Managing Asbestos

Question 1

What are the two types of Asbestos?

Answer 1

1. Friable

2. Non-Friable

Question 2

What are the characteristics of Friable Asbestos?

Answer 2

Can be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure
Examples:
1. Acoustic Insulation
2. Pipe Lagging
3. Sheet Gasket Material

Question 3

What are the characteristics of non-friable asbestos?

Answer 3

Cannot be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure
Examples:
1. Brake and Clutch Linings
2. Floor Tiles and Adhesives
3. Gaskets

Question 4

What are the physical conditions that makes Asbestos a health hazard?

Answer 4

1. Asbestos insulation or other asbestos containing material in good condition are generally not a health hazard when properly secured
2. Bound asbestos materials such as gaskets, floor covering, and cements are not generally a health hazard unless work activities destroy their matrix

Question 5

What are the Diseases that result from asbestos exposure?

Answer 5

1. Lung Cancer
   Malignant Mesothelioma: Tumor which lines the chest and abdominal cavity
   Smoking drastically increases the risk of developing lung cancer
2. Cancer of the GI Tract (Rarely found, except in those exposed to asbestos (10-45 years later)
3. Asbestosis
   Progressively worsening disease of the lung
   Recognized as disabling or even fatal occupational disease

Question 6

What are the requirements to have an Emergency Asbestos Removal Team (EART) on board ship?

Answer 6

1. Any ship whose keel was laid before 1980
2. Engineering is responsible
3. They can make minor repairs and removal of friable asbestos containing materials

Question 7

What are the responsibilities of the Engineering Officer?

Answer 7

1. Provide Equipment
2. Ensure personnel receive medical screenings
3. Provide a list to medical of personnel on the EART team
4. Ensure proper collection and storage of asbestos material

Question 8

What are the Division Officer’s responsiblity?

Answer 8

Ensure that all mandatory training is conducted

Question 9

What is required to ID Asbestos?

Answer 9

Laboratory Analysis

1. 2 types of microscopes
   a. Polarized Light Microscopy
   b. Transfer Electron Microscopy

Question 10

What is the criteria of inclusion into the Asbestos Program?

Answer 10

1. Past History
2. Current Exposure
3. Potential Exposure

Question 11

What training must EART Personnel complete?

Answer 11

1. Emergency Asbestos Response Team (A-760-2166)
   Two day formal course
2. Respirator Fit-testing, selection and maintance

Question 12

What are the permissible exposure limits for Asbestos exposure?

Answer 12

1. Permissible Exposure: 0.1 fibers pers cubic centimeter of air, as an 8 hour time weighted average
2. Excursion Limit: 1.0 f/cc averaged over a 30 minute sampling period

Question 13

What are the requirements for personnel notification?

Answer 13

1. Physician’s Written Opinion, completed on each member for current or anticipated exposure

Question 14

What are the requirements for removal from the Asbestos Program?

Answer 14

Documentation on a SF600

Question 15

What is the process for storing Asbestos Records?

Answer 15

1. All shipboard asbestos records will be transferred to a shore medical activity
2. Once the ship is decommissioned the records will be sent to BUMED

Question 16

What are the requirements for inclusion into the Asbestos Program?

Answer 16

1. SF600
2. NAVMED 6260/5
3. Physician’s Written Opinion