Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that was
widely used from the 1930's until the 1980's in various products
such as building materials, insulation, friction products, packing
and sealing materials, refractories, and others. Its use was curtailed
in the 1970's and 1980's but it still finds its way into some
products.
As a result of decades of manufacture, sale, installation and
use of various asbestos products, many occupations are at risk
of encountering "friable" asbestos products where the
products are capable of emitting asbestos dust or fiber into the
air that workers and bystanders are breathing. Often, asbestos
products are friable (released into the air) when they are being
installed, cut, mixed, sprayed, handled, repaired, torn out, or
otherwise disturbed in construction, maintenance, and repair.
However, some asbestos products can be in such poor or deteriorated
condition that drafts or minor vibrations are enough to put toxic
levels of asbestos into the air. On the other hand, certain asbestos
products that are in place, intact, and not being disturbed may
not pose an immediate hazard.
Because of these characteristics of asbestos and asbestos products,
asbestos exposure and asbestos disease is found in many occupational
settings.
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