Incident Description:
Asbestos is a natural occurring mineral found in rock formations. Due to its durability, strength and fire-resistance qualities, it was widely used in industrial applications, including roof and floor tiles, insulation, and gaskets.
Asbestos can be difficult to identify because it is often mixed with other materials. As a result, the only definitive way to confirm its presence is though testing by an accredited lab. Within our company, asbestos remains present within some older facilities. While efforts are underway to remove this hazard, unidentified materials may still exist in older buildings and process unit gaskets.
Asbestos fibres are often enclosed within materials, resulting in minimal health risk when undisturbed. However, exposure becomes hazardous when fibres are disturbed, released into the air, and inhaled. Once inhaled or swallowed, microscopic fibres can become trapped in the respiratory or digestive tract. Over time, fibre accumulation can cause inflammation and DNA damage, potentially leading to cancer and other pulmonary diseases. These health effects may take 10 to 70 years to develop.
Three workers were removing the exhaust stack from a compressor at a gas plant. They were using a disc grinder to cut the bolts between the faces of a flange connection. During the cutting process, the worker inadvertently cut into the full-face gasket between the flange faces. This action disturbed previously unidentified asbestos-containing gasket material, causing fibres to become airborne.
After removing the exhaust stack, the workers further inspected the flange face gasket and questioned if it contained asbestos. All work was stopped, and appropriate precautions were taken to ensure proper decontamination processes were followed. The affected workers were sent to a clinic for baseline medical assessment.
