbestos abatement contractors who handle such jobs and make sure the material is handled without any danger to you and other people in the surroundings.
Protective Clothing for Handling Asbestos
Anyone who works with asbestos, regardless of profession, should wear protective clothing to avoid the spread of asbestos particles though clothing. These protective clothes should only be used for asbestos handling to avoid contaminating other people and areas where asbestos is not present.
This protective clothing should:
• Cover the entire body including the head and feet and fit like a glove to the body
• Be made of a special fabric which is asbestos proof and can stop asbestos particles from touching the body
Also, it is important that such clothing should be immediately repaired or replaced if it is torn or worn for a very long time to avoid exposure to asbestos.
With awareness and adequate safety measures, asbestos handling has come a long way. People working in asbestos industries, factories, plants and other places where asbestos is handled have been made aware of its deadly consequences and informed about how they can avoid inhaling this deadly carcinogen. However, it still needs a lot of time and effort for asbestos safety measures to be implemented so that numerous people still working in these industries can be protected against its hazardous effects. |
