Asbestos Training: Society's Answer To Health Questions

by Kirsten Hawkins

The Need for Asbestos Training

Asbestos-training programs have become the norm of the day for all members of an awakened society because of the health hazards of asbestos. Asbestos is the name of many naturally occurring fibrous minerals, namely actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite, and tremolite. The flexible, strong, and heat-resistant fibers of asbestos minerals are used in a wide range of industries, such as roofing shingles, ceiling, floor tiles, paper, cement, heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets and coatings, automobile brakes, clutches, and transmission parts.

Asbestos: Every Day Jobs That Put You At Risk

Donald Lawson

People are affected by asbestos when they breathe the micro fibers. These fibers can have long term affects to your health. There have been many cases of people coming down with Mesothelioma 20 and 30 years after being exposed to asbestos.

Asbestos is not a thing of the past. It's still used in many manufacturing processes and well as in building components. The following is a list of the top occupations that are putting people at risk. If you work in one of these occupations, or have in the past, it's wise to get regular screenings.

*Any job that includes the manufacturing of asbestos, for example insulation, plumbing supplies, roofing components or other building materials.

*Mechanics are at risk due to asbestos in the brake and clutch linings.

*Tile contractors are at risk due to the dust from cutting some types of tile.

*Oil refinery workers, rail yard and power plant workers can be at risk from various sources.

*Shipyard and/or ship builders are at risk due to the asbestos in pipe insulation and other sources.

*Steel mill workers can come into contact with Asbestos from a variety of insulation and clothing. Asbestos is a great insulator and is used widely in jobs that require a person to be around high temperatures.

*Navy veterans can also be at risk as can Maritime workers.

*Construction workers can be at risk, especially those who do demolition of older buildings.

Who else should be concerned?

Brick layers, plumbers, sand blasters, sheet metal workers, millwrights, welders, painters, Longshoremen, merchant marines, grinders, electricians, drywall contractors, miners, drillers, building inspectors and maintenance personnel are a few more people who are at risk.

Remember, it doesn't take a lot of exposure to affect your life years down the road.

You may also be putting your family at risk. There have been cases where workers family members came down with Mesothelioma even though they were nowhere near the job sites. Evidence suggests that the family members were affected by the Asbestos fibers that came in on the workers clothing, hair and/or shoes.

Get routine screenings if you're in one of these high-risk professions and take every precaution (such as respirators and special clothing) to protect yourself and your family.

This article is not intended to be medical advice. It's for informational purposes only and you should see a qualified medical doctor should you have concerns about your health.

About the author:

Donald Lawson is a Houston based webmaster and researches and writes articles about current issues facing the public. You can find out more about Asbestos and Cancer by visiting Mesothelioma- Information-Help.com

Asbestos testing is a necessity because Long-term exposure to asbestos, results in asbestosis and mesothelioma cancers. Asbestosis is a disease wherein scar-like tissues develop in the pleural membrane surrounding the lungs. The main victims of asbestosis are the laborers exposed to asbestos. Common symptoms of asbestosis are cough, difficulty in breathing, and heart enlargement. Even low-level exposure to asbestos results in the thickening of pleural membranes, leading to difficulty in breathing. Proper asbestos training for the employees might help to sidetrack the health hazards of asbestos.

Asbestos Training and Information for Employees

According to asbestos legislations, the employer has to arrange annual asbestos-training programs for the employees exposed to high levels of airborne concentrations of asbestos. Asbestos training is necessary before inducting an employee in the asbestos manufacturing process. It is important that the training should be conducted in an employee-friendly manner. The objective of the training program is to warn the employees about health hazards associated with asbestos exposure. The components include necessary information about the permitted levels of exposure, manner of use, release, location and storage of asbestos, and the specific nature of operations leading to asbestos exposure.

An effective asbestos-training program has to provide information about work practices, engineering controls, protection procedures, emergency plans, clean-up methods and personal protective equipment. The purpose, proper use and limitations of respirators and protective clothing are an important component of employee asbestos training programs. The training program has to provide knowledge about the evil effects of asbestos on health, standard housekeeping requirements, and responding to episodes of fiber release. The employer has to provide the copies of asbestos-training guidelines free of cost to all the employees at risk of asbestos exposure.
About the Author

Kirsten Hawkins is a asbestos and mesothelioma specialist from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.asbestosblog.org/ for information on asbestos reform, mesothelioma lawsuit news, and more.

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