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Asbestos Exposure among Mitering Workers
Wantanee Phanprasit1, Dusit Sujirarat, Pirutchada Musigapong
1Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Safety and Health at Work
|September 29, 2012
Summary
Mitering asbestos cement roof sheets with a high-speed motor generates significantly higher airborne asbestos concentrations than using a hand saw. Nearby workers face exposure risks exceeding occupational limits.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health and safety
- Environmental science
- Industrial hygiene
Background:
- Asbestos cement roof sheets pose inhalation risks during renovation.
- Evaluating airborne fiber release is crucial for worker protection.
Observation:
- Airborne asbestos concentrations were measured during mitering with a high-speed motor and a hand saw.
- Personal and area air samples were collected and analyzed using NIOSH Method 7400 and phase contrast microscopy.
- Four test cases were conducted with 7 personal and 4 area air samples.
Findings:
- High-speed motor sawing resulted in median airborne asbestos concentrations over twice that of hand sawing (4.11 fibers/cc vs. 0.13 fibers/cc).
- Area samples indicated potential exposure risks for nearby workers, with a median concentration of 0.59 fibers/cc.
- Fiber concentrations from the high-speed motor ranged from 1.33-12.41 fibers/cc, while the hand saw ranged from 0.01-5.00 fibers/cc.
Implications:
- High-speed cutting tools significantly increase asbestos fiber release, necessitating stringent control measures.
- Workers near asbestos abatement sites may be exposed to hazardous fiber levels.
- Recommendations for safer work practices and personal protective equipment are warranted to mitigate exposure risks.
