ASBESTOS AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE. This easy-to-use Leader s Guide is provided to assist in conducting a successful presentation.

Transcription

1 ASBESTOS AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE This easy-to-use Leader s Guide is provided to assist in conducting a successful presentation. Featured are: INTRODUCTION: A brief description of the program and the subject that it addresses. PROGRAM OUTLINE: Summarizes the program content. If the program outline is discussed before the video is presented, the entire program will be more meaningful and successful. PREPARING FOR AND CONDUCTING THE PRESENTATION: These sections will help you set up the training environment, help you relate the program to site-specific incidents, and provide program objectives for focusing your presentation. REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Questions may be copied and given to participants to document how well they understood the information that was presented. Answers to the review questions are provided separately. INTRODUCTION While workers often face obvious hazards associated with chemicals, electricity and fire, they may not see any signals that indicate asbestos is present. Known as the silent killer, asbestos has no odor when it is present in the air and no immediate side effects to those that are exposed to it. After long-term exposure, however, asbestos can cause lung disease, cancer and even death. OSHA s Asbestos Standard and your facility s asbestos management plan work together in protecting all workers from the hazards of asbestos. This program provides the viewer with a general understanding of the properties of asbestos; procedures for avoiding and protecting against exposure; and, methods for disposing of asbestos. PROGRAM OUTLINE ASBESTOS PROPERTIES Asbestos is a mineral that breaks down into small fibers that resemble strands of rope. The fibers are microscopic but also as strong as steel. Asbestos is also resistant to fire, heat, chemicals and bacteria; it also absorbs sound and is light weight. These properties once made asbestos useful in fireproofing, insulating and other construction methods. THE HAZARDS OF ASBESTOS Asbestosis, which results from breathing fibers that become airborne, causes shortness of breath, enlargement of the heart and sometimes death. Asbestos fibers that push through lung tissue can enter cells throughout the body and contribute to cancer development. Smokers are more than 50 times more likely to develop illnesses after exposure to asbestos. LOCATING ASBESTOS Know the location of asbestos in your workplace; do not disturb materials containing asbestos unless you have the proper training and equipment.

2 Thermal System Insulation, the most common use of asbestos, can be found around heating systems, boilers, utility pipes and ductwork. Asbestos was once added to types of plaster, wallboard and paneling because it is strong and light weight. Like Thermal System Insulation, many types of floor and ceiling tiles installed before 1980 contain asbestos. ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS (ACMs) Refer to the facility s Asbestos Management Plan first to find the locations of ACMs. You must be authorized and have the proper safety equipment to enter restricted areas. Look for potential problems where ACMs can often be found: utility rooms, basements, crawl spaces, etc. Some ACMs are friable, meaning they are brittle and can release fibers into the air when damaged or crumbled. ACMs that can withstand greater amounts of abuse before releasing asbestos fibers are called nonfriable. ASBESTOS FIBER RELEASE Friable releases are usually obvious: torn or frayed edges on asbestos insulation or holes in plaster and wallboard. Sudden impact or gradual wear-down over time can cause non-friable ACMs to release asbestos fibers. Slight deterioration of an ACM can result in the release of fibers and may be difficult to see because the fibers are so small. Note the conditions of ACMs in a log book periodically to help in spotting potential problems as soon as possible. Act immediately if asbestos could have been released into an area to minimize exposure. Seal the area, post warning signs to prevent entry and notify the appropriate people of the situation. CONTAINING ASBESTOS RELEASES If your are qualified, put on the required PPE and temporarily patch the area with sturdy plastic and duct tape. Professionals will provide a more permanent solution such as building an air-tight box around the area or sealing it with a leak-proof material. While some damaged materials can be restored, others require ACMs to be removed completely.

3 PREVENTING ASBESTOS EXPOSURE The key to preventing exposure is to keep from disturbing any materials that may contain asbestos. Never cut, grind or sand flooring that was installed before 1980 because it may contain asbestos. If such a floor needs to be stripped, dampen it so that fibers are less likely to become airborne and then use a low abrasion pad. Do not sweep or shovel dust and debris that may contain asbestos. Make sure is always wet during all phases of the disposal process. Use only a HEPA vacuum to clean up asbestos debris. RESPIRATORS Respirators equipped with HEPA filters must be worn when working with asbestos to prevent inhalation of fibers. Fit test your respirator to ensure that it is the right size and shape for your face. Your facility will teach your how to maintain the respirator as well as when and how to change the filters. CONTAINING ASBESTOS WORK Work involving asbestos must be contained to prevent contamination of other areas. Small projects are contained with a seamless plastic bag known as a glove bag that allows tools and materials to be handled inside of it. Only trained and authorized personnel may perform this type of work, but you may be asked to help with the clean-up. If a disposal bag is punctured, immediately seal the hole with duct or encapsulating tape and place it in another disposal bag. Never put asbestos into ordinary trash; label it with a generator label and haul it to a licensed landfill. DECONTAMINATION AREAS A decontamination area will be set up with a plastic drop cloth and a HEPA vacuum to prevent the spread of asbestos debris. Never try to brush or shake off debris. Use the HEPA vacuum to remove fibers from clothing, tools, PPE and disposal bags. To reduce the risk of taking in fibers, never eat, drink or smoke in decontamination areas. asbestos work areas Wash your hands and face thoroughly with soap and water or shower if possible immediately after handling asbestos.

4 AIR MONITORING AND MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE Air monitoring may be required to measure the airborne asbestos concentration in your workplace. You may be asked to wear an air sampling device that consists of an air pump strapped to your waist and a sampling cassette taped to the front of your shoulder. The filter in the sampling cassette collects fibers from the air while you work and is then tested to determine how much asbestos is present. You may also need to participate in a Medical Surveillance Program to determine if you are being exposed to asbestos at work.

5 PREPARE FOR THE SAFETY MEETING OR TRAINING SESSION Review each section of this Leader's Guide as well as the videotape. Here are a few suggestions for using the program: Make everyone aware of the importance the company places on health and safety and how each person must be an active member of the safety team. Introduce the videotape program. Play the videotape without interruption. Review the program content by presenting the information in the program outline. Copy the review questions included in this Leader's Guide and ask each participant to complete them. Maintain an attendance record and keep each participant's test paper as written documentation of the training performed. Here are some suggestions for preparing your videotape equipment and the room or area you use: Check the room or area for quietness, adequate ventilation and temperature, lighting and unobstructed access. Check the seating arrangement and the audiovisual equipment to ensure that all participants will be able to see and hear the videotape program. Place or secure extension cords to prevent them from becoming a tripping hazard. CONDUCTING THE PRESENTATION Begin the meeting by welcoming the participants. Introduce yourself and give each person the opportunity to become acquainted if there are new people joining the training session. Explain that the primary purpose of the program is to help the viewer recognize asbestos containing materials, how to safely work with them and how to avoid exposure to them. Introduce the videotape program. Play the videotape without interruption. Review the program content by presenting the information in the program outline. Lead discussions about dangerous situations or related incidents. Use the review questions to check how well the program participants understood the information. After watching the videotape program, the viewer will be able to identify the following: The properties of asbestos and how they can affect those exposed to them; Where to find asbestos and what to do if its fibers may potentially be released; Ways to contain and dispose of asbestos; The importance of decontamination, air monitoring and the Medical Surveillance Plan.

6 ASBESTOS AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE REVIEW QUESTIONS Name Date The following questions are provided to determine how well you understand the information presented in this program. 1. Asbestos in known for which of these qualities? a. fireproof b. lightweight c. absorbs sound d. resistant to bacteria e. all answers 2. Asbestos is times more hazardous for people who smoke. a. 10 b. 20 c. 40 d Asbestos fibers are so small they can only be seen with a microscope. a. true b. false 4. Damage to friable materials is to release asbestos fibers than non-friable ones. a. less likely b. more likely c. the likelihood is the same 5. Which of the following is not a medical condition associated with asbestos exposure? a. cancer b. enlargement of the heart c. hearing loss d. shortness of breath 6. Stripping a floor that may contain asbestos requires the surface first. a. cutting b. sanding c. sweeping d. dampening 7. A slight deterioration of asbestos-containing insulation will usually not result in a releases of fibers. a. true b. false

7 Asbestos Awareness in the Workplace ANSWERS TO THE REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. e 2. d 3. a 4. b 5. c 6. d 7. b