Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is very resistant to corrosion and heat. It has actually been used in products like floor tiles, insulation for pipes, vehicle clutches and brakes, and in various building materials. It will include the mineral fibers crocidolite, tremolite, amosite, chrysotile, actinolite, and other materials that have been chemically altered or treated. Heavy exposure usually happens in the construction industry and in ship repair, most especially during the removal of asbestos materials because of repairs, demolition, and renovation. Most of the time, workers are the ones being exposed during auto brake and clutch repair work and during the manufacturing process of asbestos products like insulation, friction products and textiles.
The Hazards Of Asbestos
This substance has been recognized as a health hazard. Also, its use these days is highly regulated by authorities. The fibers that are associated with various health risks are very small - in fact, it cannot be seen by the naked eye. You must know that if your breath its fibers, it might cause a build-up of scar-like tissues in the lungs - this is called asbestosis. This condition will result in loss of lung function which can progress to disability and death. Apart from that, this substance will likewise cause other diseases like mesothelioma of the pleura, a fatal malignant tumor of the lung or stomach membrane linings. There are already a lot of pieces of evidence that have increasingly shown that all asbestos fiber types can cause mesothelioma in humans.
How To Reduce The Hazards Of Asbestos
There are safety standards imposed by authorities in order to reduce the effects of asbestos to human health. These standards can reduce the risk to workers by requiring them to provide personal exposure monitoring in order to assess the risk as well as hazard awareness training for operations where there's any possible exposure to asbestos. It is a must that airborne levels of asbestos should not exceed legal worker exposure limits. For any type of asbestos fiber, there is no "safe" level.
Every occupational exposure to asbestos can actually cause injury of disease. Furthermore, every occupational exposure will contribute to the risk of acquiring an asbestos-related illness. Employers are required to protect workers by establishing regulated areas. Moreover, they are required to ensure that exposure is reduced by implementing administrative controls as well as providing various personal protective equipment for the workers. In fact, medical monitoring is likewise a must when legal exposure times and limits are exceeded.
Source by Reeze Martin
