Most on-the-job hazards are obvious -- leaking machinery, dangerous chemicals, slippery floors. However, there are other hazards -- silent killers -- with practically no visible signals that they are present at all. One such hazard is asbestos. While you often can't see, taste or smell it, prolonged periods of exposure to asbestos can cause lung disease, cancer, and even death. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is convinced that many of the problems associated with asbestos exposure in the past have been due to lack of employees' knowledge about the proper methods needed to handle asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). This is why the Standard requires that workers who don't work directly with asbestos, but who may have 'incidental exposure,' receive at least 'asbestos awareness' training. The agency published a ruling for the asbestos standard in August 1994 and made several revisions in June 1995. This regulation, 29 CFR 1910.1101, 'Occupational Exposure to Asbestos' requires that all employees who come in contact with materials that might contain asbestos be given appropriate training on working safely in these situations. Employees who work in 'maintenance and custodial activities' or who clean up waste and debris containing these types of materials, make up the largest group of workers who must have this training.Most on-the-job hazards are obvious -- leaking machinery, dangerous chemicals, slippery floors. However, there are other hazards -- silent killers -- with practically no visible signals that they are present at all. One such hazard is asbestos. While you often can't see, taste or smell it, prolonged periods of exposure to asbestos can cause lung disease, cancer, and even death. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is convinced that many of the problems associated with asbestos exposure in the past have been due to lack of employees' knowledge about the proper methods needed to handle asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). This is why the Standard requires that workers who don't work directly with asbestos, but who may have 'incidental exposure,' receive at least 'asbestos awareness' training. The agency published a ruling for the asbestos standard in August 1994 and made several revisions in June 1995. This regulation, 29 CFR 1910.1101, 'Occupational Exposure to Asbestos' requires that all employees who come in contact with materials that might contain asbestos be given appropriate training on working safely in these situations. Employees who work in 'maintenance and custodial activities' or who clean up waste and debris containing these types of materials, make up the largest group of workers who must have this training.
So, why has asbestos been used so widely if it is so hazardous? It is only in recent years that the true dangers of asbestos have been recognized. For example, a disease, 'asbestosis,' is the result of damage to the delicate tissues inside the lungs. Asbestosis can cause shortness of breath, enlargement of the heart, and sometimes, death.