Description

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber. It was used in numerous building materials and vehicle products for its strength and ability to resist heat and corrosion before its dangerous health effects were discovered. Individual asbestos fibers cannot be seen by the naked eye, which puts workers at an increased risk. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has three standards to protect workers from the hazards of asbestos depending on the type of workplace.

Asbestos fibers are released into the air during activities that disturb asbestos-containing materials. The asbestos fibers can then be inhaled without knowing and trapped in the lungs. If swallowed, they can become embedded into the digestive tract as well. Asbestos is a known human carcinogen and can cause chronic lung disease as well as lung and other cancers. Symptoms and/or cancer may take many years to develop following exposure.

This video will assist employers in providing the proper and necessary OSHA required training on asbestos. This course will take you approximately 30 minutes to complete and will cover the following topics:

• Hazards of asbestos
• OSHA’s Asbestos Standard
• Composition and nature of asbestos
• Types of materials that may contain asbestos, and where they are encountered
• How to protect yourself when disturbing a material that may contain asbestos
• Air monitoring and decontamination