The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center Stresses The Importance Of Asbestos Safety In The Workplace

As an employer, you have an obligation to protect the health and safety of your employees while they are at work. There are risks associated with every occupation, and while some professions certainly present more occupational dangers than others, an employer’s obligation to maintain a safe work environment should be the same no matter where you work.

In professions where workers may be exposed to asbestos, such as firefighters, construction workers, miners, metal workers, and home inspectors, the need for occupational safety is even greater. Exposure to asbestos is linked to the development of asbestos cancer, also known as mesothelioma.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) there are several guidelines that an employer must follow in an effort to protect their employees:

An employer must provide each worker with a written health and safety policy, which should include specific responsibilities of both the employer and the workers to ensure that a safe working environment is maintained.

A written emergency response plan should be posted throughout the workplace so that all individuals are aware of what to do in the event of an emergency.

Employers should provide ongoing asbestos handling training to all employees.

Safety equipment, such as gloves, hazard suits, booties, goggles and masks should be supplied to workers to minimize the potential for asbestos inhalation in the workplace. Proper ventilation systems should also be put in place in any area where asbestos is handled to prevent the settling of errant asbestos fibers and dust.

Employers should also be diligent in providing emergency healthcare in the event of asbestos contamination, including testing for asbestos poisoning for any exposed workers, as well as follow-up visits to a doctor.

According to OSHA, approximately 1.3 million workers are facing a heightened risk of occupational asbestos exposure. Employers who are interested in learning more about protecting their workers from asbestos exposure in the workplace should consult EPA’s “Asbestos in Buildings” publications, which provide business owners with concise information regarding policies, safety procedures and emergency preparedness.

The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center encourages all employers to take all necessary asbestos safety measures in the interest of protecting the health of their workers.

The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center is the web’s foremost resource for information related to occupational asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, and more, and is certified by the Health On the Net (HON) Foundation as a credible source of medical information on the web. Please visit www.maacenter.org.