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FM Safety Program: Asbestos Asbestos is a generic name given to six naturally occurring minerals that have been used in thousands of commercial products. They include chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Primarily used as a fire retardant, asbestos became popular due to its strength, flexibility and resistance to heat, electricity and chemical damage. Many products use asbestos minerals, including insulation, fireproofing materials, automotive brakes, textile products and wallboard materials. While these products do not always contain asbestos, at the peak of its demand about 3,000 types of products were listed as containing it. Although most manufacturers have stopped using asbestos, some building materials produced today may still contain it, like drywall, plaster, mortar, grout, insulation, ceiling/floor tiles and roofing products. University policy dictates that no asbestos containing materials can be installed in new construction. Contractors and engineers must comply with these standards in order to work on University construction projects. Dangers of asbestos exposure to workers Workers inhaling asbestos fibers can suffer serious lung and organ diseases that may not appear until years after the exposure has occurred. You are most likely to be exposed to asbestos by breathing in airborne asbestos fibers. These fibers can come from naturally occurring sources or from the disturbance of manufactured products. Asbestos is only dangerous if it is inhaled or ingested. Keeping asbestos containing materials in good repair reduces the possible airborne asbestos fibers which reduces the risk of exposure. Reporting asbestos-related concerns During an asbestos building survey, inspectors assess the condition of asbestos-containing materials. These conditions do deteriorate over time. If you find that an asbestos-containing item at the University of Minnesota has been damaged, please contact the Facilities Management’s Hazardous Materials Program for a hazard assessment. More information, including Asbestos Building Surveys and Contact Information, can be found on the Hazardous Materials Program website at: http://www.facm.umn.edu/hazmat/index.html. Sources: |
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