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Industrial Hygiene Discussions

WHS BLog 

Don Fillion, CIH, ROH, CRSP

Industrial Hygiene Discussions on Occupational Hygiene, Asbestos, and Indoor Air Quality

WHS Asbestos Risk Matrix

3/25/2023

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WHS Asbestos Exposure Risk Assessment
WHS uses a risk matrix provided below to evaluate the potential exposure to asbestos and determined that the overall risk level was low to moderate. This is a generic risk matrix which can be used with wipe samples, and/or bulk sampling results and incorporates the requirements of BC and Alberta, which have slightly different definitions of Low, Moderate and High-Risk Work.

Conditions for each criteria identified above, and the estimated worker exposure during demolition activities with no additional cleaning or controls implemented to reduce the release of dust and debris and based on details provided in image below.
Asbestos Risk Matrix
Risk Matrix for potential worker and the requirement for additional controls.
Conditions for each criteria identified above, and the estimated worker exposure during demolition activities with no additional cleaning or controls implemented to reduce the release of dust and debris and based on details provided in table above.
Green – Minimal Risk/ Background Levels.
  • Typical Airborne Concentration: at background levels
  • Wipe Samples <10,000 structures/cm2
Yellow 1 - Low Risk of Exposure
  • Typical Airborne Concentration: <0.01 fibres per cc.
  • Wipe Samples >10,000 structures/cm2 but <100,000 structures/cm2
Yellow 2 – Low Risk of Exposure
  • Typical Airborne Concentration: <0.01 fibres per cc.
  • Wipe Samples >10,000 structures/cm2 but <100,000 structures/cm2
Orange 1 – Moderate Risk of Exposure
  • Typical Airborne Concentration: between 0.01 fibres per cc and 0.02 fibres per cc.
  • Wipe Samples >100,000 structures/cm2 but <1,000,000 structures/cm2
  • Bulk samples Asbestos content is between 0.5% and 50% chrysotile and the material is non-friable.  Amosite, and Crocidolite present at <5%, vermiculite is bound in the matrix (plaster/stucco)
Orange 2 – Moderate Risk of Exposure
  • Typical Airborne Concentration: between 0.01 fibres per cc and 0.05 fibres per cc.
  • Wipe Samples >1,000,000 structures/cm2
  • Bulk samples Asbestos content is between 0.5% and 50% chrysotile and the material is non-friable. Amosite, and Crocidolite present at <5%, vermiculite is bound in the matrix (plaster/stucco)
Orange 3 – Moderate Risk of Exposure (with a containment)
  • Typical Airborne Concentration: between 0.01 fibres per cc and 0.05 fibres per cc.
  • Bulk samples Asbestos content is between 0.5% and 50% chrysotile and the material is friable.
  • Removal of friable Amosite, via glove bags.
  • Potential for excessive dust (drywall dust and debris), occupied school or hospital. Infection Prevention Controls are required.
Red 1 – High Risk
  • Typical Airborne Concentration: between 0.1 fibres per cc and 1.0 fibres per cc.
  • Work can be performed with a half mask
Red 2 – High Risk
  • Typical Airborne Concentration: between 1.0 fibres per cc and 10 fibres per cc.
  • Work can be performed with a PAPR
Red 3 – High Risk
  • Typical Airborne Concentration: >10 fibres per cc.
  • Work can be performed with a PAPR/Supplied Air
  • Dry Removal of Chrysotile, Amosite or Crocidolite 
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  • WHS Home
  • WHS Mission
  • Services
  • FAQ's
  • Contact
  • WHS Commitment
  • Asbestos Consulting Services
    • Asbestos Survey
    • Asbestos Worker Certification
  • Confined Space
  • Disaster Response Testing Services
  • Exposure Control Plans
  • Indoor Air Quality
    • Indoor Air Quality
  • Mould Assessments
  • Preventing Hearing Loss
    • Noise Assessment
    • New AB Noise Regulation
  • Worker Exposure Assessment
  • Blog