Asbestos Hazard Alert: When Construction Workers Should Use a Respirator

Read the report from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) about when construction workers should use a respirator on the job. In addition to dusts and debris, construction trade workers are at risk from exposure to asbestos, a dangerous substance known to cause serious lung diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.

You may need a respirator if:

For instance,
you are working around asbestos or lead-based paint
you are chipping or cutting concrete or drilling rock that contains silica
you are sanding, cutting, torching, or welding – or using a generator – in a space without good ventilation.
The toxics in the air are above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) set by OSHA – or you don’t know they are not above the PEL
There is no other way to keep down the exposure levels. So, local-exhaust ventilation, new tools, and changes in the way you do the work (such as wet methods) do not take care of the problem.

Courtesy of the CDC

Other helpful links:

Asbestos Asbestos
Asbestos and lung cancer Asbestos and lung cancer
Mesothelioma attorney Mesothelioma attorney
Mesothelioma Lawyer Mesothelioma lawyer
Asbestos attorney Asbestos attorney