Asbestos
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals and was widely used in buildings for fireproofing, thermal and acoustical insulation, condensation control, and decoration. It was sprayed on beams and ceilings, used to cover piping and boilers, and sprayed into ducts. Asbestos was used extensively until the 1970s when the EPA banned certain applications.
Breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the chest and abdominal linings), and asbestosis (irreversible lung scarring that can be fatal). People who get these diseases have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. Symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not show up for many years.
How can I tell if I have an asbestos problem?
Common products in older homes that contain asbestos include pipe insulation, asphalt and vinyl flooring materials, ceiling tiles, spray-on fire proofing, wall and ceiling decorative plasters, and old electrical wire insulation.
Unless it is clearly labeled, it is impossible to visually detect asbestos. If you suspect that a material contains asbestos contact a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.
What are my options if there is asbestos in the home?
REPAIR involves sealing or covering the material, keeping the asbestos in place.
- Sealing (encapsulation) means treating the material with a sealant that either binds the asbestos fibers together or coats the material so fibers are not released. Pipe, furnace, and boiler insulation can sometimes be repaired this way.
- Covering (enclosure) means placing something over or around the asbestos material to prevent release of fibers. Exposed insulated piping may be covered with a protective wrap or jacket.
REMOVAL is an expensive abatement method. It may be required when making major changes to a home that will disturb asbestos material, or if asbestos material is severely damaged and cannot be repaired.
How do I ensure safety in a home that might contain asbestos until I am able to have it removed?
- Do take every precaution to avoid damaging asbestos material.
- Don't dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos.
- Don't saw, sand, scrape, or drill holes in asbestos materials.
- Don't use abrasive pads or brushes on power strippers to strip wax from asbestos flooring. Never use a power stripper on a dry floor.
- Don't sand or try to level asbestos flooring or its backing. When asbestos flooring needs replacing, install new floorcovering over it if possible.
Are there laws in the State of Michigan related to asbestos issues?
The Construction Safety and Health Division’s Asbestos Program is responsible for the enforcement of most Michigan asbestos regulations.
The following regulations must be followed:
- Requires an asbestos building/facility inspection in pre-1981 buildings.
- Obligates the building/facility owner to notify immediate employees and contractors working in facility of asbestos building/facility survey results.
- If the building survey is not available, obligates contractors/employers to presume suspect materials contain asbestos until a proper rebuttal through material sampling/analysis is performed.
- Specifies required work practices, protective equipment and procedures for employees removing and/or disturbing ACM and/or PACM.
- Requires asbestos awareness training for employees who may contact but not disturb ACM and/or PACM. Training focuses on building materials that may contain asbestos to help assure that the building survey identified these materials and to prevent unintended disturbances.
- Requires contractors removing or encapsulating friable ACM on another person's property to be a licensed Asbestos Abatement Contractor. Contractors that are Michigan licensed as plumbers, electricians, residential builders, residential maintenance and alteration contractors, or mechanical contractors are exempt from the asbestos abatement contractor licensing requirements if the asbestos abatement work they are performing is incidental to their primary licensed trade and does not exceed 260 linear feet or 160 square feet of friable material.
- Requires the contractor to provide a 10-day project notification to the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth's (DELEG) Asbestos Program for projects exceeding 10 linear feet or 15 square feet, or both, of friable asbestos materials.
- Requires contractors to perform clearance air monitoring at the completion of asbestos abatement projects involving a negative pressure enclosure.
- Authorizes penalties and fines for violations of the Act.
- Authorizes suspension, revocation, and denial of an asbestos abatement contractor's license.
- Requires persons who perform asbestos-related work in schools, school buildings, and public and commercial buildings to be properly trained and accredited through the DELEG Asbestos Program before performing the work (i.e., asbestos abatement workers, contractor/supervisors, building inspectors, management planners, and project designers).
- Requires trainers who train asbestos abatement workers, contractor/supervisors, building inspectors, management planners, and project designers in Michigan to be approved by the DELEG Asbestos Program before providing the training.
- Authorizes penalties and fines for violations of the Act.
- Authorizes the suspension, revocation, or denial of accreditation and trainer approval.
For further information concerning asbestos related issues, contractor licensing, or worker accreditation in the State of Michigan, please visit the Asbestos Program website.
("MIOSHA Fact Sheet: Asbestos Exposure in Construction". DELEG. Revised 21 January 2009. Accessed 4 August 2009.)
