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The Veterans Administration's Asbestos Abatement Program
Author(s) -
SCHEPERS GERRIT W. H.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1991.tb24511.x
Subject(s) - asbestos , annals , library science , administration (probate law) , citation , medicine , law , history , political science , classics , computer science , materials science , metallurgy
1. The Veterans Administration has developed a program of asbestos abatement for its more than 1000 buildings, where health care personnel from 173 hospitals and 238 ambulatory care clinics are likely to encounter respirable asbestos. 2. This is a costly program, which has averaged about $25 million annually for the past ten years. 3. The VA has banned the use of new asbestos products containing more than 1% of asbestos in building construction or renovation projects. 4. Industrial hygiene engineering programs have been ordered instituted at all VA medical centers to monitor dust levels in compliance with OSHA and EPA requirements. 5. Health surveillance programs, managed by an environmental health physician at each medical center, have been instituted for all personnel who have been identified to have breathed asbestos fibers in excess of OSHA-EPA threshold limit values. 6. The health care program focuses on the identification of asbestosis and asbestos-related cancer through periodic X-ray films, lung function tests, and electrocardiographic and physical examination screening. 7. The program also stresses cessation of smoking.