Originally celebrated, asbestos was widely used across various industries from construction to automotive manufacturing for many years. However, the same properties that made it so valuable have also made it a lingering danger.
In November 2023, OSHA investigators opened a complaint inspection after they observed employees not wearing protective equipment during structural demolition of a former hospital in Illinois.
Airborne fibers from asbestos cement are 50 times permissible level
November 20, 2023
A new study summarizing exposures to asbestos during the installation and removal of asbestos cement products demonstrates that these construction activities almost always exceed U.S. occupational limits.
HVAC installation, maintenance and repair are crucial tasks. They can also be dangerous, so workers in the industry must be aware of all the hazards they may face.
It is important, as part of pre-construction protocols to identify hazardous building materials before beginning a restoration or remediation project. Although there are many hazardous building materials, the most common include asbestos, lead, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), chlorofluorocarbons, and radioactive sources.
Many industries once used asbestos in a wide range of products, from insulation to fire retardants. It is now understood that exposure to this dangerous mineral can lead to fatal diseases, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Lingering asbestos persists as a threat to homeowners, construction workers, and even agricultural workers. However, in industrial settings, newly manufactured materials and products may also contain asbestos, as the U.S. limit is at one percent.
