ABSTRACT
Industrial hygiene is a profession which applies science and technology to protect the health of workers. The presence of airborne asbestos fibers in the respirable range represents a well-recognized workplace hazard of a contaminant with a potential for causing adverse effects to exposed, that is, unprotected, individuals. An industrial hygiene survey of the asbestos abatement project would reveal other health and safety hazards less obvious than asbestos. An industrial hygienist or similarly trained individual would undertake a building inspection or survey to confirm the presence of all the asbestos containing materials in a building. However, the likelihood of encountering an oxygen-deficient atmosphere by any definition, at most asbestos abatement projects is not high. Chemical exposure can result from the use of proprietary chemical products in the abatement project and, in particular, from those products containing volatile hydrocarbon or chlorinated hydrocarbon constituents in spray encapsulants, glues, adhesives, and sealants.
