Asbestos

• Asbestos General Awareness - Online
• Asbestos Awareness – Classroom
• Asbestos Awareness Refresher - Classroom
• Asbestos < 1% and Lead Work Practices – Classroom
• Asbestos < 1% and Lead Work Practices Refresher – Classroom
• Lead Awareness - Online

All new UW employees are required to complete a one-time General Asbestos Awareness training when hired. This training is available online, requires your UW NetID, and you will need to take the course in one sitting.



Annual Asbestos Awareness training is required for certain employees whose work may bring them in contact with asbestos-containing materials, such as maintenance or custodial workers. Additional specialized training is required for employees who work directly with asbestos and lead-containing materials.

• Administrative Policy Statements (APS) 12.1 Managing Asbestos and Other Regulated Building Materials and APS 56.6 Alterations to UW Seattle Campus Buildings and Grounds 
• WAC asbestos regulation, Chapter 296-62 WAC, Part I-1
• WAC lead regulation, WAC 296-62-07521
• EPA Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), 40 CFR 761.50

All items suspected of being asbestos-containing must be assessed by the UW Facilities Regulated Materials Office. If the item contains asbestos, the Regulated Materials Office will collect, decontaminate, and dispose of the item.

To request an assessment by the Regulated Materials Office, please submit a request. Note that you will need to provide a photo and a budget number for the assessment.

Items that are confirmed to be asbestos-containing cannot be accepted by UW Surplus. Please visit the Preparing Items for Surplus webpage to review a list of items suspected of being asbestos-containing and read current UW Surplus policies and practices.

Asbestos is a generic term for six different naturally occurring mineral formations which have the common characteristic of their crystalline structure being able to be separated into long, thin fibers. The fibers can be curved (serpentine asbestos, or chrysotile) or straight, “needle-like” fibers (the amphiboles). Chrysotile is the most common type of asbestos in the United States and has been mined in various locations in the United States, including Washington State. Asbestos fibers are present in the air throughout the United States. This is partly due to fibers broken from exposed asbestos containing rocks, but more has been released from asbestos containing products, such as, vehicle brakes.

Asbestos was called the “miracle mineral” due to its many unique physical properties. Asbestos was added to many building materials because of its ability to retard fire, strengthen products, and acoustically insulate.

Asbestos use in building materials peaked in the years following World War II through the 1970’s. Asbestos may still be found in new buildings. Asbestos is currently regulated by the WA State Dept. of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH), the EPA, and other government agencies.

Asbestos is harmful if the fibers become airborne and are inhaled. Fibrous asbestos can fracture into fibers small enough that they can penetrate deep into the lungs, where they can interact with the body to cause cancer or other illnesses. Asbestos containing materials that are intact and in good condition are not hazardous to building occupants under normal conditions.

Microscopically small asbestos fibers can be inhaled deep into the lungs and lodge there. After many years, lung cancer or mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) may develop. If you inhale large quantities of asbestos over several years, you could develop asbestosis which progressively makes breathing more difficult, or develop pleural plaques which make it difficult to evaluate lung x-rays. If you swallow large amounts of asbestos, some studies show there may be an increased risk of developing cancers in different organs associated with the throat and gastro-intestinal tract.

Only a few asbestos products are actually banned in the United States. You can still easily buy many asbestos products. The University is minimizing procurement of asbestos products as much as possible. However, we cannot guarantee that new building materials on campus are “asbestos-free.” Items purchased or installed before 1980, most likely contain asbestos.

It is not possible to visually determine if a material contains asbestos. The presence of asbestos can only be determined by specific sampling and analytical procedures conducted by qualified individuals.

Due to their mineralogical properties of having high strength, being an excellent insulator for heat and electricity, being able to resist heat without damage, being fairly good at resisting corrosion, and also having the ability to be woven into fabric, asbestos has been added to many different materials commonly used in buildings and different products. It can be found in literally thousands of types of products from building fireproofing to hand-held hair dryers.

Yes. Asbestos was used during the construction of buildings through the 1970’s. Many buildings on campus are known to have asbestos containing building materials in good physical condition. Hundreds of asbestos removal projects have been conducted at the University. As long as asbestos-containing material remains on campus, the University will monitor the condition and safe removal of asbestos.

The University is taking several steps to ensure a safe and healthy work and academic environment. The University maintains a historical database of asbestos samples collected. Only licensed asbestos abatement contractors are authorized to perform asbestos abatement at the University. Additionally, qualified environmental consultants are retained to monitor the work methods of these licensed asbestos abatement contractors during asbestos removal activities.

Also, University maintenance and custodial staff receive asbestos awareness training to be knowledgeable in the identification and proper practices to use when working around asbestos containing materials.

• You should be aware of the fact that there is still asbestos present, and may be found in buildings you occupy.
• You should be aware that if asbestos is intact and in good condition and you do not break it loose from the surrounding material, asbestos fibers will not be released into the air where you could inhale them.
• Refrain from damaging floors, walls, and ceilings that could possibly contain asbestos.
• Do not rip items off walls or rip up carpeting since they can be glued with adhesive that could possibly contain asbestos.
• If you notice damaged floor tile, walls, ceilings, or pipe insulation, inform your supervisor or the building coordinator, who can contact Facility Services for repair action.
• If you have personal items that contain asbestos, maintain them in such a way that they do not become damaged.

includes chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos, actinolite asbestos, and any of these minerals that have been chemically treated and/or altered

Any material containing more than one percent asbestos; common examples of ACM include but are not limited to: pipe and boiler insulation, sprayed on fireproofing, troweled on acoustical plaster, floor tile and mastic, floor linoleum, transite shingles, roofing materials, wall and ceiling plaster, ceiling tiles, and gasket materials.

Provided for employees who conduct asbestos work that is not considered an asbestos project or is excluded from asbestos worker certification

Includes the construction, demolition, repair, remodeling, maintenance, or renovation of any public or private building or structure, mechanical piping equipment or system involving the demolition, removal, encapsulation, salvage, or disposal of material or outdoor activity releasing or likely to release asbestos fibers into the air

An inspection by certified inspectors which is conducted to determine whether materials to be worked on or removed contain asbestos

An item containing asbestos that is able to be reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry

The asbestos-containing material (ACM) has not crumbled, been pulverized, or otherwise deteriorated so that the asbestos is no longer likely to be bound with its matrix; friable ACM that is disturbed is presumed to be no longer intact.

Thermal system insulation and surfacing material found in buildings, vessels, and vessel sections constructed no later than 1980 that are assumed to contain greater than one percent asbestos but have not been sampled or analyzed to verify or negate the presence of asbestos

Materials regulated by law because of potential health and environmental risks; includes asbestos containing materials, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other materials that exist in building materials including, but not limited to, walls, floors, ceilings, insulation, caulk, glazing, mastic, paint, light fixtures, fireproofing, and equipment