Typically, when an Executive Committee learns that it has been requested to put an asbestos management in effect, it is usually perceived as an unavoidable burden. But clearly, it doesn't have to be like that.
A well defined asbestos management plan has two primary objectives: first, limit the amount of asbestos exposure to the extent possible and second, educate and foster asbestos awareness among managers and their employees. More often than not, this task will call for some outside consulting. It is therefore not uncommon to hire an asbestos testing and training company, not only to evaluate the premises on potential asbestos hazards, but also laying the groundwork to develop a thorough and practical asbestos management plan.
In a first step the engaged asbestos expert will visit your facility and conduct thorough testing. Samples will be taken and send for further evaluation to a specialized asbestos testing laboratory. Further to that, air quality monitoring devices will be installed in locations which have been identified as potential risk areas of asbestos exposure.
After the testing is completed and based on the results, decisions need to be made if in fact an asbestos problem has been identified. There are several options and the adequate measure is being determined by the intensity of the asbestos concentration and other factors, such as the condition of the asbestos contain materials (ACM). In some cases it is practically unavoidable to have the ACM removed. However, it might be perfectly sufficient to apply asbestos containment techniques to address the problem. For instance, an old asbestos floor tiling can be covered up with a special sealant to encapsulate the old flooring underneath.
Sometimes though, it is technically not feasible to avoid asbestos exposure completely. In such instances, the employer has a responsibility to protect his workers appropriately from any harm caused by the material. Specific procedures along with well defined rules and regulations should be developed and put into an asbestos management plan. But in order to make sure that the theory also transforms into practice, annual asbestos training should be made a company policy.
Asbestos exposure is responsible for the development of severe diseases, such as mesothelioma and various other cancers. A myriad of specialized asbestos lawyers have been benefitting from assisting asbestos victims in their attempt to recover monetary compensation for their personal injuries caused by asbestos exposure, from corporations who have failed to live up to their responsibilities.
But it doesn’t have to come that far. Because by implementing an asbestos management plan, both sides will benefit; the workers will be protected from falling sick and the employers from facing multi-million dollar asbestos law suits later on.