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Asbestos? Is That Still an Issue?

Asbestos was, and still is, a widely used substance. Today our Safety Training Tips editor provides some tips to help your employees avoid potentially dangerous exposures.

Asbestos fibers are tough, flexible, heat- and fire-resistant, and they provide effective insulation and soundproofing. That’s why asbestos may be found in ceiling and floor tiles, insulation materials, in car brake and clutch linings, and in heat-resistant clothing. When the fibers stay bonded together, asbestos is safe.

Make your employees aware of asbestos and its potential dangers. Asbestos is dangerous when it becomes friable, which means that it crumbles and releases airborne fibers that can be inhaled or ingested. When that happens, asbestos is a serious health hazard, causing deadly illnesses that may take years to develop. These include:


  • Asbestosis—an untreatable lung disease causing shortness of breath. It may lead to death from cardiac or respiratory failure.
  • Mesothelioma—a cancer of the chest lining, which is always fatal.

Because asbestos affects the lungs, it is especially dangerous to smokers.


You need safety policies, but you don’t have to write them. We’ve already written them for you in BLR’s Essential Safety Policies program. Examine it at no cost or risk.


OSHA has set strict permissible exposure limits (PELs) for asbestos. Respirators are required for workers exposed to more than 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter (0.1f/cc) of air averaged over an 8-hour workday and 1f/cc of air averaged over a 30-minute work period. In addition to supplying respirators and protective clothing, employers must have a complete respiratory protection program, including employee training and annual retraining, employee medical evaluation, and fit testing.

Train your employees to take the following precautions to avoid dangerous exposures to asbestos:


  • Always check for asbestos warning labels and signs and take the necessary precautions.
  • If you’re not sure if something contains asbestos, ASK!
  • Never cut, hammer, or otherwise damage asbestos-containing materials.
  • Use ventilation systems, enclosures, wet processes, and other protections to prevent release of asbestos fibers.
  • Wear respirators and other required personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Never wear your contaminated clothing outside the work area.
  • Make sure you don’t contaminate clean areas or street clothing with asbestos.
  • Be careful with any dust or waste that could contain asbestos.
  • Wet asbestos-containing materials when possible and use a HEPA vacuum to clean up waste.
  • Dispose of asbestos-contaminated clothing and waste in properly labeled and sealed containers.
  • Don’t smoke if you work around asbestos—better yet, don’t smoke at all!
  • Cooperate with air-monitoring and medical surveillance programs. They’re designed to protect you.

Get the safety policies you need without the work. They’re in BLR’s Essential Safety Policies program. Try it at no cost and no risk.


Yes, asbestos is still around, but you can keep your employees safe from its hazards by training and equipping them to work with or around it without dangerous exposure.


Why It Matters …

  • Around 1.3 million people in general industry and construction jobs are at risk of dangerous exposure to asbestos on the job.
  • Because of its recognized dangers, asbestos is a highly regulated substance.
  • OSHA and EPA regulate exposure to and protection from asbestos.

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2 thoughts on “Asbestos? Is That Still an Issue?”

  1. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost one-fifth of people who have high blood pressure don’t know they have it. And, because doctor visits for high blood pressure-related maladies top 44 million a year, our Safety Training

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