This video will guide you on how to remove safely asbestos from an old house and what you should do to protect yourself from the danger of inhaling asbestos particles.
Learn The Different Types Of Asbestos
Thursday, October 15, 2009
As we all know that Asbestos is a cancerous material, and exposure to it may result in later development of diseases such as benign pleural effusion, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening, rounded atelectasis, asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Most exposure to asbestos has occurred occupationally. However, people have also been exposed to asbestos through common household products, old buildings, and by indirect contact from loved ones who have work with asbestos directly and have carried home asbestos dust on their clothing.
Let me define with you what is "Asbestos" and i will show you what are the different types and give you some photos to give you more information.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals. The word asbestos (ἄσβεστος) is a borrowed Greek adjective meaning inextinguishable. The Greeks termed asbestos the miracle mineral because of its soft and pliant properties, as well as its ability to withstand heat.
Asbestos can be toxic. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including malignant lung cancer, mesothelioma (a type of malignant neoplasm dependent mostly from exposure to asbestos),and asbestosis (a type of pneumoconiosis). Since the mid 1980s, the European Union and most developed countries have banned asbestos. Since January 1 2005 the European Union has banned all types of utilization of asbestos Directive 1999/77/EC and extraction, manufacture and processing of asbestos products Directive 2003/18/E.
There are six minerals that defined as "Asbestos" these include : chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite and comes in 3 different colors.
White
Chrysotile, is obtained from serpentine rocks which are common throughout the world. Serpentine rock is also the state rock of California. Chrysotile fibers are curly as opposed to fibers from amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite which are needlelike. Chrysotile, along with other types of asbestos, has been banned in dozens of countries and is only allowed in the United States and Europe in very limited circumstances. Chrysotile has been used more than any other type and accounts for about 95% of the asbestos found in buildings in America. Applications where chrysotile might be used include the use of joint compound and it can be spun and woven into fabric. The most common use is within corrugated asbestos cement roof sheets typically used for outbuildings, warehouses and garages. It is also found as flat sheets used for ceilings and sometimes for walls and floors. Numerous other items have been made containing chrysotile including brake linings, cloth behind fuses (for fire protection), pipe insulation, floor tiles, and rope seals for boilers.
Brown
Amosite, is a trade name for the amphiboles belonging to the Cummingtonite - Grunerite solid solution series, commonly from Africa, named as an acronym from Asbestos Mines of South Africa. It is found most frequently as a fire retardant in thermal insulation products and ceiling tiles.
Brown
Amosite, is a trade name for the amphiboles belonging to the Cummingtonite - Grunerite solid solution series, commonly from Africa, named as an acronym from Asbestos Mines of South Africa. It is found most frequently as a fire retardant in thermal insulation products and ceiling tiles.Blue
Crocidolite, is an amphibole found primarily in southern Africa, but also in Australia. It is the fibrous form of the amphibole riebeckite. Notes: chrysotile commonly occurs as soft friable fibers. Asbestiform amphibole may also occur as soft friable fibers but some varieties such as amosite are commonly straighter. The riebeckite granite known as ailsite, found on the island of Ailsa Craig in western Scotland, is prized for its use in the manufacture of curling stones. Riebeckite granite was used for the facing stones of the Canton Viaduct from Moyles Quarry (a.k.a. Canton Viaduct Quarry) now part of Borderland State Park in Massachusetts.
Canton viaduct
Other regulated asbestos minerals, such as actinolite asbestos (or smaragdite), anthophyllite asbestos, and tremolite asbestos; are less commonly used industrially but can still be found in a variety of construction materials and insulation materials and have been reported in the past to occur in a few consumer products.
Other natural and not currently regulated asbestiform minerals, such as richterite, and winchite, may be found as a contaminant in products such as the vermiculite containing zonolite insulation manufactured by W.R. Grace and Company. These minerals are thought to be no less harmful than tremolite, amosite, or crocidolite, but since they are not regulated, they are referred to as "asbestiform" rather than asbestos although may still be related to diseases and hazardous. (photos left: actinolite)Anthophylite is the product of metamorphism of magnesium-rich rocks especially ultrabasic igneous rocks and impure dolomitic shales. It also forms as a retrograde product rimming relict orthopyroxenes and olivine, and as an accessory mineral in cordierite-bearing gneisses and schists.
The Cancer Health Empowerment For Living Without Pain Study May Benefit Mesothelioma Patients
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Cancer-related pain is common and under-treated. This article describes a study designed to test the effectiveness of a theory-driven, patient-centered coaching intervention to improve cancer pain processes and outcomes.
Methods: The Cancer Health Empowerment for Living without Pain (Ca-HELP) Study is an American Cancer Society sponsored randomized trial conducted in Sacramento, California.
A total of 265 cancer patients with at least moderate pain severity (Worst Pain Numerical Analog Score >=4 out of 10) or pain-related impairment (Likert score >= 3 out of 5) were randomly assigned to receive tailored education and coaching (TEC) or educationally-enhanced usual care (EUC); 258 received at least one follow-up assessment. The TEC intervention is based on social-cognitive theory and consists of 6 components (assess, correct, teach, prepare, rehearse, portray).
Both interventions were delivered over approximately 30 minutes just prior to a scheduled oncology visit. The majority of visits (56%) were audio-recorded for later communication coding.
Follow-up data including outcomes related to pain severity and impairment, self-efficacy for pain control and for patient-physician communication, functional status and well-being, and anxiety were collected at 2, 6, and 12 weeks.DiscussionBuilding on social cognitive theory and pilot work, this study aims to test the hypothesis that a brief, tailored patient activation intervention will promote better cancer pain care and outcomes. Analyses will focus on the effects of the experimental intervention on pain severity and impairment (primary outcomes); self-efficacy and quality of life (secondary outcomes); and relationships among processes and outcomes of cancer pain care.
If this model of coaching by lay health educators proves successful, it could potentially be implemented widely at modest cost. [Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT00283166]
Author: Richard KravitzDaniel TancrediRichard StreetDonna KalauokalaniTim GrennanTed WunChristina SleeDionne Evans DeanLinda LewisNaomi SaitoPeter Franks
Credits/Source: BMC Cancer 2009, 9:319
Methods: The Cancer Health Empowerment for Living without Pain (Ca-HELP) Study is an American Cancer Society sponsored randomized trial conducted in Sacramento, California.
A total of 265 cancer patients with at least moderate pain severity (Worst Pain Numerical Analog Score >=4 out of 10) or pain-related impairment (Likert score >= 3 out of 5) were randomly assigned to receive tailored education and coaching (TEC) or educationally-enhanced usual care (EUC); 258 received at least one follow-up assessment. The TEC intervention is based on social-cognitive theory and consists of 6 components (assess, correct, teach, prepare, rehearse, portray).
Both interventions were delivered over approximately 30 minutes just prior to a scheduled oncology visit. The majority of visits (56%) were audio-recorded for later communication coding.
Follow-up data including outcomes related to pain severity and impairment, self-efficacy for pain control and for patient-physician communication, functional status and well-being, and anxiety were collected at 2, 6, and 12 weeks.DiscussionBuilding on social cognitive theory and pilot work, this study aims to test the hypothesis that a brief, tailored patient activation intervention will promote better cancer pain care and outcomes. Analyses will focus on the effects of the experimental intervention on pain severity and impairment (primary outcomes); self-efficacy and quality of life (secondary outcomes); and relationships among processes and outcomes of cancer pain care.
If this model of coaching by lay health educators proves successful, it could potentially be implemented widely at modest cost. [Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT00283166]
Author: Richard KravitzDaniel TancrediRichard StreetDonna KalauokalaniTim GrennanTed WunChristina SleeDionne Evans DeanLinda LewisNaomi SaitoPeter Franks
Credits/Source: BMC Cancer 2009, 9:319
Unlicensed Asbestos Removal Will Be Penalised
Monday, September 21, 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning the building trade that companies and contractors will face prosecution if they remove asbestos without a licence.
It follows HSE's successful prosecution of three contractors who carried out unlicensed asbestos removal at Kelford School in Rotherham in 2006.
Mansell Build Ltd (previously Birse Build Ltd) of Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire,was fined £12,500 and ordered to pay £12,500 costs. Andrew Brightmore, a former manager of ARB Agriplant Ltd was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £500 costs and Gary Cusack was fined £500 and ordered to pay £250 costs. Both are of Thurcroft, Rotherham. All were prosecuted for health and safety breaches at Rotherham Magistrates' Court.
Mansell Build Ltd, the principal contractor, was employed to carry out work to remove asbestos insulating board ceilings at the school. The work should have been carried out by a contractor licensed by HSE, but the company contracted to carry out the work, ARB Agriplant Ltd, did not have a licence.
Now in administration, ARB Agriplant Ltd then subcontracted the work to Gary Cusack, another unlicensed contractor.
All contractors failed to implement basic requirements to prevent the spread and exposure to asbestos to both those removing the materials and to others working at the school at the time.
After the removal work had been completed, Mansell Build Ltd allowed other contractors to work in those areas without verifying which areas were free from asbestos. It was then found that these areas were contaminated with asbestos.
Following the incident ARB Agriplant Ltd provided a forged asbestos licence and a falsified clearance certificate to Mansell Build Ltd, claiming that the work had been undertaken by a licensed contractor and that the area was free from asbestos.
Speaking after the case, HSE inspector David Bradley said:
"Those responsible for employees have a legal duty to protect their health and safety and in the case of asbestos they should know that any disturbance of such a dangerous material should only be tackled by licensed workers.
"In this case, the contractors responsible put others in a dangerous situation, which could have been avoided had the work been carried out by a licensed contractor.
"Asbestos is the biggest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, which is why there are strict rules in place to prevent exposure. HSE has published a wealth of advice for employers to help them reduce the risks associated with asbestos."
Around 4,000 people a year die from asbestos-related diseases. For more information here.
Notes
1. Mansell Build Limited and Andrew Brightmore were charged under Section 3(1) Health & Safety at Work Act which states: 'It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.'
2. Gary Cusack was charged under section 3(2) of the Health & Safety at Work Act which states: 'It shall be the duty of every self-employed person to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, Page 5 that he and other persons (not being his employees) who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.'
Source : HSE
It follows HSE's successful prosecution of three contractors who carried out unlicensed asbestos removal at Kelford School in Rotherham in 2006.
Mansell Build Ltd (previously Birse Build Ltd) of Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire,was fined £12,500 and ordered to pay £12,500 costs. Andrew Brightmore, a former manager of ARB Agriplant Ltd was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £500 costs and Gary Cusack was fined £500 and ordered to pay £250 costs. Both are of Thurcroft, Rotherham. All were prosecuted for health and safety breaches at Rotherham Magistrates' Court.
Mansell Build Ltd, the principal contractor, was employed to carry out work to remove asbestos insulating board ceilings at the school. The work should have been carried out by a contractor licensed by HSE, but the company contracted to carry out the work, ARB Agriplant Ltd, did not have a licence.
Now in administration, ARB Agriplant Ltd then subcontracted the work to Gary Cusack, another unlicensed contractor.
All contractors failed to implement basic requirements to prevent the spread and exposure to asbestos to both those removing the materials and to others working at the school at the time.
After the removal work had been completed, Mansell Build Ltd allowed other contractors to work in those areas without verifying which areas were free from asbestos. It was then found that these areas were contaminated with asbestos.
Following the incident ARB Agriplant Ltd provided a forged asbestos licence and a falsified clearance certificate to Mansell Build Ltd, claiming that the work had been undertaken by a licensed contractor and that the area was free from asbestos.
Speaking after the case, HSE inspector David Bradley said:
"Those responsible for employees have a legal duty to protect their health and safety and in the case of asbestos they should know that any disturbance of such a dangerous material should only be tackled by licensed workers.
"In this case, the contractors responsible put others in a dangerous situation, which could have been avoided had the work been carried out by a licensed contractor.
"Asbestos is the biggest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, which is why there are strict rules in place to prevent exposure. HSE has published a wealth of advice for employers to help them reduce the risks associated with asbestos."
Around 4,000 people a year die from asbestos-related diseases. For more information here.
Notes
1. Mansell Build Limited and Andrew Brightmore were charged under Section 3(1) Health & Safety at Work Act which states: 'It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.'
2. Gary Cusack was charged under section 3(2) of the Health & Safety at Work Act which states: 'It shall be the duty of every self-employed person to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, Page 5 that he and other persons (not being his employees) who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.'
Source : HSE
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