COURSE OVERVIEW

This practical and highly-interactive course includes various practical sessions and exercises. Theory learnt will be applied using our state-of-the-art simulators.
This course aims to provide candidates with an enhancement of their knowledge of occupational hygiene practice in relation to fibrous dusts. The module concentrates on asbestos, but other fibres, e.g. Machine made mineral fibres, aramids, carbon etc., which are increasingly finding uses in industry are also covered.
The course will benefit those working in asbestos consultancy as well as in mainstream occupational hygiene, giving an understanding of the health risks associated with asbestos and other fibres as well as the means of evaluation and control.
This course will require at least 45 hours of study time, of which at least 37 hours will be taught (teaching and practical assessments) and 8 hours will be independent (in the candidates’ own time).
On Completing this course successfully, participants will be able to :-
• Describe the composition, nature and properties of asbestos, machine made mineral and other fibres and their historical uses
• Describe the health effects of asbestos and other fibrous materials and apply appropriate exposure limits
• Describe the uses of asbestos in buildings and the public health risk that these may pose
• Understand the principles of and requirements for asbestos surveys including taking samples and identifying bulk asbestos types by microscopic techniques including relevant safety requirements
• Be thoroughly familiar with current good practice in the construction and use of enclosures for asbestos remediation and the use of decontamination units
• Understand all the principles of clearance testing, the requirements for measurement and appropriate techniques for post remediation evaluation
• Conduct air sampling to determine airborne concentrations of asbestos or other fibres in accordance with defined procedures including microscopic counting techniques
This course is designed to provide participants with a detailed and up-to-date overview of Asbestos and Other Fibres. It covers the asbestos and its uses including the physical and chemical properties of other fibres like, mineral, wool, ceramic fibres, special purpose fibres and continuous filament fibre; the health effects of asbestos, inhalation studies, exposure limits for asbestos and machine made mineral and other fibres; the typical exposure to machine made mineral and other fibres and typical legislative approach; the types and uses of asbestos in buildings and surveys of asbestos containing materials in buildings and bulk sampling; the risk assessment and management of asbestos containing materials in buildings; and the asbestos remediation and assessment prior to reoccupation covering preparation, enclosures, remediation procedures and waste removal.
During this interactive course, participants will learn the various types, equipment and procedures of air sampling; the clearance sampling, setting-up microscope for fibre counting and filter preparation; examining the reliability of results in relation to quality control schemes and electron microscopy; the macroscopic examination and sample preparation; the polarised light microscopy, dispersion straining and health and safety precautions during identification; and the quality control and other types of fibres and other products which may interfere with asbestos identification.