Would You Know Asbestos If You Saw It?

Would You Know Asbestos If You Saw It?

There is more to National Environmental Trainers' classes than Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER). Although it is a large part of what we do, we do handle other environmental training and OSHA issues. Our goal is to help your company and your employees be safe and stay safe from hazards, whether they are mechanical, chemical, biohazardous or electrical. We offer a variety of training courses.

One of the classes we conduct is based on asbestos awareness. There are many misconceptions and misunderstandings about asbestos. Years ago, asbestos was the preferred material of choice for many different types of insulation and fabrication. One reason it was so popular is because it could withstand extreme heat temperatures from pipes, boiler systems and friction. As a result, it was used in automobile brakes, ships, schools and office buildings. The danger of asbestos is that when the material is not encased, the tiny filaments break off from the product and become airborne. When inhaled, these particles become embedded and build up in the lungs, since they cannot be expelled naturally by exhaling.

For years, companies were unaware of the dangers of asbestos. It was used extensively in buildings, ships and other places. Once the dangers were discovered, asbestos products such as insulation sheets and rolls of batting were removed from most places; however, it remains in many old buildings today. It is sometimes encountered during home and apartment renovations, demolition and building construction. Oftentimes workers encounter asbestos and have no idea what they are dealing with or how hazardous it is. There are simple precautions that should be taken to avoid getting asbestos in your lungs and on your clothes.

Once the asbestos has been encountered and removed, special hazardous waste procedures must be followed. The National Environmental Trainers classes on asbestos awareness can teach you and your workers what to look for with asbestos and what to do when you find it. If your company occasionally does work in older buildings or ships, your workers could benefit from asbestos training classes. Contact us to learn more about asbestos training for your company.