Occupational Exposure to Asbestos

This article discusses the health effects of occupational exposure to asbestos in construction companies, including the risks of lung cancer and mesothelioma. It provides a plan of action for managing the current situation and offers strategies for controlling and eliminating the hazard. The importance of communication, surveillance, and rehabilitation support for affected workers is also emphasized.

Running head: OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS 1
Occupational Exposure to Asbestos
Student’s Name
Institution’s Affiliations
Date

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Background
This draft is prepared to address the health effects resulting from exposure to workers
in CPB Construction Company in Australia. This construction company operates in two cities
in the country, that is, Melbourne and Sydney. CPB Company has more than four thousand
workers in the country and others working in other countries. There are approximately three
thousand male workers, and the rest are females. The company does not employ people under
21 years of age. Majority of the workers have 25 to 50 years.
Description of the Asbestoses
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in earth's crust (Gray, Carey & Reid, 2016).
This mineral has a lot of fibers that increase its strength and resistance to health and other
physical disturbances. The exposure to the asbestosis mostly occurs during demolition and
rebuilding operations in the construction companies because the disturbances of the fibers of
asbestos are higher at these activities (Darcey & Feltner, 2014). The undisturbed asbestos inside
the earth's surface causes fewer risks of exposure because the fibers are not released into the
atmosphere. The avenues of asbestos exposure vary depending on the concentration of the
fibers in the environment. Inhalation id the primary and common avenue of the asbestos
exposure. Inhalation of the asbestos increases the risks of developing lung cancer (Gilham et
al., 2016). The dermal route is another avenue of asbestos exposure, therefore, causing skin
cancer and related conditions. The inhalation of the asbestos normally occurs in the
construction companies.
Contact with the construction materials containing asbestos fibers also causes
exposure and health hazards. The construction materials that contain asbestos include pipes,
bricks, cement, gaskets, drywall, flooring, roofing, paints, and roofing. The fibers remain in
the air for a long time, therefore, increasing the exposure rates in the vicinity. The health

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effects of asbestos may be short-term or long-term, depending on the concentration of the
asbestos intoxicant in the body. The vulnerability of the health effects increases with the
prolonged time of exposure to the asbestos fibers. The accumulation of the asbestos in the
lower regions of the lungs causes a chronic, and serious health condition caused Fibrotic lung
disease (asbestosis). The vulnerability of asbestoses exposure also increases the susceptibility
of damaging the lining of the chest cavity (Ferrante et al., 2016). The combined occurrence of
these two health conditions causes reduced respiratory functions of the lungs and death of the
individual (Gilham et al., 2016). Long-term exposure and increased frequency of the asbestos
exposure increase the incidences of a condition called mesothelioma.
Chronic damages to the lung tissues increase the resistance to blood flow in the lungs.
The resistance to blood flow in the lungs causes swelling of the heart, therefore, increasing
the risks of developing cardiovascular problems among the workers. Occupational exposure
increases the vulnerability of people to mesothelioma and related lung cancer diseases
(Dewees, 2016). The formation of the tissues with the structure of a scar does not a contract
nor relax like the normal lung tissue, therefore, impairing with the normal breathing among
the workers. Difficulty in breathing results in various related cardiovascular diseases like
deep vein thrombosis. The vulnerability of these people to various related disease also
increases because the heart is not able to supply enough oxygenated blood to the body tissue.
Evaluation of hazard
The level of risks related to asbestos exposure is higher in construction places and
contributes more than 80% of all health issues related to asbestos intoxication in the world
(Gilham et al., 2016). Promotion of the wellbeing of the workers requires a good
understanding and evaluation of the health effects arising from the exposure. The evaluation
of the hazard related to the asbestos exposure in the construction places is important in

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS 4
establishing appropriate plans and strategies that can be used to eradicate the adverse and
toxicological effects of the chemical in the workers and other surrounding people. The board
of the company should lead in the evaluation of the hazard to ensure safety of the people
(Kakooei, Meshkani & Azam, 2013). The appropriate evaluation of the situation and the hazards
related to asbestos exposure is pivotal in safeguarding the rights and health status of the
workers in the construction company, therefore, improving the wellbeing of these people in
the workplace. The hazards and health effect related to the exposure to asbestos are examined
and written down for the employees to access them and plan on how to reduce the incidences
of exposure and occurrence of the lung cancers and other health-related conditions.
The ability to reduce the health effects of asbestos exposure depends on the efforts of
the employer, that is, the board and its managers. The promotion of the wellbeing of the
workers in the sites of construction also requires an active participation of workers, and all
that may be involved in the process because the exposure also affects the communities living
around the construction sites. World Health Organization recommends the establishment of
safety measures and guidelines to protect the wellbeing and reduce health risks related to
asbestos exposure in the workplace (Plato et al., 2016).
Plan of Actions for managing the current situation of the Asbestos Exposure in the
Workplace
Repeated exposure to asbestos results in the development of life-threatening and
chronic conditions like lung and skin cancers. It is important to develop an appropriate plan
of action to assist in managing the current situation in the workplace and reduce the
incidences of health-related conditions resulting from occupational exposure to asbestos.
Affective application of the strategies reduces the negative health impacts of exposure
(Cullinan et al., 2017). Education of the employees is the appropriate action to be considered in

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS 5
the management of the asbestoses because strategy gathers for all other action and ensures
that the overall plan is effective upon its application in the construction sites (Gilham et al.,
2016).
First, recognize the hazard and identify the related problem. In this case, the
employers and the employees are encouraged to assess the possibility of the hazard in the
work place and make efforts to identify the related problems of exposure. Recognizing the
hazard starts with the ability to understand the modes of exposure and related health risks
(Otsuki et al., 2016). The employers and workers should identify the type of construction
materials containing the asbestos fibers before staring any construction operation to allow the
effective application of measures used to reduce inhalation and skin exposures. This action
also involves the ability to differentiate between the dust and size fractions of the asbestos in
the workplace and the type that have higher rates of exposure — recognizing the risks of
exposure also important in the promotion of occupational hygiene in the workplace,
therefore, reducing the incidences of health effects and conditions occurring to the workers.
Secondly, control Models and strategies are also important plan actions to be applied
in the management of the risks factors and health problems related to the current issue in the
workplace. The application of the strategies and appropriate approaches are cheaper and
effective in the prevention of occupational risks related to exposure to asbestos (Turci et al.,
2016). For effective prevention of the related risks, the action should be considered and
evaluated in the planning phase in all aspects of the working process. In this case, the
planning involves the restriction of the use of hazardous materials in the construction. The
materials containing the fibers of the asbestos are only used when they are required and if
there are no other alternative materials to be used in the process. This approach also manages
the emission of the asbestos fibers to prevent the occurrence of the health problems related to
the risks of exposure within the working places and the surrounding environments.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS 6
Thirdly, discuss with the workers, their families, and the communities on the matters
relating to the risks of exposure. Promote a conducive environment for the communication to
ensure efficacy in the interpretation and understanding of the concepts provided in the
training process. The communication with the workers and other affected people should
involve the use of an encouraging tone to promote awareness and prevent the occurrence of
the related risks of asbestos exposure in the workplace and society. Effective communication
is achieved through the use of ISBAR tools of communication. ISBAR tool allows easy
assessment of the hazard and the related health risks on the people (Gostin & Wiley, 2016).
Understanding the cultural background and beliefs of the people is important in the
communication because it ensures that the values and interests of the victims are taken into
consideration in the prevention of the current hazard.
Lastly, plan to eliminate the sources of the hazard. In this case, the number of
construction materials emitting asbestos are eliminated from the workplace, therefore,
preventing the occupational exposure and related risks to the workers and the people lining
ion the nearby communities. This action pertains three different models, that is, production
process, work practices, and the hazardous asbestos itself. The process used in construction or
production can be replaced with an alternative process that emits less dust to the atmosphere.
The construction process can be changed such that asbestos is no longer required in the
process, therefore, eliminating its related risks on the workers and other people. Work
practices should be structured such that they align with the recommended policies provided
by the World Health Organization Who recommends for the implementation and adoption of
practices that aim at reducing the occupational risks of asbestos in the workplace.
Implementation of the Appropriate Surveillance Approach that enables Assessment of the
Exposure

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National comparing against the risks associated with the exposure of asbestos is the
appropriate surveillance to be applied in the workplace and the entire country to enable easy
assessment of the level in which the employees and their families are exposed to asbestos.
World Health Organization and Safe Workplace Australia recommend for the conduction of
the national campaign to educate people on the risks related to occupational exposure of
asbestos. The assessment of the level of asbestos exposure will be done through the diagnosis
of the conditions related to the risk and compered to the previous incidences of the health
condition reported to the company and the country.
The campaign considers the standards provided by the recognized organizations on
the wellbeing of the workers and reduction of the health problems resulting from industrial
processes. ILO provides appropriate national and international conventions to be
implemented after the national campaign to promote the assessment of the levels of exposure
to the hazard (Gilham et al., 2016). The assessment of the exposure levels involves the
examination of the symptoms of the health conditions or disease related to the risks of
asbestos exposure. From the national surveillance procedures, some of the conventions like
the Occupational, Cancer convention and the Asbestos Convention help in reducing the levels
of exposure to the health hazard in the construction company and the communities
neighboring the construction sites.
Future exposure to asbestos may happen as a result of the failure of the companies to
comply with the standards of the ILO and the WHO (Gilham et al., 2016). For instance, some
policies and standards may oppose some operations undertaken by the company. Therefore,
the company may fail to adhere to all policies to ensure its sustainability and business
continuity in the country. Appropriate measure to be taken to prevent future is the education
of the people to acknowledge their rights and privileges in the working place. This will make
the worker ask for their rights, therefore, making the company provide protective clothing in

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for use in the construction process. The protective equipment should be used regularly in all
operation because the asbestos fibers remain in the air for a long period. The information will
be communicated in a way that encourages the workers and employers to adhere to the
policies provided by the WHO and ILO to promote safety in the workplaces.
Provide rehabilitation and support for any affected and more vulnerable workers
Effective rehabilitation of vulnerable families and workers involves the provision of
training to the people on the importance of their health. The training session is comprehended
with the provision of medical surveillance. Occupational Safety and Health Act recommends
for the induction of the employee and public training as the appropriate rehabilitation of the
vulnerable people (Normohammadi et al., 2016). Medical surveillance will be undertaken;
therefore, medical education and health awareness will assist in promoting the recovery of the
affected people in the company and community. Economic support is also important in the
eradication of the health impacts of asbestos exposure and intoxication. In the rehabilitation
process, the medical surveillance operation involves various procedures that aim at reducing
the adverse and health effects of the exposure.
The medical surveillance procedure focus at providing medical assistance that helps
the people to overcome the severity of the hazard and the vulnerabilities affecting them and
their families due to the asbestos exposure (Gilham et al., 2016). Rehabilitation process starts
with public health promotion and me which people are educated in t6he health risks related to
asbestos exposure. The second step is the diagnosis of the people to determine the number of
people exposed to the hazard. Assess the level of asbestos exposure and provide measures to
control the risks related to the hazard. Finally, provide appropriate medication for the
identified medical conditions to prevent the vulnerabilities and severity of the health effects
of the exposures to asbestos.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS 9
The support may also be provided in the form of compensations. The company should
establish some programs to ensure that all the affected people in the workplaces and the
society are compensated according to the level of their vulnerabilities and harm caused by the
exposure. The financial support is aimed at ensuring that all the vulnerable workers and
families get advanced and special medical care, in addition, the medical provision obtained
from the proposed rehabilitation. The implementation of the rehabilitation approach and
financial support is important in promoting safety recovery of the exposed people from the
health risks associated with the asbestos exposure, therefore, reducing the mortality rates in
society.
Steps of risk mitigation on Asbestos Exposure
The steps applied in the risk mitigation are important in the assessment and
preventing the risks of the exposure of asbestos. The mitigation process is pivotal in
preventing future exposure of the employees to the hazard. The first step in the mitigation is
identifying the hazard. It is important to identify the type of hazard and the modes in which
workers are exposed to the hazard. In these steps, the board has the responsibility of assessing
the safety and health risks related to the identified hazard. The second step involves the
identification of the people might be possibly harmed or exposed to the hazard. In this case,
the company identifies the workers and the families of these workers. The board and the
general management also decide how these people are harmed.
The third step is the assessment of the risks caused by the hazard on the exposed
people. The assessment of the risks also requires the board and the management to take
action. Taking appropriate action like precautions helps in educating people on the risks
associated with the hazards and preventing future exposures (Buck et al., 2013). The final step

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS 10
to be taken in the mitigation process is keeping a record of the results obtained after the
application of the appropriate action.
The Demonstration of the Participation of the Company in Public Health Promotion
It is important for the company to participate in both the prevention of the asbestos
exposure on the worker and the promotion of the wellbeing and health of the public (Fertman
& Allensworth, 2016). Some of the strategies and actions implemented by the company focused
on preventing the risk of asbestos exposure and promoting the welling of the people in the
community. For example, the medical surveillance conducted by the company promotes the
health of all people living around the organization and preventing the severity of the risks of
asbestos exposures. Provision of compensation to the exposed workers and their families is
another step taken by the company to promote wellbeing of the public and improve health
status of the vulnerable people (Bruno et al., 2014). Medical education is also focuses on the
promotion of the health condition of the exposed people.
Conclusion
Occupational exposure to asbestos is the leading cause of cancer related to the hazards
of the asbestos intoxication. Employers should provide protective equipment to prevent
exposure of the workers in the workplace. The strategies to be implemented should focus at
promoting public health and wellbeing of the workers and their families. National campaigns
and medical surveillance programs should provide health education to all people to ensure
efficacy of the proposed strategies in preventing occupational exposure to asbestos. Induction
of employee training should be undertaken regularly in the organization to promote
workplace safety and wellbeing of the workers and the people in the community.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS 11
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