Protection from Asbestosis
Asbestosis Information and Resources
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a component of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and is the Federal agency responsible for health and safety regulations in maritime, construction, manufacturing, and service workplaces. OSHA established regulations dealing with asbestos exposure on the job, specifically construction work, shipyards, and general industry, that employers are required to follow. In addition, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), another component of the DOL, enforces regulations related to mine safety. Workers should use all protective equipment provided by their employers and follow recommended work practices and safety procedures. For example, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved respirators that fit properly should be worn by workers when required.
Workers who are concerned about asbestos exposure in the workplace should discuss the situation with other employees, their employee health and safety representative, and their employers. If necessary, OSHA can provide more information or make an inspection. Regional offices of OSHA are listed in the "United States Government" section of a telephone directory’s blue pages (under "Department of Labor"). Regional offices can also be found at http://www.osha.gov/html/RAmap.html on the Internet.
More information about asbestos is available on the OSHA Asbestos Web page, which has links to information about asbestos in the workplace, including what OSHA standards apply, the hazards of asbestos, evaluating asbestos exposure, and controls used to protect workers. This page is available at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/index.html on the Internet. OSHA’s national office can be contacted at:
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Organization: |
Office of Public Affairs Occupational Safety and Health Administration U.S. Department of Labor |
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Address: |
Room N–3649 200 Constitution Avenue, NW. Washington, DC 20210 |
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Telephone: |
202–693–1999 1–800–321–6742 (1–800–321–OSHA) |
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TTY (for deaf or hard of hearing callers): |
1–877–889–5627 |
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Internet Web site: |
http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/index.html (workers’ page) |
Mine workers can contact MSHA at:
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Organization: |
Office of Public Affairs |
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Address: |
21st Floor 1100 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA 22209 |
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Telephone: |
202–693–9400 1–800–746–1554 |
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Internet Web site: |
http://www.msha.gov |
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is another Federal agency that is concerned with asbestos exposure in the workplace. NIOSH conducts asbestos-related research, evaluates work sites for possible health hazards, and makes exposure control recommendations. In addition, NIOSH distributes publications on the health effects of asbestos exposure and can suggest additional sources of information. NIOSH can be contacted at:
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Organization: |
Education and Information Division |
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Address: |
Robert A. Taft Laboratories 4676 Columbia Parkway Cincinnati, OH 45226 |
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Telephone: |
1–800–356–4674 (1–800–35–NIOSH) |
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E-mail: |
eidtechinfo@cdc.gov |
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Internet Web site: |
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh |
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