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Though abolished in many places, your workplace may have asbestos to reinforce insulation, fire or soundproofing for the interior space. When an asbestos deposit is disturbed, tiny sharp fibres are released to the air, harming those in the vicinity and leading to asbestos exposure which can be fatal when left unchecked. Here are a few tips for proper asbestos management to avoid exposure in your workplace.

Identification

The first step towards reducing the chances of asbestos management is proper identification of the suspected area by a professional who will conduct appropriate tests. This way, you can have all areas with asbestos content identified and recorded for easy logging and necessary labelling in your workplace. In addition, this can be noted in your workplace orientation document for new staff to minimise chances of accidental exposure. 

Monitoring

Ensure that regular monitoring of the asbestos is conducted to ensure that it is not disturbed, and the air is not contaminated. Regular assessment and record analysis will help you to monitor the toxin levels and determine whether the workplace is safe for your work staff or necessary intervention is required to improve workplace safety. You can also implement air quality checks regularly to ensure that slight contamination by asbestos fibres is noted and necessary steps are taken by a certified professional. 

Awareness

After locating the areas with asbestos content in your workplace, it is prudent to conduct training and communicate the hazards brought about by asbestos exposure. Appropriate workplace conduct and control practises should be established to reduce the occurrence of acute asbestos exposure that may prove to be fatal. With awareness training, you will also be able to lower the chances of accidental exposure in your workplace. 

Heavy machinery 

Discourage the use of heavy tools and equipment in your workplace on zones that have asbestos. Disturbing the asbestos layer or deposit makes the fibres airborne and easy to inhale into the breathing system. Tools that may raise dust to the surroundings should be used with caution around places with asbestos, and sweeping such debris is equally fatal. Consider using wet mops, rags or a vacuum cleaner to remove the dirt and asbestos dust. 

Asbestos becomes harmful when it is in bad condition, disturbed and the debris becomes airborne, with the fibres posing a hazard to the respiratory system. Apart from completely removing it, the above tips will help you successfully manage asbestos to reduce the occurrence of asbestos exposure in your workplace.