Asbestos exposure limits have been established even though there is no evidence of a “safe” level of exposure to asbestos. During the 1800’s a mineral was discovered that was commonly used for over a century. It was naturally occurring and was mined for use in building materials and other normal household equipment. The dangers of asbestos were first discovered in the early 1900s, but it wasn’t until the 1970s, that the true dangers were revealed to the general public.
After decades of using the product, thousands of people now die every year from being exposed to asbestos from jobs they have held in the past. It can take several decades for the true effects of asbestos to appear and this makes it difficult to treat when issues to occur.
Established asbestos exposure limits
Since it is such a deadly item, asbestos is no longer used in production and there are now limits as to how much asbestos exposure employees and residents can be exposed to before air quality treatment specialists need to step in.
After the dangers were first discovered, OSHA set about setting up asbestos exposure limits. Originally, OSHA said that asbestos exposure limits must be kept under 2 fibers for every CC of air in an 8 hour period. There is also not to be more than 10 fibers present at any specific time.
However, during the 80s further research was completed that further cemented the fact that asbestos was far more dangerous than was first realized. Because of this, OSHA set forth new standards where asbestos exposure limits were revised to under 0.2 fibers for every CC of air in an 8 hour period.
Many industries quickly became compliant with these standards and began the process of ridding their buildings of asbestos. During the 1990s, OSHA lowered the asbestos exposure limits once more so that people are no longer exposed to limits of over 0.1 fibers for every CC of air in an 8 hour period.
For those who worked in the asbestos industry, the damage may have already been done since health effects can appear many years after exposure. However, there are now many ways that those who suffer from the asbestos related cancer, mesothelioma, may receive the funds that they need to pay for treatments and receive pain and suffering funds from the company where they were exposed to asbestos. This is a lengthy process and it is best to enlist the help of a mesothelioma lawyer in order to pursue this legal action.
For those who regularly remove asbestos from buildings, there are special training regulations that have been put in place and certain certifications that must be maintained. Special equipment and protective gear is also required so that the person removing the asbestos will remain safe from the dangers of this deadly material.
If you have found that asbestos is present in your home or building, it is important that you adhere to the standards that have been put in place that limit the exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is very deadly and has a high mortality rate. Businesses that do not properly care for the removal of asbestos will be subjected to fines and lawsuits from employees who may develop illnesses in the future.