Workers may be exposed to asbestos. Prove your workplace is safe.
Workers in older buildings, industrial facilities, and construction sites face potential asbestos exposure during routine maintenance, repair, and renovation activities. As an employer or safety professional, you must be able to demonstrate that exposure is controlled.
Air monitoring (fibre counting) measures the concentration of asbestos fibres in the workplace atmosphere. This data, combined with a documented risk assessment, is your evidence of compliance and your defence in case of future claims.
Exposure monitoring must be performed by accredited professionals using approved methods, and results must be documented and retained for the legally required period, typically 40 years due to the latency period of asbestos-related diseases.
The Problem
Industrial workers face asbestos exposure during routine maintenance of older plants, cutting insulation, replacing gaskets, accessing service areas behind thermal cladding, and working near boilers and heat exchangers. These activities can release high concentrations of fibres in confined spaces.
Employers must prove that exposure levels are below legal limits through documented air monitoring. Workers who have been potentially exposed require medical surveillance records that must be retained for 40 years after the last exposure event.
What You Need
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should air be monitored if asbestos is present?
Air monitoring frequency depends on the risk level and activity. During asbestos removal work, continuous monitoring is required, while routine background monitoring in managed buildings is typically conducted annually or after any disturbance.
What are the OSHA requirements for air monitoring for asbestos?
OSHA requires initial monitoring when asbestos exposure is suspected, with periodic monitoring every 6 months if the PEL (0.1 f/cc) is exceeded. In the UK, the equivalent WEL of 0.1 fibres/ml applies under CAR 2012.
What should an employer do to protect workers from asbestos?
Employers must assess the risk of asbestos exposure, provide appropriate training, ensure personal protective equipment is available, and arrange health surveillance for workers who may be exposed. A risk assessment must be completed before any work that could disturb ACMs.
How can asbestos be monitored at a worksite?
Air monitoring using phase contrast microscopy (PCM) is the standard method for measuring airborne asbestos fibre concentrations. Personal and static air samples are collected on membrane filters and analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory.
What happened to asbestos factory workers?
Many former asbestos factory workers developed serious diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. In the UK, thousands of compensation claims have been filed, and the legacy of industrial asbestos use continues to affect workers exposed before the 2000 ban.
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