Asbestos is now strictly regulated as exposure to this toxic material has been proven to be a serious health risk and is classified as a known human carcinogen.
Asbestos fibres are microscopic in size and are therefore easily inhaled. Once inhaled, the fibres cling to the respiratory system. The fibres then become lodged in the soft internal tissue of the respiratory system and are not easily expelled or broken-down by the body – there is no safe type of asbestos and no safe level of exposure.
There are three major lung conditions traced directly to asbestos exposure. These are lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Symptoms include coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
What does the Law say about Asbestos?
The Asbestos Regulations to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993) regulate the duties of employers whose employees may be exposed to asbestos dust in a workplace.
Firstly, the employer must not carry out any asbestos work unless he has notified the Provincial Director of the Department of Labour in writing of such work prior to its commencement.
No employer may allow any employee to work in an environment in which he or she will be exposed to asbestos in excess of the prescribed occupational exposure limit.
Further, no employer may allow any employee to work in an environment in which he or she will be exposed to asbestos in excess of the prescribed occupational exposure limit. The occupational exposure limit for asbestos is currently 0.2 regulated asbestos fibres per milliliter of air averaged over any continuous period of four hours, measured in accordance with the MDHS 39/4 (Method for the Determination of Hazardous Substances no. 39/4).
If the employer has complied with the criteria set out above, and employees are exposed to asbestos, the following duties on the part of the employer will need to be fulfilled, inter alia:
The Asbestos Regulations to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993) regulate the duties of employers whose employees may be exposed to asbestos dust in a workplace.
Firstly, the employer must not carry out any asbestos work unless he has notified the Provincial Director of the Department of Labour in writing of such work prior to its commencement.
No employer may allow any employee to work in an environment in which he or she will be exposed to asbestos in excess of the prescribed occupational exposure limit.
Further, no employer may allow any employee to work in an environment in which he or she will be exposed to asbestos in excess of the prescribed occupational exposure limit. The occupational exposure limit for asbestos is currently 0.2 regulated asbestos fibres per milliliter of air averaged over any continuous period of four hours, measured in accordance with the MDHS 39/4 (Method for the Determination of Hazardous Substances no. 39/4).
If the employer has complied with the criteria set out above, and employees are exposed to asbestos, the following duties on the part of the employer will need to be fulfilled, inter alia:
- Information and training: Before the employee is exposed to the asbestos dust he must be adequately trained on all practical and theoretical aspects which are of importance, including the potential health risks, safe working procedures and safe disposal methods.
- Air Monitoring: Where exposure is in excess of half of the occupational exposure limit for asbestos, air monitoring must take place at least once a year.
- Medical Surveillance: Employees who will be exposed to asbestos must undergo medical surveillance by an Occupational Health Practitioner, within 14 days of after a person commences with employment, and then at least every two years thereafter.
- Respirator Zones: Employees who work in areas where they could be exposed to asbestos above the occupational exposure limit, must wear respirators at all times, and such area must be declared a respirator zone.
- Cleanliness of the workplace: Every employer must ensure that workplaces are maintained in a clean state and are free of asbestos waste.
- PPE: All PPE issued to employees who may be exposed to asbestos, must never leave the area in which it is used, and should be stored on site. The reason for this is that contaminated PPE (such as overalls etc) could cause innocent people to be exposed to asbestos dust, should the employee take the PPE off site. Further, any PPE contaminated with asbestos dust which must be disposed of, should be treated as hazardous waste.
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