Asbestos Awareness

Course Description:

Asbestos is a well-known health hazard and is highly regulated. However, this was not always the case. There are numerous materials in existing buildings and structures that contain asbestos and having the ability to recognize them is important. This training session about asbestos awareness is designed for employees who may contact or work near asbestos-containing material (known as ACM), asbestos-containing building material (known as ACBM), or presumed asbestos-containing material (known as PACM), but do not disturb it as part of their normal work activities.

Why “Asbestos Awareness” Matters:

At the completion of this module, the participant will be able to:

• Identify asbestos
• Recognize health impacts
• Follow best practices to avoid exposure
• Recognize damaged ACBM
• Respond to potential exposure episodes

Key Points:

• Nonfriable or intact ACM does not discharge asbestos fibers to the atmosphere and is, therefore, not considered a health hazard.
• Use wet methods to stop any further contamination of the air.
• Do not handle or disturb asbestos-containing or presumed asbestos-containing materials.
• If you must disturb asbestos (for example, to repair a light), see your supervisor before starting work.