If you work in construction and have worked in buildings built before 1980, there is a chance you have been exposed to asbestos. Employers are required to follow certain rules and regulations when exposing employees to asbestos. Being aware of these requirements can help you verify that your workplace is safe.
Employers are required to provide special training for those working in areas containing asbestos. When working around asbestos, employees should have respirators, and the work area should be kept free from dust using specialized vacuum systems. Keeping asbestos wet is also important, because it helps prevent the deadly fibers from becoming airborne.
Workers used to return home from the jobsite covered in asbestos dust, exposing their families to the fibers. To prevent this, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires workers to shower after work, including washing their faces and hands. Clothes should remain at the work site and either be cleaned there, or disposed of as hazardous waste.
No food or drink is to be consumed in a work area containing asbestos. Consuming the fibers can be just as deadly as inhaling them.
If an employee feels his or her employer is violating safety regulations, he or she should file a complaint with OSHA. Filing a complaint makes an onsite OSHA inspection more likely, improving the safety of all workers involved, and the person filing the complaint has the option to remain anonymous.
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