Asbestos is a material that’s used extensively in buildings for insulation and other products because it doesn’t catch fire easily. However, it’s been found to be very harmful when its tiny fibers enter the air and are breathed in.
Breathing in asbestos can make you and the people around you very sick. It can cause lung problems and even cancer after many years. Because of these dangers, it’s really important for anyone who works with asbestos or is around it to know how to stay safe.
How to stay safe at work
For people who work with asbestos, there are special clothes and equipment that can protect them. Wearing a mask is one of the most important things to do. This isn’t just any mask, but a special kind that stops the tiny asbestos fibers from being breathed in. Wearing protective suits can help keep the fibers off your skin and clothes.
It’s also important to keep the work area wet when working with asbestos. This helps because when asbestos is wet, its fibers don’t easily go into the air. Workers should always follow the safety rules their job requires when working with asbestos. These rules are there to keep everyone safe.
Keeping loved ones safe
After working with asbestos, it’s possible to accidentally bring asbestos fibers home on clothes, shoes or even in your hair. This could expose family members to asbestos, which we definitely don’t want.
Workers should change out of their work clothes before going home and take a shower if possible. Work clothes should be washed separately from other laundry to make sure no fibers spread to other clothes.
Some workers might have special places at work where they can change and keep their work clothes. Using these can help make sure that asbestos fibers don’t accidentally come home with them.
If you or a family member is diagnosed with a medical condition that was caused by asbestos, get legal help to learn what you can do. State law limits how long you have to file a claim, so don’t waste time.
