Risk Assessment in Asbestos Removal Works

Özgen Mogan; Celal Güngör

Article Details

Risk Assessment in Asbestos Removal Works

Authors:

Özgen Mogan | Celal Güngör

Publisher:

Duzce University

Main Topics:

Mühendislik

Journal:

Düzce Üniversitesi Bilim ve Teknoloji Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 4, pp.1758-1770

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001301625

pISSN:

2148-2446

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Asbestos has been widely used in various fields such as construction, chemistry, petroleum, rubber and plastic, automotive, and energy industries in the past, as it is a material with low thermal and electrical conductivity and high resistance to physical and chemical factors. However, after it was understood that it causes many health problems, including asbestosis and malignant pleural mesothelioma, legal regulations prohibiting its use have been implemented. However, due to its extensive past usage, it still persists in many areas today. Proper removal and disposal of asbestos are of great importance. In Turkey, the Regulation on Health and Safety Measures in Asbestos Work has been enacted to prevent workers exposure to asbestos dust and protect them from health risks associated with such exposure, as well as to determine limit values and other specific measures. The regulation specifies that employers are obligated to perform risk assessments in workplaces where there is a risk of exposure to asbestos dust. In this study, the risks that may be encountered in asbestos removal works in residential buildings, workplaces, power plants, mines, and similar work areas were assessed using the L-Type Matrix method. As a result of the assessment, quarantine setup and removal, asbestos removal, post-removal hygiene activities, and packaging and stacking of waste were identified as high-risk tasks. During removal, a fully airtight isolation with nylon coverings should be created to prevent the spread of asbestos fibers into the environment, and appropriate health and safety signs should be placed. Workers involved in asbestos removal should use suitable personal protective equipment PPE such as full-face or half-face masks with P3 particle filters, Category III Type 56 disposable coveralls, work gloves, and safety shoes. It is also important to provide training to employees on the use and maintenance of PPE. Asbestos waste should be securely enclosed in double-layered nylon bags of appropriate thickness or placed in larger nylon bags. They should be labeled to indicate the presence of asbestos waste. The waste should be temporarily stored in an area far from living quarters within the workspace and promptly transported to a licensed waste disposal facility using licensed vehicles.

 Asbestos has been widely used in various fields such as construction, chemistry, petroleum, rubber and plastic, automotive, and energy industries in the past, as it is a material with low thermal and electrical conductivity and high resistance to physical and chemical factors. However, after it was understood that it causes many health problems, including asbestosis and malignant pleural mesothelioma, legal regulations prohibiting its use have been implemented. However, due to its extensive past usage, it still persists in many areas today. Proper removal and disposal of asbestos are of great importance. In Turkey, the Regulation on Health and Safety Measures in Asbestos Work has been enacted to prevent workers exposure to asbestos dust and protect them from health risks associated with such exposure, as well as to determine limit values and other specific measures. The regulation specifies that employers are obligated to perform risk assessments in workplaces where there is a risk of exposure to asbestos dust. In this study, the risks that may be encountered in asbestos removal works in residential buildings, workplaces, power plants, mines, and similar work areas were assessed using the L-Type Matrix method. As a result of the assessment, quarantine setup and removal, asbestos removal, post-removal hygiene activities, and packaging and stacking of waste were identified as high-risk tasks. During removal, a fully airtight isolation with nylon coverings should be created to prevent the spread of asbestos fibers into the environment, and appropriate health and safety signs should be placed. Workers involved in asbestos removal should use suitable personal protective equipment PPE such as full-face or half-face masks with P3 particle filters, Category III Type 56 disposable coveralls, work gloves, and safety shoes. It is also important to provide training to employees on the use and maintenance of PPE. Asbestos waste should be securely enclosed in double-layered nylon bags of appropriate thickness or placed in larger nylon bags. They should be labeled to indicate the presence of asbestos waste. The waste should be temporarily stored in an area far from living quarters within the workspace and promptly transported to a licensed waste disposal facility using licensed vehicles.

 Asbestos has been widely used in various fields such as construction, chemistry, petroleum, rubber and plastic, automotive, and energy industries in the past, as it is a material with low thermal and electrical conductivity and high resistance to physical and chemical factors. However, after it was understood that it causes many health problems, including asbestosis and malignant pleural mesothelioma, legal regulations prohibiting its use have been implemented. However, due to its extensive past usage, it still persists in many areas today. Proper removal and disposal of asbestos are of great importance. In Turkey, the Regulation on Health and Safety Measures in Asbestos Work has been enacted to prevent workers exposure to asbestos dust and protect them from health risks associated with such exposure, as well as to determine limit values and other specific measures. The regulation specifies that employers are obligated to perform risk assessments in workplaces where there is a risk of exposure to asbestos dust. In this study, the risks that may be encountered in asbestos removal works in residential buildings, workplaces, power plants, mines, and similar work areas were assessed using the L-Type Matrix method. As a result of the assessment, quarantine setup and removal, asbestos removal, post-removal hygiene activities, and packaging and stacking of waste were identified as high-risk tasks. During removal, a fully airtight isolation with nylon coverings should be created to prevent the spread of asbestos fibers into the environment, and appropriate health and safety signs should be placed. Workers involved in asbestos removal should use suitable personal protective equipment PPE such as full-face or half-face masks with P3 particle filters, Category III Type 56 disposable coveralls, work gloves, and safety shoes. It is also important to provide training to employees on the use and maintenance of PPE. Asbestos waste should be securely enclosed in double-layered nylon bags of appropriate thickness or placed in larger nylon bags. They should be labeled to indicate the presence of asbestos waste. The waste should be temporarily stored in an area far from living quarters within the workspace and promptly transported to a licensed waste disposal facility using licensed vehicles.

 Asbest ısı ve elektrik iletkenliği düşük, fiziksel ve kimyasal etkenlere direnci yüksek bir malzeme olduğu için geçmişte inşaat, kimya, petrol, lastik ve plastik, otomotiv ve enerji sektörü gibi birçok alanda kullanılmıştır. Başta asbestozis ve malign plevral mezotelyoma olmak üzere pek çok sağlık sorununa neden olduğu anlaşıldıktan sonra kullanımını yasaklayıcı yasal düzenlemeler yapılmıştır. Fakat geçmişteki yoğun kullanımı nedeniyle günümüzde halen birçok alanda karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Asbestin uygun şekilde sökülmesi ve uzaklaştırılması oldukça önem taşımaktadır. Ülkemizde, çalışanların asbest söküm, yıkım, tamir, bakım, uzaklaştırma çalışmalarında asbest tozuna maruziyetlerinin önlenmesi ve bu maruziyetten doğacak sağlık risklerinden korunması, sınır değerlerin ve diğer özel önlemlerin belirlenmesi amacıyla Asbestle Çalışmalarda Sağlık ve Güvenlik Önlemleri Hakkında Yönetmelik yürürlüğe girmiştir. Yönetmelik, asbest tozuna maruziyet riski bulunan çalışmalarda işverenin risk değerlendirmesi yapmakla yükümlü olduğunu belirtmektedir. Bu çalışmada, L-Tipi Matris yöntemi kullanılarak konutlarda, işyerlerinde, enerji santrallerinde, maden ocaklarında ve benzeri çalışma alanlarında asbest söküm işlerinde karşılaşılabilecek risklerin değerlendirmesi yapılmıştır. Değerlendirme sonucunda karantina kurulumu ve sökümü, asbest sökümü, söküm sonrası hijyen faaliyetleri, atıkların paketlenmesi ve istiflenmesi işleri yüksek riskli işler olarak belirlenmiştir. Söküm sırasında asbest liflerinin çevreye yayılmasını önlemek amacıyla naylon örtü ile tam sızdırmaz tecrit oluşturulmalı ve uygun sağlık ve güvenlik işaretleri yerleştirilmelidir. Asbest söküm işlerinde çalışanların P3 partikül filtreli tam-yüz veya yarım-yüz maske, Kategori III tip 56 tek kullanımlık tulum, iş eldiveni ve iş ayakkabısı gibi uygun kişisel koruyucu donanım KKD kullanımı sağlamalıdır. KKD kullanımı ve bakımı konularında çalışanlara eğitim verilmesi ayrıca önemlidir. Asbestli atıklar uygun kalınlıkta çift kat naylona konularak ağızları sıkıca kapatılmalı veya uygun daha büyük naylon torbalara konulmalıdır. Üzerlerine asbestli atık olduğunu bildiren işaretlemeler yapıştırılmalıdır. Atıklar çalışma alanı içinde yaşam mahalline uzak bir yerde geçici depolanmalı ve mümkün olan en kısa sürede lisanslı araçlarla lisanslı atık bertaraf tesisine sevk edilmelidir.

Article Details

Risk Assessment in Asbestos Removal Works

Authors:

Özgen Mogan | Celal Güngör

Publisher:

Duzce University

Main Topics:

Mühendislik

Journal:

Düzce Üniversitesi Bilim ve Teknoloji Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 4, pp.1758-1770

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001301625

pISSN:

2148-2446

Asbestos

Occupational health and safety

Risk assessmentAsbest

İş sağlığı ve güvenliği

Risk değerlendirme

Issues

Article Details

Risk Assessment in Asbestos Removal Works

Authors: Özgen Mogan | Celal Güngör

Publisher: Duzce University

Main Topics: Mühendislik

Journal: Düzce Üniversitesi Bilim ve Teknoloji Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 4, pp.1758-1770

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 10/2023

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001301625

pISSN: 2148-2446

Asbestos

Occupational health and safety

Risk assessmentAsbest

İş sağlığı ve güvenliği

Risk değerlendirme

Issues

Authors:

Özgen Mogan | Celal Güngör

Publisher:

Duzce University

Main Topics:

Mühendislik

Journal:

Düzce Üniversitesi Bilim ve Teknoloji Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 4, pp.1758-1770

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001301625

pISSN:

2148-2446