Page 257 - IGC BOOK

Sprayed coatings, lagging and insulating board are more likely to contain blue or brown
asbestos. In general, materials that contain a high percentage of asbestos are more easily
damaged.

Asbestos insulation and lagging can contain up to 85% asbestos and are most likely to give off
fibres. Work with AIB can result in equally high fibre release if power tools are used.

Asbestos cement is of lower risk, since it contains only 10-15% asbestos, which is tightly bound
into the cement, so the material will only give off fibres if it is badly damaged or broken, or is
worked on, for example, if it is drilled, abraded or cut.

What are components of an asbestos control program?

A control program is necessary when handling or using asbestos-containing material. The goal is to
prevent or minimize the release of airborne asbestos fibres. The employer must make sure that the
control plan is developed and implemented according to the requirements for their local
government regulations.

In general, the control plan should address:

• Containment of asbestos operations.
• Controlling of the release of asbestos fibres.
• The engineering controls, work practices, hygiene practices, and facilities necessary to control the
exposure of a worker to asbestos.
• Providing workers with task-specific work instructions that address both the hazards and the
necessary controls.
• Providing, using and maintaining appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing.
• The methods and procedures needed to monitor the concentration of airborne asbestos and the
exposure of a worker.
• The methods needed to decontaminate workers clothes, etc.
• The removal and clean-up of asbestos waste and related material.

https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/asbestos/control.html

Blood-Borne Viruses

There are many viruses that can be transferred from one person to another by transfer of
blood and other body fluids. Perhaps the best known of these blood-borne viruses (BBVs) are
hepatitis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV - the causative agent of Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)). Hepatitis presents the greatest risk in the workplace; there are
several forms of hepatitis (A, B, C, etc.) caused by different strains of the virus. The route of
infection depends on the virus type:

ENSIGN| Unit IG2 – Element 7 – Chemical and Biological 52
Agents