Free asbestos abatement sessions are being offered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services beginning March 25, 2009. The Department is encouraging contractors, facility managers and rental property owners to attend a session to ensure safety during the asbestos removal process and learn how to comply with revisions made to the administrative code on asbestos abatement.
Asbestos, a natural occurring mineral, was commonly used in industrial and domestic products because of its innate resistance to heat and corrosive chemicals. Asbestos exposure can lead to the development of serious illnesses such as asbestosis or mesothelioma, a rare cancer almost exclusively caused by exposure to the toxic mineral. Annually 2,000 to 3,000 Americans are informed of a mesothelioma diagnosis by their doctor as a result of asbestos exposure.
The hazardous mineral is commonly found in many building materials such as cement siding, floor and ceiling tiles, vinyl wall coverings, insulation materials, caulk and other adhesive materials. asbestos has been used in construction since the late 1800s, placing construction workers and their families at risk of exposure.
Exposure often occurs when asbestos fibers become airborne which frequently takes place when asbestos-contaminated materials are damaged or removed. Once airborne, the fibers can be inhaled or ingested and can become lodged in organs or cavities in the body where they can cause inflammation or infection. Overtime this can result in the development of an asbestos-related disease.
The asbestos abatement sessions are offered throughout Wisconsin and will address the Certification and Training Course Requirements for Asbestos Activities. Attendees do not need to register to attend the sessions that will take place at three colleges, a hotel, cinema and a theater. The final session will be held April 16. More information about the sessions is available on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Web site.
The department encourages general renovation contractors, roofers, siders, window installers, and insulation and weatherization contractors to attend one of the complimentary sessions.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services also conducted an asbestos seminar December 5, 2008 to discuss “state/local/federal asbestos regulations and enforcement.”
The asbestos removal process differs depending on the asbestos-containing materials, but all removal methods aim to keep the asbestos dust out of the air where it can be inhaled or ingested. Typically, asbestos removal utilizes moisture to weigh the fibers down so they fall to the floor where they can be discarded in approved asbestos waste disposal bags.
Additional information about asbestos abatement and mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.