24th Feb (Mon) – 02nd March (Sun) 2025

Course Overview

Enhance the student’s knowledge of occupational hygiene practice in relation to fibrous dusts. The module concentrates on asbestos, but other fibers, e.g. Machine-made mineral fibers, aramids, carbon etc., which are increasingly finding uses in industry are also covered. Successful completion of this module 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 fibers as well as the means of evaluation and control.

Learning Outcomes

On completing this course successfully, the participants will be able:

• Describe the composition, nature and properties of asbestos, machine made mineral and other fibers 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 fibers in accordance with defined procedures including overview of microscopic counting techniques;
• Have the ability to advise on all the various techniques for the management of asbestos in Buildings in accordance with good practice.

Course Format

• 7-days course: 14:00 am to 19:00 IST.
• Minimum 45 hours including demonstration sessions, lectures, tutorials, guided reading, overnight questions and additional time for practical review and examination.
• There will be a 60 Multiple Choice Questions MCQ with “open book” ONLINE examination with an allowed time of 150 minutes.

Course Content

1. Asbestos and other Fibrous Materials
   1. Asbestos
   2. Uses of asbestos
   3. Manmade minerals and other fibers
2. Health Hazards and Exposure Limits
   1. Health effects of asbestos
   2. Inhalation studies
   3. Exposure Limits etc.
   4. Machine made Mineral and other fibers
   5. Typical exposures to Machine made mineral and other fiber
   6. Typical legislative approach
3. Asbestos in Buildings and conducting Surveys
   1. Types and Uses of Asbestos in Building
   2. Surveys of Asbestos containing materials in Buildings
   3. Bulk Sampling
   4. Risk Assessment of Asbestos containing Materials in Building
   5. Management of asbestos containing Materials in Buildings
4. Asbestos Remediation and Assessment prior to Reoccupation
   1. Preparation
   2. Enclosures
   3. Remediation procedures
   4. Waste Removal
   5. Role of Analyst
   6. Air Monitoring and Other Techniques
   7. Certification of Reoccupation
5. Air sampling and fiber counting
   1. Types of Air Sampling
   2. Air Sampling Equipment and procedure
   3. Clearance Sampling
   4. Setting Up Microscopes for Fiber Counting
   5. Filter Preparation
   6. Calculation of Results and Quality Control
   7. Electron Microscopy
6. Analysis of bulk samples
   1. Macroscopic Examination
   2. Sample Preparation
   3. Polarised Light Microscopy
   4. Dispersion Staining
   5. Health and Safety Precautions During Identification
   6. Quality Control
   7. Interfering Fibers and Products