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852 Asbestos Safety
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Safe Work Practices

The use of safe work practices is necessary to make sure employees are not exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. Below is a list of safe work practices:

  • Use wet methods to handle, mix, apply, remove, cut or score asbestos containing material.
  • Never remove materials containing asbestos from bags, cartons, or other containers in which they are shipped, without being either wetted, or enclosed, or ventilated.
Worker using wet meethod to reduce dust exposure
Worker using a wet method to reduce exposure to dust.
  • Never use compressed air to remove asbestos or materials containing asbestos, unless you are using the compressed air in conjunction with a ventilation system, which effectively captures the dust cloud created by the compressed air.
  • Never sand asbestos-containing material.
  • Properly remove contaminated clothing and shower only in approved change rooms.
  • Store contaminated clothing only in closed, impermeable and properly labeled bags or containers to prevent dispersion of asbestos.
  • Clean contaminated clothing in a manner that prevents exposure to asbestos to employees and others.
  • Never smoke in areas where it is possible to be exposed to airborne asbestos.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

3-6. Using wet methods to handle, mix, apply, remove, cut or score asbestos-containing-material is an example of _____.