Asbestos Standard for General Industry
Abstract
Asbestos is a widely used, mineral-based material that is resistant to heat and corrosive chemicals. Depending on the chemical composition, fibers may range in texture from coarse to silky. The properties that make asbestos fibers so valuable to industry are its high-tensile strength, flexibility, heat and chemical resistance, and good frictional properties. Asbestos fibers enter the body by inhalation of airborne particles or by ingestion and can become embedded in the tissues of the respiratory or digestive systems. Years of exposure to asbestos can cause numerous disabling or fatal diseases. Among these diseases are asbestosis, an emphysemalike condition; lung cancer; mesothelioma, a cancerous tumor that spreads rapidly in the cells of membranes covering the lungs and body organs; and gastrointestinal cancer. Since 1972, however, OSHA has regulated asbestos exposure in general industry thereby causing a significant decline in the use of asbestos-containing materials. The revised standard continues to protect workers, in general, who are exposed to asbestos-containing materials but now includes provisions that apply to workers performing brake and clutch repair and to those doing housekeeping in buildings and facilities where asbestos-containing materials exist.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA400231
Entities
Organizations
- United States Department of Labor