Show Asbestos Buster What a Dangerous Job 4 a f David Kirkam says his job removing removing removing ing asbestos is an unusual one By Christopher Fielding Contributing Writer jf Wanted A worker t to remove a causing cancer-causing agent from building May experience difficulty difficulty difficulty dif dif- in breathing later in life the On-the-job training available Would you take the job A Salt Lake Community College student dared to take the challenge and has lived to tell about his experience as an asbestos David W. W Kirkham a second- second pre mechanical year engineering major has worked with asbestos for four years The job is like being in prison eight hours a Kirkham Its always dark and dreary and its it's hard work Kirkham must constantly be aware of associated risks such as slipping on wet et or slick surfaces while working on ladders Electrocution also poses a hazard to the workers Asbestos is a type of mineral found in rocks which has a fibrous structure that can be woven which is now widely banned because of the risk associated with the fibrous content Inhalation or swallowing asbestos fibers can lead to asbestosis asbestosis asbestosis a serious disease Even the theair theair theair air we breath on a daily basis contains contains contains con con- minute particles of asbestos particles Fortunately theres there's not enough to cause permanent harm Kirkham said there is an overwhelming overwhelming overwhelming over over- whelming of work to be bedone bedone bedone done by those work for the removal of asbestos Applications of asbestos within buildings and homes include insulation insulation insulation in in- of pipes a popular cottage cottage cottage cot tage cheese like coating on ceilings ceilings ceilings ceil ceil- ings and even asbestos in kitty litter Asbestos has many useful qualities ranging from resistance to heat without melting or burning for insulating against heat flames electricity and noise The ancient Egyptians used asbestos asbestos asbestos as as- to weave funeral gars garments for kings and other important people who were mummified More modem modern uses are varied including the insulation of hot pipes rooms and roofs particularly particular particular- ly in schools and other large build build- ings It is also used to weave gloves aprons and other clothing for workers in hot places like metal foundries A typical working day for an asbestos begins with the removal of all clothing and dressing in disposable overalls and a respirator Workers retreat to a contained area prepared for asbestos removal spray the asbestos asbestos asbestos as as- with water and gather it into arge bags The bags are to a special handling area of the dump for burial When the days day's work is over workers remove their contaminated contaminated contaminated con con- clothing and shower a afew afew afew few times to remove as much asbestos asbestos asbestos as as- residue as possible A cycle that gets old really fast Kirkham said Kirkam considers his job as asan asan asan an asbestos odd People dont don't paid to play with hazardous hazard hazard- ous waste on a daily basis |