Asbestos hazards and safety precautions

Asbestos is a general term for natural fibrous silicate minerals. It is bundled in mining, has good tensile strength, good heat insulation and corrosion resistance, and is not easily combustible, so it is widely used. There are many types of asbestos, which can be divided into serpentine asbestos and amphibole asbestos, depending on their mineral composition and chemical composition.

Asbestos hazards

The main hazard factor in asbestos is the elemental fiber. The diameter of the elemental fiber is generally 0.5 μm, and it can be suspended in air and water for several weeks, continuously causing pollution. Long-term inhalation of a certain amount of asbestos fiber or fiber can cause asbestosis, lung cancer, pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, and gastrointestinal cancer. Symptoms related to asbestos often have a long incubation period and may not appear until 10 to 40 years later.

Asbestos-related diseases are ubiquitous in many industrial occupations. Such as asbestos mining, processing, and the use of asbestos or asbestos-containing materials in all walks of life (buildings, ships and car repairs, metallurgy, textiles, machinery and power engineering, chemistry, agriculture, etc.). In the processing and use of various asbestos products, fine asbestos fibers can contaminate air, water or food. Asbestos fibers that invade the human body through the respiratory tract and digestive tract have been confirmed to have carcinogenic effects. The target organs of asbestos fiber acting on the human body are mainly the lungs, pleura and peritoneum, followed by the gastric mucosa, and the main manifestations are cough, dyspnea and severe pulmonary dysfunction.

Many fiberglass workers have contact dermatitis, but some workers can gradually tolerate it, called "hardening phenomenon. Workers exposed to glass fiber, rock wool, a few people have skin allergies, but so far have not confirmed that these fibers themselves are allergens. Second, workers exposed to fiberglass can suffer from conjunctivitis and keratitis, and corneal opacities and local abscesses can be seen in severe cases.

Safety precautions

Since the biological function of asbestos substitutes is similar to that of asbestos, its hazard severity is much lower than that of asbestos. The behaviors, metastases, and clearances in the human body are similar to those of asbestos, and their carcinogenic mechanisms are similar. The generation of fibrogenic and carcinogenic effects must be based on the premise that a sufficient number of fibers are accumulated in the tissue. Therefore, reducing contact is a fundamental countermeasure against the occupational hazards of asbestos substitutes.

Closed dust source, ventilation and dust removal: mainly the production machinery closed, first and then part of the overall, while in the area must be open, must install a local exhaust equipment, the fiber dust collected after discharge.

Wet operation: Wet materials or spray water beforehand can greatly reduce dust production. For places where wet work can not be adopted, airtight dust collection methods should be adopted. Such as the use of a sealed dust source combined with local exhaust to prevent the escape of dust
Personal protection: When other measures fail to meet the requirements or cannot take measures, the workers wear protective clothing and wear dust masks or dust masks. Dust masks should be changed regularly every shift, and protective clothing should be washed frequently. Workplace smoking, eating and drinking are prohibited. Usually eat more foods that are good for driving dust, such as pig blood, seaweed, lotus root, pear, white radish, and mangosteen.

Feasibility study, design, construction, commissioning and other links shall strictly implement the “three simultaneous” system. For projects that may produce occupational lead poisoning, measures must be taken in terms of technology, technology, and equipment to effectively control occupationality in accordance with relevant regulations. lead poisoning. In addition, engaged in asbestos producers, to regularly determine the lung capacity, every 1-2 years to do a health check, found that the condition was promptly removed from the asbestos workplace, early symptomatic treatment.

Added: In 1987, asbestos-induced lung cancer and mesothelioma were classified as occupational tumors in China. The National Industrial and Mining Hygiene Standards stipulate that the dust concentration of asbestos dust and asbestos in the workshop air should not exceed 2% of the dust concentration of 2 mg/m3. ".

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