So, I work at a refinery (I won't name) as a radiographer (unofficial level 1) doing x-ray, Ultrasound, Vac-Box, Magna-flu and all that stuff. But to get to the story, the refinery i'm contracted for is performing a turn-around on a very old crude unit, well the crew I was working with was doing x-ray in the unit. The refinery had been doing asbestos abatement for several days in that area, and later into our shift that night they discovered that there was a possible asbestos exposure to everyone unit wide. So they "decontaminated" everybody who had been working that unit, and sent us home wearing nothing but tyvex suits.
So they closed off the whole unit and had the refinery employees wash down the unit before OSHA showed up, OSHA did their thing and found no airborne particles (obviously everything was washed away, if there was any) and left.
Now, my employer (I also won't name) is wanting to send the group of the "contaminated" including myself to get all the asbestos-related health check-ups. So if I find there are signs of asbestos in my body what are my options?

 

In that short period of time, i wouldn't think you were exposed that long
Go thru with all the things your employer wants you to do, and then go from there. From what your saying your employer is covering their ass
9 ways from sunday.

 

I agree with ^^...Unless you were snorting it like coke, u won't be in much danger. Remember it takes years of constant exposure to really screw up your system. I would think that you would be at a greater risk if you have asthma and/or asthmatic symptoms...do you?

Get your lungs checked out.

 

 

^Lol thats a little extreme. I don't have asthma or anything like that but I've worked in that unit ever since the beginning of the shutdown and pre-shutdown, the thing I didn't know about was they had crews shoveling the old insulation into piles all around the unit. Where this place is at there is wind constantly. I don't mean to sound like i'd be sue happy about it or anything, I just feel as though if I get checked out and come up with something I should know all the down to earth options.

 

yeah it was more of a joke, based on the commercials that plague late-night television...asbestos poisoning? mesothelioma? contact the law offices of james sokolove!

 

That stuff killed my dad. He died of mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos.

Certainly your risk increases with the amount of exposure, but you can certainly put your life in danger with a single incident of exposure. We're talking about fibers physically embedding in your lungs. One fiber is all it takes.

Unless there is physical damage to your body from the asbestos exposure, there is no way to detect "contamination." I would talk with an attorney before I agree with a doctor stating a clean bill of health.

 

I have one questiion, were there respirators available to those in the
area ?

 

I do asbestos surveys and manage asbestos abatement, which is performed by a state-licensed asbestos abatement contractor. Asbestos abatement requires very strict protocols for removal (including worker and workplace protection), transport under manifest, disposal, and reporting. California takes asbestos very seriously, probably overkill. Chronic exposure over time is responsible for most asbestos-related ailments, but massive exposure of the type discussed in this thread can also pose a health threat.

 

To answer Filthy Beasts' question- Only the people that were working on the abatement and cleanup inside of the vessels and towers were required to wear them as nobody else was really told of the danger until it was after the fact. As a matter of fact the refinery and most of the contractors (including my employer) we slapped on the hand by OSHA for not having an asbestos emergency plan. Not to say they weren't available, but I don't really think to walk around all day wearing a respirator.