SAFETY TIPS ON THE USE OF ASBESTOS MATERIALS

WHAT ARE ASBESTOS MATERIALS?

Asbestos refers to a group of fibrous minerals used to strengthen and fireproof materials. When inhaled over long periods of time, asbestos fibers become trapped in the body and cause diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.

WHERE CAN I FIND ASBESTOS MATERIALS?

Asbestos has also been used in a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets and coatings, hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape.

WHY IS ASBESTOS DANGEROUS?

Asbestos is dangerous because exposure to it is proven to cause cancer and pulmonary diseases. When asbestos products become damaged, they release microscopically thin fibers that become airborne and are easily inhaled. Long-term exposure puts people at risk of developing mesothelioma, lung, laryngeal and ovarian cancer. Some people develop an incurable pulmonary disease known as asbestosis, which involves progressive scarring of lung tissue. These conditions usually develop decades after exposure first began.

SAFE USE OF ASBESTOS MATERIAL

Anyone in charge of a job should:

  • find out if asbestos-containing materials are present and plan the work to avoid disturbing these materials if possible
  • ensure that anyone who is going to work on asbestos material has had appropriate information, instruction and training and is supervised
  • know what work can be carried out on asbestos-containing materials, i.e does this work need to be carried out by a licensed contractor
  • take account of other risks as well as asbestos, eg work at height, and take the precautions necessary to do the job safely
  • use the equipment and method sheets and the right task sheet to make sure that the job is carried out properly and that exposure to asbestos is kept as low as possible (use your protective equipment, including a suitable face mask, worn properly)
  • prepare a plan of work, explaining what the job involves, the work procedures, and what controls to use
  • provide you with the right equipment, which is clean, in good working order, and protects you against asbestos
  • train you in using this equipment
  • make sure the work area is inspected visually at the end of the job, to check it’s fit for reoccupation
  • make arrangements for the safe disposal of any asbestos waste
  • consult the health and safety representative (if there is one)

At RCL Safety Centre this training is also available in different Nigerian languages like PIDGIN,YORUBA,HAUSA AND IGBO

Our company (RCL Safety Centre) is an indigenous company dedicated to Health, Safety and Environment Training and Services.

We are technical partners of the National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria (NISCN) as well as approved training partners of most major International Occupational Safety and Health organizations like NEBOSH, and corporate members of ISPON (Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria) with thousands of personnel trained in various areas till date.

For more information visit our website: www.safetycentre.ng

Email: sale@safetycentre.ng or mma@safetycentre.ng

Contact us on: 08099700070, 09057666623 or 08164363532

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