Effect of Asbestos on Humans in Occupational Health and Safety Workplace

Effect of Asbestos on Humans in Occupational Health and Safety Workplace

Introduction

Asbestos is a generic term for the minerals: chrysolite (white asbestos), actinolite, amosite (brown asbestos), anthophyllite, crocidolite (blue asbestos) and tremolite. Health risks occur primarily through inhalation of asbestos fibres dispersed in air.

Progressive regulations have prohibited the importation, supply and use of asbestos, but thousands of tonnes were used in buildings in the past. Common uses included sprayed asbestos for fire control; lagging for thermal insulation and asbestos-cement products such as corrugated sheets and rainwater gutters. Regulations laying down practices for all work with asbestos have been in place for many years, but the continued existence of the materials, especially in building stock, will present technical difficulties long into the future. The paper will discuss and shed light on the effect of Asbestos on humans in occupational health and safety workplace Canada.

Discussion

Overview

Asbestos characterizes different natural silicates, which form fibrous and flexible crystals. The term is derived from the ancient Greek adjective for durable, which refers to its specific thermal, mechanical, and chemical stability. These properties made asbestos especially attractive for the production of heat-resistant materials and inert components for construction, industry, and households. Since the last decades of the 20th century, the use of asbestos became increasingly criticized and banned because of health risks associated with exposure to asbestos, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other cancers. Corresponding pathogenic effects are likely after long-term exposure to its respirable tiny fibers during mining, processing, weathering, and demolition of the mineral or its products. The particle spectrum of the released fibers may even range down to the nanoscale.

Asbestos has been known since ancient times. The era of its industrial use began in the 19th century. Main producers of asbestos are currently Russia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Canada, and South Africa where it is mined from certain crystalline rocks. Its fibrous nature enables the production of fire-resistant clothes (e.g., for fire departments) and other woven fabrics for heat protection. Asbestos might be used for construction purposes, while being added to cement mixtures for fabrication of durable roof and facing tiles as well as for sewage pipes. It has been also utilized for manifold other products (floor covering, seals, brake pads, insulators) as well as for fire-resistant spray layers on steel constructions of large tower blocks. Overall, asbestos has been used in thousands of applications (Maines, 2005).

Health Effects

The recent research has demonstrated that exposure to asbestos increases risk for several serious diseases, and as a consequence, some uses of asbestos are now regulated or prohibited, and in some cases removal or containment of asbestos materials has been mandated in locations (such as schools and other public buildings) where they would expose humans to health risks.

Overall, asbestos has been used in thousands of applications. However, recent research has demonstrated that exposure to asbestos increases risk for several serious diseases, and as a consequence, some uses of asbestos are now regulated or prohibited, and in some cases removal or containment ...