Asbestos is a highly toxic mineral fiber, invisible to the human eye in its most dangerous form. You can expect to find asbestos containing materials in older dwellings and establishments in the form of insulation, roofing materials, floor coverings, fire retardants, ceiling tiles and textured paints. Knowing if your office space contains asbestos is beneficial to your own long-term health and well-being, especially in the event of any remodeling or construction projects. In fact, most asbestos-related illnesses are the result of on-the-job exposure.
Instructions
1. Contact the appropriate personnel. Speak with the current duty holder in charge if you want to find out if your office space had or currently has asbestos-containing materials on the property. A duty holder is any person responsible for the maintenance of a building.
2. Read the building's asbestos management plan. The duty holder in charge will provide an asbestos management plan, which is a document developed according to the United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety, and Health Administration's asbestos standards. It details the location of asbestos-containing materials, their physical condition and the steps taken to ensure the continued safety of all employees within the building.
3. Know your risk. Asbestos is a dangerous material, but it poses little risk to office employees as long as it's left undisturbed. Asbestos is not a problem unless it is in dust form, often the result of renovations that include sanding, grinding or crushing of asbestos-containing materials.
4. Keep current. The duty holder is responsible for checking asbestos-containing material on a regular basis. He or she does this by looking for any noticeable signs of wear or damage. If the duty holder suspects damage, he is obligated to contact a qualified professional to properly remove and dispose of the asbestos.
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