Vintage Asbestos Abatement Ad: Workers "Cleaning" Enclosure Work Area
Image from a vintage asbestos abatement industry publication showing workers posing inside an apparent asbestos abatement work area while demonstrating cleaning activities. Abatement workers are depicted with disposable coveralls, supplied-air full-face respirators, and a portable air monitoring device (worker in background).
This advertising photo attempts to portray some basic aspects of asbestos abatement, but might have missed a few details for realism in this obvious staged set-up, such as the apparent absence of negative air pressurization acting on the polyethylene-sheet wall and floor barriers. Along this line, the placement of the negative air machine (NAM) itself appears to show its intake opening directly against the enclosure wall, hindering its ability to draw airflow (doubtful if it was actually activated); NAM intake should be directed toward the main portion of the work area. Additionally, there doesn't even seem to be an electrical cord leading to the NAM.
Further, there seems to be a distinct absence of a wetting-agent and associated applicator (no water, hose, or reservoir container); everything appears to be "dry". One of the main factors in proper asbestos abatement dust control technique is assuring materials are "adequately wet", which can greatly reduce the potential for dust particles to become airborne, typically achieved by wetting materials and work area surfaces before, during and after ACM removal. Even the worker wiping the enclosure wall should be using a wet towel or damp rag, but where is the bucket of cleaning solution? Plus, such wiping activity is usually reserved for the "final cleaning" stage, well after bulk ACM debris has been removed and containerized.
In addition to this, the assumed "asbestos" debris on the floor should've been "promptly" containerized as it was removed, not allowed to accumulate where it could be further disturbed by trampling it, haphazardly dragging hoses and equipment over it, etc., likely causing asbestos fibers to become airborne and further contaminate surfaces. Loose bulk debris also compounds cleaning efforts by unnecessarily spending more time and resources to decontaminate exposed equipment and supplies from excessive debris build-up. Further, the workers themselves in this image appear to have managed keeping their coveralls and gloves perfectly spotless, an amazing feat inside an "active" asbestos abatement work area during bulk removal.
Not to mention, the fact that the personal air monitoring device is attached to the worker performing the least riskiest job function -in this example - relative to airborne asbestos fiber exposure - wiping walls; whereas the other workers are pictured vacuuming and shoveling apparent bulk friable insulation material. Air monitoring results would probably not be fully representative of job tasks with the potential highest exposure risk.
A couple of other points: larger areas of accumulated bulk debris such as this are often cleaned using shovels and not necessarily utilizing vacuums, since the excessive bulk material reduces the service-life of the vucuum's costly HEPA-filter much quicker, tends to clog more frequently, and would also fill the vacuum canister or bag quite often, requiring frequent emptying or bag replacement. HEPA-vacuuming is typically employed for residual materials on surfaces, following substantial removal and cleanup of bulk debris.
Although perhaps a smidgeon of credit is due, since there doesn't appear to be evidence of a broom or brush inside the work area (at least not on camera). Dry-sweeping asbestos material is strictly prohibited. But, some asbestos abatement workers might have another opinion about that.
Also, the kneeling worker holding open the black waste bag does not appear to have an adequate fit "inside" his full-face respirator. The internal seal around his nose and mouth looks breached, consequently not providing the full level of protection these types of respirators are designed for.
Ah, but who's looking anyway?
Vintage Asbestos Abatement Ad: Workers "Cleaning" Enclosure Work Area
Image from a vintage asbestos abatement industry publication showing workers posing inside an apparent asbestos abatement work area while demonstrating cleaning activities. Abatement workers are depicted with disposable coveralls, supplied-air full-face respirators, and a portable air monitoring device (worker in background).
This advertising photo attempts to portray some basic aspects of asbestos abatement, but might have missed a few details for realism in this obvious staged set-up, such as the apparent absence of negative air pressurization acting on the polyethylene-sheet wall and floor barriers. Along this line, the placement of the negative air machine (NAM) itself appears to show its intake opening directly against the enclosure wall, hindering its ability to draw airflow (doubtful if it was actually activated); NAM intake should be directed toward the main portion of the work area. Additionally, there doesn't even seem to be an electrical cord leading to the NAM.
Further, there seems to be a distinct absence of a wetting-agent and associated applicator (no water, hose, or reservoir container); everything appears to be "dry". One of the main factors in proper asbestos abatement dust control technique is assuring materials are "adequately wet", which can greatly reduce the potential for dust particles to become airborne, typically achieved by wetting materials and work area surfaces before, during and after ACM removal. Even the worker wiping the enclosure wall should be using a wet towel or damp rag, but where is the bucket of cleaning solution? Plus, such wiping activity is usually reserved for the "final cleaning" stage, well after bulk ACM debris has been removed and containerized.
In addition to this, the assumed "asbestos" debris on the floor should've been "promptly" containerized as it was removed, not allowed to accumulate where it could be further disturbed by trampling it, haphazardly dragging hoses and equipment over it, etc., likely causing asbestos fibers to become airborne and further contaminate surfaces. Loose bulk debris also compounds cleaning efforts by unnecessarily spending more time and resources to decontaminate exposed equipment and supplies from excessive debris build-up. Further, the workers themselves in this image appear to have managed keeping their coveralls and gloves perfectly spotless, an amazing feat inside an "active" asbestos abatement work area during bulk removal.
Not to mention, the fact that the personal air monitoring device is attached to the worker performing the least riskiest job function -in this example - relative to airborne asbestos fiber exposure - wiping walls; whereas the other workers are pictured vacuuming and shoveling apparent bulk friable insulation material. Air monitoring results would probably not be fully representative of job tasks with the potential highest exposure risk.
A couple of other points: larger areas of accumulated bulk debris such as this are often cleaned using shovels and not necessarily utilizing vacuums, since the excessive bulk material reduces the service-life of the vucuum's costly HEPA-filter much quicker, tends to clog more frequently, and would also fill the vacuum canister or bag quite often, requiring frequent emptying or bag replacement. HEPA-vacuuming is typically employed for residual materials on surfaces, following substantial removal and cleanup of bulk debris.
Although perhaps a smidgeon of credit is due, since there doesn't appear to be evidence of a broom or brush inside the work area (at least not on camera). Dry-sweeping asbestos material is strictly prohibited. But, some asbestos abatement workers might have another opinion about that.
Also, the kneeling worker holding open the black waste bag does not appear to have an adequate fit "inside" his full-face respirator. The internal seal around his nose and mouth looks breached, consequently not providing the full level of protection these types of respirators are designed for.
Ah, but who's looking anyway?