Asbestos Awareness

Presented by QBE

Loss Control Services

Asbestos Awareness

What is Asbestos ?• Generic term for various fibrous mineral

silicates

• Fibers very resistant to heat and chemicals and do not conduct electricity

• Formerly widely used in many industries

Uses of Asbestos• 3600 commercial products

• Use began around 1900

• Until 1940 use limited

• From 1940 until 1970’s used extensively

• After 1980 phase out began

• 1989- EPA phase out rule

Types of Asbestos• Chrysotile

• Amosite

• Crocidolite

• Tremolite

• Actinolite

• Anthophylite

Chrysotile• Most common type of asbestos

• Heat resistant

• Sprayed on insulation

• Fireproofing

• Long flexible fibers easily spun into yarn

Amosite• Not as common as chrysotile

• Pipe and boiler insulation

• Fibers easily become airborne

Pipe Insulation

Crocidolite• Fibers shorter and more brittle

• High tensile strength

• Primarily used in cement products

• Fibers hard to control

Common Uses• Insulating Products (1926-1971)

• Surfacing Material (sprayed or troweled) (1935-1970)

• Extrusion Panels (since 1930)

• Transite Boards (unknown)

Ceiling Tiles• Armstrong “Sanserra”

• Armstrong “Santaglio”

• Armstrong “Embossed Design”

Roofing Materials• Shingles and clapboard (unknown)

• Roofing felts (since 1910)

• Roofing asphalt (unknown)

• Roof putty (unknown)

• Roof coatings (since 1900)

Floor Materials

• Mastics (1945-1980)

• Asphalt tile cement (since 1959)

• Vinyl asbestos tile (1950-1980)

(9” x 9” tiles more likely to contain asbestos than 12” x 12” tiles)

• Asphalt asbestos tile (1920-1980)

Paper Products• Corrugated (1910-1980)

• Indented (since 1935)

• Millboard (since 1925)

Other Products

• Caulks and putties (1900-1973)• Adhesives (since 1945)• Joint compound (1945-1977)• Plaster/stucco (unknown)• Spackles (1930-1978)• Fireproofing (1935-1978)• Cements (since 1900)• Paints and coatings (1900-1978)

Spray-on Insulation

Spray-on Insulation

Asbestos in Buildings• About 20% of all buildings• About 5% with sprayed or trowled on ACM

(asbestos containing materials)• About 16% with ACM on pipes or boilers• Very few with ACM ceiling tiles• About 42% with ACM containing floor tiles

Asbestos Related Diseases• Asbestosis

• Lung cancer

• Mesothelioma

• Other Cancers

Asbestos Fiber

In Lungs

Asbestosis

• Lung scarring of air sacs (alveoli)

• Since asbestos fibers strong, they do not break down

• Asbestos fibers act as “small needles”scarring lung tissue

• Scarring reduces expansion or air sacs

Asbestosis

Asbestosis Symptoms• Latency 15 years

• Heavy difficult breathing

• Blue skin tone

• Clubbing of toes and fingers

• More susceptible to colds and pneumonia

• Victims usually die from heart failure

Mesothelioma

• “Asbestos Cancer”• Rare- 2000 cases per year in U.S.• Cancer of the pleura (chest cavity lining) or

peritoneum (abdomen wall lining)• Small fibers enter cells causing

uncontrolled growth (cancer)• Increased pressure on lungs, heart and

other internal organs

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma• Latency 30 years

• Painful progressive disease

• 6-12 month prognosis

• Death by heart attack or stroke

Mesothelioma Symptoms• Cough, chest tightness and pains

• Swelling of abdomen

• Dramatic weight loss

• Stomach pains

Lung Cancer• Non-smokers with asbestos exposure- 5%

chance

• Smoker 1-pack/day and asbestos exposure- 50% chance

• Smoker 2 pack/day and asbestos exposure- 95% chance

Other Disease• Cancers of colon, stomach, large intestine,

esophagus

• Pleural Plaques- Scars on lining of chest walls

• Pleural Effusion- fluid buildup in lungs

Pleural Plaques

Who is at Risk from Asbestos?• Insulators

• Boiler Makers & Repairers

• Miners of Asbestos

• Ship Yard Workers

• Power-plant Workers

• Brake Line Workers

• Pipe Fitters

Exposure Limits• ACGIH-TLV as an 8 hr. time-weighted

average- 0.1 f/cc (fiber per cubic centimeter of air)

• OSHA PEL as an 8 hr. time-weighted average- 0.1 f/cc (1 f/cc for a 30 min. excursion period)

Exposure Factors• Concentration of fibers in air

• Duration of exposure

• Use of respirators and other protective measures

Release of Fibers• Friable- Loose, easily released into air.

Example - spray applied materials

• Non-friable- Fibers not easily released into air. Example - floor tiles

Friable Asbestos• Damaged ACM.

• Fluffy, spray-applied fireproofing

• Non-friable ACM can pose a hazard when sawed, sanded or during demolition

Friable Asbestos

• In most cases, intact, undisturbed ACM does not pose a health hazard. Only when disturbed does a health hazard exists.

• Removal of ACM may cause a problem where none existed

• In-place management may be the best control method

EPA Regulations

• AHERA- Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act -1986 Inspection and management of asbestos in schools

• NESHAP- National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants- 1973 regulates activities involving asbestos, i.e. manufacture, disposal, demolition, application, etc

Asbestos Abatement

OSHA• 1926.1101- Construction

• 1910.1001- General Industry

29 CFR 1926.1101

• Demolition or salvage where asbestos present• Removal or encapsulation of ACM• Construction, alteration, repair and

maintenance where asbestos is present• Installation of materials containing asbestos• Cleanup, transportation, disposal and storage

of ACM

State/Local Regulations• May have separate rules

• Enforcement delegated from federal government

• Training and certification required in each state or local area

Contractors• Only certified contractors meeting EPA,

state or local requirements allowed to perform work involving ACM

Awareness

• Buildings containing ACM should be abated before contractor begins work

• If materials suspected of containing ACM are encountered, stop work and contact management

• Wear respiratory protection in dusty situations