Asbestos particles can be found in older types of building materials, roofing materials, in shipyards and more. Asbestos is a group of fibrous minerals that are in the environment. These fibers have no discernible taste nor do they have any distinct odor. One of the unique factors of asbestos is that it is resistant to heat or fire or any type of chemical degradation. It does not dissolve in soil either. For this reason, asbestos had been used extensively in building materials and materials that needed to be heat and friction resistant.

Asbestos, however, can be very harmful as once the fibers are inhaled, they become trapped in the lungs. This has been known to cause very serious health issues in people who worked around the substance. One extremely serious form of cancer is called mesothelioma and it affects people who worked around asbestos at some point in their lives. Even though the EPA has banned new uses of asbestos, the old ones may still exist. Therefore, it may be paramount to your health to learn how to reduce the risk of exposure to asbestos.

One important component of reducing your risk of exposure to asbestos is to learn as much about this hazardous material as possible. For example, if you work around asbestos, you may be surprised to know that there are two types: amphibole and chrysotile. It has been suggested that amphibole fibers stay in a person’s lungs longer than the other which mean indicate that amphibole is more toxic to the body than chrysotile. OSHA and the EPA recognize six asbestos minerals - one of the chrysotile and five of the amphibole. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs61.html

Even though people are exposed to low levels of asbestos every day, this substance becomes harmful when the levels of exposure are concentrated. The problem with asbestos fibers is that they do not break down in the air or in water. They do not even break down in soil. When they are inhaled in concentrated areas, they stay in the lungs.

It is important to learn where asbestos may be found. It may sometimes be found in soil that was formed by deposits from asbestos rocks. If insulation is disturbed in repair work or construction work, particles can get into the air and be breathed into the lungs. Information is readily available on the web or from OSHA or the EPA so you can learn more.

If you are required to work around asbestos in your job, make sure you discuss the risks with your supervisor and other employees. Since some extremely serious asbestos related diseases like mesothelioma may not surface for many years, you may be under the false impression that you are not being harmed. Make sure your company provides personal protective equipment to wear when you are working around asbestos. If they have not, talk with them to make sure they are aware of the OSHA guidelines regarding this hazardous material.

If you are concerned about your exposure to asbestos, talk with other workers to see if they have the same concerns as you. If you have a health or safety representative or human resources representative, discuss the situation with them as well. If your concerns are not being addressed, you may want to consider contacting your OSHA office. They can set up an inspection or send a representative out to your organization to provide information and answer questions. You can call the main OSHA office at 1-800-321-0SHA or you can find their contact information on the web at www.OSHA.gov. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/asbestos

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has designated classifications to levels of asbestos of which workers should be aware. These classifications have been put into place to reduce the risks that workers have experienced when working around this material. Class I is the most hazardous form of asbestos. Workers who remove certain types of thermal systems insulation may be exposed to asbestos. Class II is for workers who do not remove thermal systems insulation but who remove certain types of flooring and roofing materials. Class III includes certain jobs that will require the disturbance of asbestos such as repair or maintenance work. And finally Class IV is for workers who clean up waste and debris that contains asbestos material.

OSHA also states permissible exposure limits for asbestos workers. This states the amounts of time that workers should not exceed when working with this material. Exposure monitoring must be conducted as well as regulated areas need to be created to protect employees. http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_AsbestosFacts/asbestos-factsheet.pdf Warning signs must be posted to ensure others know that this is a designated area. Workers should not eat or drink anything in these areas as well. Make sure your company adheres to the standards in order to protect you from asbestos exposure.