Oklahoma (OK) Asbestos Removal & Abatement Resources:
The Oklahoma Department of Labor (DOL) is the organization in charge of monitoring and enforcing state regulations regarding asbestos in the state of Oklahoma. The DOL provides asbestos field personnel for the performance of inspections on all asbestos abatement projects in Oklahoma. They are also involved in emergency situations where asbestos containing materials have been accidentally disturbed and pose a potential risk of contamination.
The state of Oklahoma began an aggressive regulatory program against asbestos in 1982. This program was put into place to protect both workers and the public from accidental asbestos contamination (1).
Asbestos Health Concerns
Asbestos kills approximately 10,000 people each year in the United States. These deaths are a result of diseases specific to exposure to asbestos, most commonly through contact achieved on the job. In some cases, asbestos related illness has been contracted through “second-hand” contamination due to improper decontamination of a worker who then goes home and infects individuals he/she comes in contact with.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring substance that is classified as a mineral. Asbestos can be broken down into small fibers that have enormous tensile strength and insulating properties. Because of this, the substance was widely used in construction materials until the health hazards were finally recognized.
Asbestos was used for many years in the United States and worldwide as an effective insulation and sound dampening material because of its fire-resistant, chemically non-reactive, and insulating qualities. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the dangers of asbestos related illnesses were realized and federal regulations were implemented to protect the public. States followed soon thereafter in a nationwide program for regulation of asbestos.
Among the materials that commonly contain asbestos are: thermal insulation (a product found in many schools, commercial and industrial heating and piping systems), electrical insulation (found around wiring and appliances), sound proofing materials (often located in school auditoriums, classrooms and office buildings), fireproofing (required by building codes before 1975 for metal frame, multistory buildings), decorative ceiling texture, floor tiles, roofing fabrics, and brake and clutch pad materials.
Part of the reason why asbestos was used so widely and for so many years before the danger was realized, is because the latency period between the time of original contamination and the onset of symptoms is extremely long – often in excess of 20 years. Therefore, it has been difficult to diagnose an asbestos related illnesses as being a direct effect of asbestos exposure. Diagnoses are further complicated by the fact that asbestos related illnesses have symptoms in common with illnesses that are unrelated to asbestos exposure. Unless an individual is aware of direct or indirect exposure, the detection of asbestos as a contributing factor may go unnoticed.
Asbestosis is a lung disease that was first discovered in Naval shipyard workers. The workers were brought into contact with asbestos on a daily basis and often in close, unventilated areas. Asbestos fibers were inhaled and became trapped in the lung tissues. The human body attempts to eliminate asbestos fibers by producing acid. Due to the chemically resistant nature of asbestos fibers, the acid has little effect on the fibers, and instead causes scarring of the surrounding tissue. Over time, these scars can reduce lung function and flexibility.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the outer lining of the lungs. The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Other cancers can also occur in the digestive tract due to fibers being ingested or traveling through the blood stream.
Realization of the adverse health effects of asbestos has become increasingly apparent over the years, as more and more cases of asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma began to surface. These diseases are all directly linked to asbestos exposure. Asbestos breaks into small fibers that are invisible except under a microscope. The fibers become airborne, where they can remain for a long amount of time, and are inhaled or ingested into the body through normal breathing and swallowing. The fibers are needle-like in structure and become imbedded in the tissues surrounding the lungs and organs. These imbedded fibers create infections and plaques on the tissues, reducing flexibility and eventually causing cancer. Most asbestos related disease is incurable and fatal.
The hazards of asbestos containing material are now recognized by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) and other federal organizations who work together to provide guidance and regulations for the safety of workers, the public and the general environment. Asbestos is regarded as a significant health concern due to its known carcinogenic effects on humans.
Thirty million tons of asbestos were used in the United States as components of building materials between 1900 and 1975. A reasonable estimate would be that Oklahoma came into possession of between 300,000 and 600,000 tons of that total. Currently, 80 to 90 percent of asbestos containing material in Oklahoma is still in place, awaiting removal efforts.
Since the 1980s, there has been a tremendous effort toward the safe removal and handling of asbestos containing materials from structures, especially from schools and other public buildings. Because asbestos is easily reduced to dust when it is disturbed, asbestos removal has been closely regulated by Oklahoma as well as other states.
Asbestos Abatement Guidelines
The primary functions of Oklahoma Department of Labor Asbestos Division are to inspect public and private asbestos abatement projects for compliance with applicable rules and work practices; consult with building owners and agents in the development of action plans for the removal of asbestos; audit abatement projects in schools; and inspect city buildings in advance of purchase to protect workers and the public. It is the practice of the Asbestos Division to provide guidance, consultation, and regulation of asbestos matters in an effort to minimize adverse health effects to asbestos abatement workers and occupants of asbestos containing buildings (2).
Asbestos is not always an immediate hazard. Materials that have been maintained in good condition, or are embedded in a material that prevents the release fibers into the air, may not pose a danger if they are left alone and undisturbed. Non-friable asbestos refers to asbestos that is unlikely to be released into the air through normal handling, but even non-friable asbestos should be handled carefully and never abraded, cut, buffed, sanded, or ground.
If the asbestos containing material is friable (or likely to release fibers) there are several options available to an owner or operator of a contaminated site. Encapsulation involves applying a lick layer of material, much like latex paint, to the asbestos containing material, with the result of binding the surface material together and preventing the asbestos from becoming airborne. Enclosure is another available option that may be used, if it is possible to completely close off the area containing asbestos with an airtight seal, which eliminates the chance of fibers being released into the general air supply. If the material is already damaged, it may be necessary to completely remove the asbestos containing material to prevent heath risks.
In the State of Oklahoma, asbestos may only be removed by Licensed Asbestos Abatement Contractors who employ similarly licensed workers and supervisors. Any building that is presumed to contain asbestos must be properly tested and inspected by a licensed inspector. Only sampling and inspection can clear a building that is thought to contain asbestos. No building that contains asbestos may be demolished or renovated before the asbestos has been properly removed.
Upon proper notification and approval of an asbestos abatement project, trained and licensed contractors will construct a containment area, sealing all possible entries and exits to prevent air from escaping the containment area. Containment areas are maintained under negative pressure, and the air is exhausted through special filters designed to remove any asbestos fibers that may be present. A decontamination area is also added to the site, where workers change in and out of disposable suits and don special respirators. A shower facility is included in the decontamination area to prevent loose fibers from adhering to skin or hair away from the job site.
Once the Oklahoma DOL has approved the containment area, the asbestos containing material is wet down to prevent the material from releasing fibers. The material can then be removed and scraped carefully from every surface, and then double bagged and labeled for disposal. After all asbestos containing material has been bagged and removed from the area, the Oklahoma DOL performs another inspection and, if the area passes, is cleared and the containment area can be taken down (3).
'Oklahoma (OK) Asbestos Removal & Abatement Resources' Sources:
1. “Asbestos Division Information” Oklahoma Department of Labor. 7 Feb 08.
http://www.state.ok.us/~okdol/asbestos/index.htm2. “Asbestos Background and History” Oklahoma Department of Labor. 7 Feb 08.
http://www.state.ok.us/~okdol/asbestos/asbestosbackground.htm3. “Asbestos FAQ” Oklahoma Department of Labor. Mar 07. 7 Feb 08.
http://www.state.ok.us/~okdol/asbestos/AsbestosFAQ20070308.pdf
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