Asbestos Environmental Environment

4.1.1. Definition

Asbestos is a naturally occurring minerals that are resistant to heat and corrosion. Asbestos has been used in products, such as insulation for pipes, floor tiles, building materials, and in vehicle brakes and clutches.

4.1.2. Physical and Chemical Characteristics

There are six types of asbestos minerals, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Asbestos is inert, insoluble in water and organic solvents and are nonflammable. Those are the quality that makes asbestos so desirable for industries. Asbestos have no detectible odor or taste, solids that do not move through soil and are insoluble in water. Its color will vary according to

• Tiles and slates (made from fully compressed flat sheet): Cladding, decking and promenade tiles and roofing.
• Pre-formed moulded products: Cistern and tanks, mains water pipes, sewer pipes, rainwater goods, flue pipes, fencing, roofing components, cable troughs and conduits, ventilators and ducts, and window boxes.

4.1.3. Health effect

Exposure may occur when the asbestos-containing material are damaged and its particles and fibers go into the air. The exposure to asbestos increases your chances of developing lung disease. In general, the greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing harmful health effects. Three of the major health effects associated with asbestos exposure are lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.

4.1.4. Environmental effects

The effects of asbestos dust can easily travel through the air into the water supply. It can also settle on the surface of the soil instead of getting absorbed into the ground, it can still get picked up by the wind and inhaled into human

Owner Responsibility

The owner should provide asbestos inspector before any demolition and inform of any finding to the project manager if needed to hired professional specialist on this area. The regulations require the owner of the building to notify the appropriate state agency before any demolition, or before any renovations of buildings that could contain a certain threshold amount of asbestos or asbestos-containing material.

4.3.2. Project Manager Responsibility

The Project Manager (PM) should be is responsible for compliance with the 40 CFR part 61 Subpart M and local regulations and making sure that all the necessary precautions and management practices are being carried out to prevent any hazard or contamination due to Asbestos. The regulations require the operator to notify the appropriate state agency before any demolition, or before any renovations of buildings that could contain a certain threshold amount of asbestos or asbestos-containing