Document 6bmVwmLKqdbBx80rLJXEmbbyE

FILE NAME: Quebec Asbestos Mining Association (QAMA) DATE: 0000 DOC#: QAMA143 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Johns-Manville Brochure - What You Should Know About Asbestos And Health IOEH 1251 90 What You 80 Should Know About Asbestos And Health INSTITUTE OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MONTREAL, CANADA Frankly Speaking You certainly are important to your family and loved ones, and you are important to the company. It makes good sense for the company to do everything possible to protect you in your working environment, and for you to take every precaution to avoid possible hazards to your health. If your work involves the use of asbestos or asbestos^ containing products, you should be aware of: 0 What the health hazards can be. @ What obligations your employer has to protect you. What you can do as an individual to protect your own health and that of your fellow employees. These are the Facts Exposure to asbestos fiber can increase the risk of developing certain diseases over a period of years. The four diseases associated with inhalation of asbestos fiber are: asbestosis -- a non-malignant scarring lung condition; cancerof the lung, and to a lesser degree, cancer of the digestive tract; and mesothelioma -- a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavities. Reduction of asbestos dust exposure is at present the only known method of preventing disease among asbestos industry workers. Experience has shown that when dust levels are low, the risk to the worker and the incidence of asbestos-related disease is low. Now . . . About Smoking It has been established that cigarette smoking greatly increases the risk of developing lung cancer in persons exposed to asbestos. On the other hand, asbestos industry workers who do not smoke cigarettes -- and who never have smoked regularly -- have shown no greater frequency of lung cancer than the average person who does not smoke. If You Work in a Plant or Mine Employees in asbestos mines, mills, or product manufacturing plants will be exposed to airborne asbestos fiber. But, when dust levels in mines, mills, and factories are properly controlled, the asbestos content of the air will be low and within safe levels, and will not be a hazard to workers. If You Work in Field Operations Most finished asbestos-containing products, when correctly used, will not produce dust levels high enough to be a hazard to workers. In more than 90% of the asbestos-containing products made in the United States, the asbestos fibers are " locked in" the product by means of cement, plastic or other binders. Consequently, the fibers are not easily released into the air, except during sawing or certain other machining operations. The tear-out, removal or demolition of old asbestos-containing insulations also can release fibers. Such operations must be carried out with approved methods of dust suppression and control. I. W 'i - * > '^ 1^ - " y k ! Regulations to Protect You To insure thesafety of all, occupational standards for exposure to asbestos dust have been established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor. These standards are designed to protect you from exposure to potentially hazardous amounts of asbestos dust and are being carefully observed by the company. Here is what these standards provide: 1 A SAFE WORKPLACE Your employer is required to make sure that no employee is exposed to more asbestos dust than permitted by the government standard. Your company will exert every effort to keep levels not only below permissible limits, but as low as possible. 2 IN CASE OF RISK If exposure limits are exceeded, the employee will be notified by his employer, and will be informed of the corrective measures being undertaken to reduce his exposure to permitted levels. Q CORRECTIVE ACTION ^ Engineering controls and safe work practices will be the approved methods of correction. 4 IN THE MEANTIME While corrective measures are being taken, the employee will be protected by other means, which may include the wearing of an approved respirator provided by his employer, or by shift rotation. f> TEMPORARY MEASURES The use of respirators or shift rotation to achieve proper dust control will be permitted only (a) during the time necessary to install engineering controls or to institute safe work practices, (b) in situations where such controls or practices are not technically feasible, or (c) in emergencies. 0 AND ONLY IF YOU PASS THE MEDICAL No employee will be assigned to a task requiring the use of a respirator if his most recent yearly medical examination indicates that he would not be able to function properly while wearing one, or if the wearing of the respirator would create a hazard to the employee's health or safety. 7 SPECIAL PROTECTION WHEN NEEDED * Protective clothing, change rooms, and separate clothes lockers will be provided for employees in situations where exposure standards are exceeded. 8 CHECKING THE AIR Monitoring of workplace air will be conducted by the employer to assure that government standards are being met. Employees may review results of the monitoring in their particular job areas. 8 SIGNS TO GUIDE YOU Warning signs will be posted in work areas where asbestos is used, where respiratory equipment is required, and where special precautions in handling or fabricating material must be taken. Employees should obey these signs at all times. 1 o WARNINGS ON PRODUCTS, TOO Caution labels will be placed on asbestos-containing products which may release free asbestos fiber into the air during handling, application, machining, or disposal. 1 1 ANNUAL CHECK-UPS The employer, at no cost to the employee, will provide yearly medical examinations for employees exposed to asbestos dust. Pre-employment and termination medical exams also are provided. 1 2 COUNSELING AND RESULTS AVAILABLE Results of each employee's medical examination will be reviewed with him by a physician, and, at the worker's request, his own medical exam records will be made available to his family physician. And, Most Important. . . Another word about smoking. First, an assurance. If you don't smoke cigarettes now and never have smoked them regularly, statistical studies show you have no greater chance of getting lung cancer than a nonsmoker who has never worked with asbestos. But, on the advice of medical specialists: If you work with asbestos and you do smoke cigarettes, quit smoking! If you work with asbestos and do not smoke, don't start! Your family and the company need you and your special abilities. Guard your health in every way, but particularly where cigarette smoking is concerned. After You Leave Work You also should take precautions to prevent taking asbestos home on any work clothes or other materials in order to protect members of your family from possible exposure to asbestos dust. To reduce the carrying of asbestos fibers home on your person and clothing, facilities for showering and changing from work to regular clothes will be provided by your employer. If work clothes are taken home, they should be handled carefully and washed separately from other family clothing. Never take loose fiber home. Your family should not be needlessly exposed to asbestos dust through any carelessness on your part. What Else Can You Do? Industrial safety and health can never be the responsibility of only one person. Both you and your employer must work together to provide a safe and healthy environment. For safety in specialized areas, detailed work practices must be instituted to make sure we are complying with government regulations. As an employee, it is your duty to follow these work practices at all times. Never take shortcuts that may endanger your health and that of others. rs If you seea possible hazard thatyourem ployer may have overlooked, bring it to his attention. P! If you can suggest more efficient and safer work practices, do so. If you are not sure how to handle a material or perform an operation without creating dust, talk with your supervisor first. 4- REMEMBER Asbestos fiber may be hazardous to your health, and exposure to it, over a period of time, may increase your risk of developing asbestosis, cancer of the lung or digestive tract, or mesothelioma. Every precaution should be taken by you and your employer, to keep dust levels low and to avoid unnecessary exposure. B The asbestos industry is working hard to control dust exposure and to alert every worker to proper safety precautions. Government and company regulations designed to protect you and other workers against exposure to asbestos dust should be strictly followed by everyone. The vast majority of the thousands of finished asbestos products are not hazardous when properly handled or used, but workers who are engaged in their manufacture, fabrication or installation should be aware of possible dangers. Don't be careless -- urge your fellow workers not to be. | Asbestos is us<ijfn some 3,000 products daily throughout the world . . . products that help prevent and control fire in our homes,ischools, factories, offices, hospitals and theaters . . . product&that help stop bur cars and ,