Page 105 - Occupational Health & Safety, July/August 2019

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Occupational Health Risks: Asbestos
It is important to make sure workers are made aware of any presumed asbestos-containing materials found in buildings if they were built and installed before the 1980s. BY EMILY LIPTAK
www.ohsonline.com
JULY/AUGUST 2019 | Occupational Health & Safety 99
The importance of occupational safety can often be overlooked when so many other as- pects of a job need to take priority. Unfortu- nately, those completing the work can be at risk of exposure to dangers on a job site that could cause severe injuries and illnesses. Among the list of dangers found while working, asbestos is arguably the most notorious workplace hazard in history. Asbes- tos handling requires proper knowledge and extreme caution. More than 125 million people are exposed to asbestos each year, and a large number of those inci- dents occur on the job.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a natural mineral that is utilized in a number of building materials due to its favorable properties. Asbestos is categorized into five different groups, including amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, tremolite, and the most commonly used form known as chrysotile.1 This mineral is resistant to heat and chemicals and is extremely durable, which makes it a popular tool to use within building materials such as:
■ Insulation
■ Roofing
■ Flooring
■ Tiles
■ Plumbing
■ Ductwork
■ Cement
Asbestos has been banned in more than 60 coun- tries worldwide but continues to be utilized in the United States, with the importation more than dou- bling in 2018.2 Although asbestos hasn’t been used in the United States for home construction since the 1970s, it is currently used in commercial construc- tion, and vast historic use makes this a high risk in the demolition or remodeling of an older building or home.
Asbestos exposure has the potential to occur vir- tually anywhere as it was once a component used in more than 3,000 products until 1988, when a law was passed requiring manufacturers to report asbes- tos production or use to EPA. Since then, the use of asbestos in everyday products has gone down, but it continues to be used in other areas of work.
Those with the highest risk of asbestos exposure while on the job include:
■ Construction workers ■ Shipyard workers
■ Industrial workers
■ Manufacturing
■ Mechanics
Potential Threats
Occupational safety should always be of top impor- tance, but when workers face the risk of asbestos con- tact it is vital that the protection of these employees is a top priority. There are a number of health implica- tions that can arise if someone has been exposed to asbestos fibers. Although asbestos is not dangerous when sitting dormant, if fibers are released by some- thing as simple as an accidental hole in the wall, those in its presence are put at risk.
Asbestosis is a lung disease that can occur due to asbestos exposure. This exposure can cause scarring of the lungs3 and many associated symptoms, such as shortness of breath, weight loss, loss of appetite, chest pain, and a dry and continuous cough. Asbesto- sis occurs after prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers and will happen over a long period of time. This is a chronic disease; although it cannot be cured, it can be treated to continue an acceptable quality of life.
Although asbestosis occurs after frequent exposure, mesothelioma can occur after being exposed just once. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that can be found within the lining of the heart, lungs, and stomach. Exposure to the most commonly used type of asbestos, chryso- tile, a known carcinogen, is the cause for this form of
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