Global Asbestos Awareness Week and Protecting Puerto Rico’s Residents and Workers from Exposure Hazards

The 19^th annual Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW) takes place during the first week of April. The week-long campaign was started by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and is a designed to educate the public about asbestos hazards to prevent future exposure risks.

Asbestos is a generic name given to six fibrous minerals that have been used in numerous commercial products over the years because of its low cost, high tensile strength, chemical and thermal stability, high flexibility and low electrical conductivity. The minerals include chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite.

“Even in countries like the United States that have banned many uses of asbestos, exposure hazards still exist primarily due to the many past uses of asbestos in building materials,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “This is true for numerous residential, commercial and institutional buildings in Puerto Rico. When these materials become friable with age, or when they are handled or disturbed, asbestos fibers can become airborne and remain in the air for long periods of time. This creates an inhalation risk and exposure to asbestos over time has been proven to cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. This is why there are regulations in place designed to protect workers and the public from exposure.”

In Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean, Zimmetry’s industrial hygiene, environmental and building science professionals offer comprehensive asbestos testing and consulting services to identify and mitigate these hazards. These services protect people and can also be essential for keeping businesses and institutions in regulatory compliance.

Last year, Zimmetry sponsored an educational video about Global Asbestos Awareness Week that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/CBv3JSJXVdQ

To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their asbestos, indoor air quality (IAQ), occupational, compliance and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .

About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail