MERCHANT SHIPPING NOTICE No. M.

1428

Asbestos—Health Hazards and Precautions

Notice to Shipowners, Shipbuilders, Ship Repairers, Masters, and Ships’ Safety
Committees

This Notice replaces Merchant Shipping Notice No. M.1354

CONTENTS

Paragraph Subject Page No.

1 Introduction 1
2 Description of main types of raw asbestos 1
3 Uses of asbestos in processed form aboard ship 2
4 Health hazards 2
5 Assessment of exposure risk on board ship 2
6 General controls to minimise exposure to asbestos dust 3
7 Further precautions to be taken when maintenance work or emergency repairs
are being carried out which are liable to create asbestos dust 4
8 Precautions to be taken when asbestos is carried as cargo 5
9 Substitute materials 6
10 Taking of samples 6
Annex A Bibliography 8
Annex B Extract from International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (see also paragraph
8.1) 10

1. Introduction 1.3 Alternative materials can replace asbestos in nearly

all areas and these substitutes, which it is believed are
1.1 This Notice draws attention to the danger of inhaling much less hazardous, should be used whenever possible
asbestos dust, and the need to remember this danger (see paragraph 9 and paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3).
particularly in connection with the following work on older
vessels:
2. Description of main types of raw asbestos
(a) work on old insulation, including that protecting
electrical cables; and 2.1 Asbestos is the common name given to a number of
naturally occurring inorganic silicates with complex
(b) work on any panelling, including the removal of compositions and of fibrous, crystalline structure. The three
panelling behind which dust may have accumulated. main types are listed below. However, it is rarely possible to
identify by colour the type of asbestos present in a
Asbestos dust can be released into the air in connection with
other activities—for example those mentioned in paragraph manufactured product, and high temperatures (for example
3.2 and 3.3(c). around the exhausts and hot water pipes of engines) and
ageing may change the colour of certain types of asbestos.
1.2 This Notice also provides advice about the measures
to be taken to keep asbestos locations under review (a) Chrysotile (known as “white asbestos”) is the
(paragraphs 5.2 and 6.2) and the precautions to be taken commonest type. It is a fine, silky, flexible, white to
when maintenance or repair work is undertaken. grey/green fibre.
(b) Amosite (known as “brown asbestos”) is a straight, 4. Health hazards
brittle, light grey to pale brown fibre. 4.1 Airborne asbestos fibres are dangerous. They may be
present in air which looks dust free to the naked eye. When
(c) Crocidolite (known as “blue asbestos”) is a straight,
fibres from materials containing asbestos are inhaled, they
flexible, fibre, lavender grey to bluish green in colour. may penetrate to the deepest part of the lung where they
may cause diseases. Additionally, care should be taken that
2.2 All types of asbestos area risk to health. However, blue asbestos fibres do not penetrate the skin where they may
and brown asbestos are considered to be especially harmful produce wart-like lumps—as far as is known those lumps
and with very few exceptions their import -ation into the UK are not in themselves cause of alarm.
is prohibited.
4.2 Asbestos fibres may be released when a material
containing asbestos is disturbed, or whenever such
materials crack, flake or crumble, etc. This can even occur,
for example, when a nail is driven into a panel to hang up
some light article.
3. Uses of asbestos in processed form aboard the ship
3.1 Asbestos was once widely used in its processed form 4.3 The medical effects of inhaling asbestos dust can be:
because of its properties of heat resistance, and for
providing electrical insulation and imparting strength to (a) Asbestosis
other materials when used as a reinforcement. It may still This is a progressive scarring of the lungs (pul-
be found in the cladding on fireretardant bulkheads, etc. in monary fibrosis) due to exposure to any type of
the glands and gaskets of valves and associated pipework, asbestos dust. It may take some years for the
in friction materials in machinery (eg brake linings), and disorder to be noticeable. It produces increasing
of course, in materials used for thermal insulation such as breathlessness and a dry cough. A thickening of the
the lagging on boilers, steam pipes, etc. Additionally, it lung surface can also occur in those exposed to
might be a minor component of other compound materials asbestos—this may also result in noticeable
where sometimes it can be a hazard if abraded, etc. disability. The scarring and thickening may get
worse after the person concerned has ceased to be in
3.2 On vessels being built for the UK registry the use of contact with asbestos.
asbestos and asbestos based materials is forbidden—except
that, if there are no adequate substitutes available, (b) Bronchial Carcinoma (due to Asbestos)
components of machinery or plant made of compound This is a cancer of the lung usually associated with
materials containing white asbestos may be used. These
people who have had asbestosis. (It is not yet certain
applications include some jointings/gaskets, gland
whether people who have not had asbestosis can get
packings, brake linings and other friction materials. Where this cancer.) Smoking increases the likelihood of this
these parts are used, great care must be taken to ensure that
cancer.
crew (and passengers) do not inhale asbestos dust when,
for example, overhauling braking mechanisms. When (c) Mesothelioma
working on or adjacent to these parts, precautions as
described in the following paragraphs should be taken. This is a rare but dangerous tumour for which there
is no known medical treatment. Usually it occurs in
3.3 On UK registered vessels being overhauled or the lining of the chest (pleura) but it can occur in the
repaired: abdominal cavity. It is usually associated with
exposure to crocidolite (blue asbestos); but it can be
(a) asbestos or asbestos based materials should be caused by other types of asbestos. Some people
removed where they present a risk to health—for develop the tumour after relatively little exposure to
example, friable or flaking asbestos insulation; asbestos. The tumour does not usually occur until at
least 15 years after first exposure and it is common
(b) any replacement structure or totally new structure must
not include asbestos or asbestos based mater-ials; for this period (known as the “latent period”) to
extend to 40 years. Some experts think that this
(c) if there are no adequate substitutes available, com- tumour is not exclusively due to asbestos.
ponents of machinery or plant made of compound
materials containing white asbestos may continue to be
used as in paragraph 3.2. 5. Assessment of exposure risk on board ship
5.1 The employer has a responsibility to ensure that an
assessment is made of any risk of exposure to airborne
asbestos dust on board ship. A permanent
.

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record of this assessment should be retained on board and (b) Any work or other activity at the site must be
kept up to date. General guidance on the assessment of risks carried out in conformity with the advice given
from hazardous substances on ships is given in paragraph in the paragraphs below. The advice given in
1.5.4–7 of the Annex to Merchant Shipping Notice No. paragraphs 6.4–7.8 should be explained to all
M.1429 which amends the 1978 edition of the Code of Safe those carrying out the work.
Working Practices for Merchant Seamen.
(c) If circumstances permit, the defective site must be
covered or sealed in order to minimise the risk of dust
5.2 As part of the assessment the Master (and, when
inhalation.
appointed, the Safety Officer) should indicate on a plan of
the ship or a separately maintained record those places (d) Repair and maintenance work by seamen must only
where there is or may be asbestos, or materials containing be undertaken if, for safety reasons, this is
asbestos, to which any person might be exposed absolutely necessary. Every consideration should be
given to having the work undertaken in port by
5.3 It should be remembered when making the assessment qualified personnel.
that fibres are more likely to be released in quantity when
asbestos is disturbed (eg when machinery is running or (e) Any place where there is, or is thought to be, airborne
being braked). Obviously sound surfaces should not be asbestos should be reported to the owner or managers
of the ship as appropriate.
probed or otherwise disturbed simply to ascertain whether
they cover materials containing asbestos. (f) A seafarer who has been exposed to asbestos dust, or
who has worked with asbestos on board ship, should be
5.4 On receiving any adverse comment on the condition advised to make a record of the dates and
of asbestos in any location, the Master should inspect the circumstances, and to inform his own medical
site immediately (or, if this is not practicable, as soon as practitioner thereof.
possible) and make a written report of his findings and of
the remedial measures taken in accordance with this (g) Where repairs etc. involving asbestos are to be
Notice. done by shore based personnel, the repairer should
be informed as soon as possible of the nature and
extent of any asbestos work anticipated, and, if
possible, of the type of asbestos. This will help him
plan the work so as to satisfy any legal requirements
such as the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations
6. General controls to minimise exposure to asbestos 1987. Where the work involves asbestos insulation or
dust coating, a contractor must hold a licence under the
Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 if the work is
6.1 The ideal form of control would of course be the done in the UK. It is particularly essential that
complete removal of all asbestos from the ship. However strippers know how to ensure that fibres are not
such an operation should never be undertaken except by carried outside the affected area, eg. by getting into
qualified specialist contractors following a strictly controlled the ducting systems. Wherever possible shore based
safety regime. The following paragraphs describe measures work should be done in the UK or in a country
to be taken on ships where asbestos is present and there is a enforcing equivalent health and safety standards.
need to ensure adequate protection from asbestos dust.

6.2 Any crew member who is, or is believed to be,

working regularly in the vicinity of asbestos to which he
might in consequence be exposed should be told of its 6.4 Where, exceptionally, the amount of asbestos in the air
location and should be instructed by the Master to report is continually monitored, the level of asbestos adjacent to
immediately to him any defects (such as cracks or flaking) the face of anyone breathing that air should not exceed,
or any deterioration in the condition of the asbestos. when measured as a time weighted average over 4 hours or
10 minutes:
6.3 If the condition of any asbestos on board ship is or
may be defective the following steps should be taken: (a) if the type is not known, or if it is identified as blue
asbestos (crocidolite) or brown asbestos (amosite): 0.2
(a) All crew members should be informed and access to fibres/ml of air (4 hours) or 0.6 fibres/ml of air (10
the site must be restricted to as few crew members as minutes);
possible.
(b) if it is positively identified as white asbestos (chry-
sotile) which is not combined with any other form of
asbestos, or as a less harmful type of asbestos: 0.5
fibres/ml of air (4 hours) or 1.5 fibres/ml of air (10
minutes).

3
 full face mask must either use a powered respirator with
blouse or, preferably, keep away from areas containing
No one should breathe air containing a level of asbestos airborne asbestos fibres.
above these control limits. If the dust level is or could be
(iv) The breathing apparatus supplied on the ship for
above the control limits respiratory equipment and full
fire-fighting should not be used in connection with
protective clothing as prescribed in paragraph 6.5(a) must
asbestos dust—unless the overriding hazard is a fire.
be worn. Advice on this can be obtained from Marine
Offices or the Health and Safety Executive. (b) Once work has started, the protective clothing and
equipment should not be worn outside the affected
area.
6.5 On a ship, it will not usually be practicable to identify
(c) When work in the area is finished, and the area is
the type of asbestos encountered or to monitor asbestos in
the air (paragraph 6.4). Moreover on a ship the tidied up (see paragraph 7.5), the clothing and
concentration of the dust may change rapidly during repairs. equipment should be freed of as much dust as
possible—using, if available, a vacuum cleaner (and
Therefore where asbestos dust is likely to be present
protective procedures must be observed as follows: filters) conforming to type “H” described in BS 5415:
1986 and recommended by the HSE for this purpose;
(a) (i) Suitable approved protective clothing and other vacuum cleaners should NOT be used. The
equipment should be worn by all persons entering the vacuum cleaner should be cleaned before the
affected area. Employers must ensure that suitable protective clothing is taken off. Clothing which has or
clothing and equipment is supplied, properly has had dust on it should be carefully removed, and
maintained, regularly inspected and repaired, placed in a dust tight container (see paragraphs 7.5
decontaminated or replaced as necessary, and that and 7.6). After the clothing is in the container,
employees likely to be at risk are given appropriate shoes/boots and the respirator should be cleaned with
instructions in the use of protective clothing and a damp cloth. The respirator can only then be removed
equipment (Merchant Shipping (Protective Clothing from the operator’s face. The cloth and the respirator
and Equipment) Regulations 1985). filter should be disposed of as in paragraph 7.6.
(ii) Respiratory protective equipment type approved for (d) Parts of the body exposed whilst working with
the purpose by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) asbestos should be immediately and thoroughly
and full protective clothing which gives adequate rinsed and then washed after removal of contaminated
protection against concentrations of crocidolite and clothing.
other asbestos dust must be worn by any person when
he is likely to be at risk. For some limited activities,
7. Further precautions to be taken when
such as examining the condition of asbestos lagging,
halfmask or disposable respirators conforming to BS maintenance work or emergency repairs are being
2091:1969 may provide adequate protection. However carried out which are liable to create asbestos dust
7.1 Wherever possible, work on materials containing
full face high efficiency dust respirators capable of
providing protection to at least 1000 times the asbestos, and any operation which could give rise to
appropriate control limits for asbestos, conforming to asbestos dust, should be left until the ship is in a port or
dry dock where the proper facilities and equipment are
BS 4555:1970 or its equivalent , are normally required
if there is any risk of a concentration of airborne available. Where it is essential for such work to be carried
asbestos and should be worn whenever the level of out at sea, maximum precautions should be taken as below
and as in paragraphs 6.4-6.5 above. In particular it should
exposure is in doubt. (See Merchant Shipping Notice
No. M.1195: Annex Section 6(e).) The protective be noted that material associated with structural fire
clothing should comprise suitable footwear and protection should not be distributed except in circumstances
when it may be necessary to sacrifice some measure of
pocketless overalls, headgear and gloves, all made of
materials to which the dust will not readily cling. The structural fire protection in order to ensure the safety of the
overalls should be close-fitting at the neck, ankles and ship itself, eg preserve watertight integrity or adequate
stability. In such cases, proper precautions should be
wrists. Disposable overalls may be used provided they
exclude asbestos dust. observed and the materials and structure concerned should
be restored to their original condition as soon as
(iii) The wearer of a respirator should ensure that there possible, ie on return to port.
is good contact between the mask and the wearer’s
face. Beards and spectacles, for example, prevent the 7.2 When working with materials containing asbestos (eg
mask from sealing effectively. Therefore persons who when stripping thermal insulation, etc.) dust levels can be
cannot obtain a good seal with a considerably reduced by careful handling, by

4
using hand tools rather than power tools, and by thorough be stowed safely until they can be disposed of ashore in
pre-wetting of the item to be worked. Thoroughly wet or accordance with the advice of the port authority, or sent
oil-soaked items, such as gaskets and seals, can usually be by the ship to a place where the clothing can be specially
replaced without special precautions; the replaced item laundered.
should be carefully disposed of. (NOTE: a thick layer of
asbestos such as lagging, may not be thoroughly wet all the 7.7 Whilst crew members should as far as possible avoid
way through, even if it has been deliberately wetted: so removing any asbestos-containing materials which are in a
treat it as if it were dry.) Care should be taken if asbestos is sound condition, any replacement of a defective asbestos
on or close to electrical wires or parts. When the asbestos item should if possible be with an equivalent item made
material has a non or low absorbent surface, the surface from a safer substance.
should be punctured carefully with a sharp tool in sufficient
places and to a depth to ensure that the asbestos can be 7.8 Before return to port any friable materials, eg sprayed
thoroughly soaked. If possible, movement of dust should asbestos insulation, panels, cladding, etc. which have
also be controlled by enclosing the relevant areas and by become, or could become, damaged should be protected
using portable dust extraction equip ment. Air vented from by a suitable coating or covering. Likewise any bare
such areas should, as far as possible, be vented so that no asbestos should be sealed with paint, etc. and properly
one on deck or elsewhere can inhale it. covered. If there is a danger of unsealed edges of asbestos
panels rubbing together with the movement of the ship, they
7.3 Access to areas where asbestos is being worked should should be plugged with a suitable sealing compound.
be limited to those persons essential to the operation. Where Compounds used for sealing edges of panels used for
practicable, the working area should be enclosed (for structural fire protection should be of a material
example, by plastic sheeting and adhesive tape), and considered in conjunction with the testing and approval of
suitable warning signs should be posted. Persons not the fire bulkhead materials.
wearing protective clothing and respiratory equipment
should be excluded from this area.
8. Precautions to be taken when asbestos is carried as
7.4 If possible a large plastic sheet, etc should be used to
cargo
collect all waste material as it is generated during the
8.1 Advice on the carriage and packaging of asbestos as
work. The sheet should be used to wrap up asbestos dust and part of the ship’s cargo is given in the International
small fragments of asbestos.
Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code). The advice
currently contained in that Code is given in paragraph 8.2
7.5 When work in the enclosed area is completed, dust below, and in Annex B to this Notice.
sheets as in paragraph 7.4 should be carefully folded and
placed, along with large pieces of asbestos, in air tight
8.2 Amendment 25–89 of the IMDG Code (page 9024)
containers (eg strong plastic bags, sealed with adhesive includes the following:
tape). Then the walls, ceiling and items in the area should
be cleaned with damp cloths, and dust on the deck should Cargo spaces or freight containers that have contained
be dampened and swept carefully. Where possible the any type of raw asbestos should be carefully cleaned
enclosure sheets should be sprayed with PV A and allowed before discharging any remaining cargo, loading other
to dry in order to fix any residual asbestos dust on the cargo, or carrying out repair or maintenance work.
sheets. The sheets should then be carefully taken down, and Whenever possible, cleaning of cargo spaces should be
put into air tight containers. Then the area should be cleaned carried out whilst the ship is in a port where proper
again as above. See paragraph 6.5(c) as to the use of special facilities and equip ment, including proper respiratory
vacuum cleaners and the disposal of contaminated clothing. apparatus and protective clothing, is available. Parts of
the body that may have been exposed should be
7.6 All cloths, filters, brushes, clothing, etc should be immediately and thoroughly washed. All waste
placed in the air tight containers: they should NOT be material should be collected in impermeable and sealed
cleaned on board ship. The sealed containers should be bags for safe disposal ashore. If cleaning cannot be
clearly labelled “Warning: Contains asbestos. Breathing carried out at the discharge port, arrangements should
asbestos dust is dangerous. Follow safety instructions” or be made in advance for cleaning to be carried out at the
“Asbestos contaminated clothing—do not inhale the dust”. next port where necessary facilities are available. If
(The port authority can give a translation of the asbestos cleaning of cargo spaces must be carried out at sea, the
warning.) The containers should safety procedures followed and standard of equipment
used must be at least as effective as those which would
be employed in a port. Until such cleaning is

5
 undertaken, the cargo spaces in which the asbestos 10. Taking of samples
has been carried should be closed and access to those 10.1 If possible, only a specialist company should take
spaces prohibited. Asbestos which is immersed or samples; but the following advice is given so that ships’
fixed in a natural or artificial binder material (such as officers can monitor such work, or, if really necessary (for
cement, plastics, asphalt, resins or mineral ore) and example when loose asbestos is discovered) do it
manufactured articles containing asbestos are themselves.
considered non-dangerous for transport.
10.2 Samples should be taken only if there is a real need to
8.3 As much waste material as can be collected manually do so—eg where a damaged item is believed to contain
(eg lumps of raw asbestos) should be placed in dust-tight asbestos, or a machine is believed to put asbestos dust into
containers and treated as in paragraph 7.4 above. If possible, the air, or projected refurbishment of part of a vessel or its
residual dust should be cleaned up with a vacuum cleaner machinery may put suspect material into the air.
and filters of a type designed for this purpose, and
recommended by the Health and Safety Executive: other 10.3 Sampling will generate airborne fibres; so samplers
vacuum cleaners or filters should NOT be used. should be equipped with suitable protective clothing,
Alternatively, or afterwards, the hold should be properly including masks. All personnel not involved should be
hosed down to prevent the atmosphere becoming dust excluded from the area whilst sampling is being carried out.
laden. It should be noted that hosing down under pressure is Where a sample is taken from lagging or an insulation
likely to raise dust; hosing down should only be done on board, etc. the damaged material should be thoroughly
surfaces already wetted. If a hold has been hosed down, sealed, and, in all cases, any debris or dust remaining
particular attention should be given to ensuring that any should be properly removed (see paragraphs 6.3–7.8).
residues are removed from the bilges whilst moist. All the
residual material should be put into containers, as above. 10.4 Samples of material
Each container must be clearly labelled “Warning: (a) Asbestos material may be encountered in two
Contains asbestos. Breathing asbestos dust is dangerous. forms: first, where the mix of materials will be the
Follow safety instructions”. If the type of asbestos is same throughout—such as tiles or insulation board;
known, this should be stated on the label. Appropriate and, second, where the mix of materials may vary
protective clothing and respiratory equipment in accordance through the items to be sampled—for example,
with paragraph 6.5(a) above should be worn during all sprayed coatings or pipe and boiler lagging.
cleaning processes. (See also paragraphs 6.5(b)–6.5(d).)
(b) Where the material is the same throughout, one or two
representative samples each about 5 cm square are
8.4 The precautions outlined in this section of the Notice
normally sufficient for analysis.
apply only to the carriage of asbestos as ship’s cargo in its
raw state, and need not normally be expected to apply to the (c) With material such as lagging, there can be variations
carriage of cargoes of manufactured articles containing in the mix used in the same area—both along the
asbestos where the asbestos material is safely bonded in length of each piece of insulation, and through the
the product; but care should still be taken with such depth of insulation at each point . Blue asbestos can be
cargoes, as they may release asbestos dust when present as an impurity, and may not be evenly
handled—particularly if they are damaged. distributed. Samples should therefore be taken as
follows. Take a core, of about 5 cm square in section,
through the insulation so as to include everything from
the outer surface to the surface of the underlying unit.
It is advisable that at least two samples should be
taken from each boiler, calorifier or pipe run.
Preferably one sample should be taken for each 3
metres of pipe insulation, etc. Extra samples should
also be taken where there is evidence that the
insulation has been patched or repaired.
9. Substitute materials
Substitutes for asbestos ought to be used wherever
possible (see paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3). However,
substitutes for asbestos can themselves give rise to
heavy concentrations of dust. Whilst there is no evidence to
show that these materials pose any great risks to health, 10.5 Samples of Dust
contact with any airborne dust should be kept as low as Where the dust in question has been generated at one
particular place, and has collected at one particular spot, a
is reasonably practicable. Where exposure to dust or fibres
from substitute materials cannot be avoided, the ‘‘handful’’ sample should be obtained, is possible. Where
precautions recommended for asbestos should be followed. the dust may have been generated from

6
more than one place, or has been spread over an area of number of the person to whom the results are to be
deck, etc. a number of “handful” samples should be taken, reported, the name of his company and ship, and any other
if possible. relevant information.

10.6 Where more than one sample has been obtained, it is

important that the samples are clearly and unambiguously 10.8 The local port health authority or Marine Office or
identified as to the place from which they came, and that local Health and Safety Executive Office should be able
there is no possibility of cross-contamination between the to suggest a laboratory to do the analysis. Otherwise
samples. Each sample should be put into its own clear samples can be sent to:
plastic bag. This should be sealed with adhesive tape to
Sub-Division 15 (Hazardous Substances)
avoid the possibility of any dust escaping during transit.
The Laboratory of the Government Chemist
The sealed bag should be clearly marked with the sample
Cornwall House
number or other ident ifying details. The sample should
Waterloo Road, London SE1 8XY.
then be sealed into a further plastic bag using adhesive
tape. Samples should be sent only to a recommended laboratory,
who may charge for the analysis. Samples should not be sent
10.7 A note should go with the sample(s) giving their to a Marine Office or to any other part of the Department of
details, together with the name, address and telephone Transport.

Department of Transport
Marine Directorate
London WC1V 6LP
December 1990

© Crown copyright 1990

7
 ANNEX A

BIBLIOGRAPHY

(a) HMSO Publications (available from the HMSO Shop at 49 High Holborn, London WC1 or by post from
HMSO, PO Box 276, London SW8 5DT: telephone 071–928 6977)
The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983, SI 1983 No. 1649.
The Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1985, SI 1985 No. 1910.
The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987, SI 1987 No. 2115.
The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Regulations 1981, SI 1981 No. 1747.
The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) (Amendment) Regulations 1986, SI 1986 No. 1069.
The Merchant Shipping (Protective Clothing and Equipment) Regulations 1985 No. 1664.
Approved Code of Practice: The Control of Asbestos at Work.
Approved Code of Practice: Work with Asbestos Insulation, Asbestos Coating and Asbestos Insulation Board. Institute of
Wastes Management Code of Practice for the Disposal of Asbestos.
DOE Waste Management Paper No. 18: Asbestos Wastes.

(b) Health and Safety Executive Publications (available from HMSO and from Local Health and Safety
Executive Offices)
Environmental Hygiene Guidance Notes
EH 10: Asbestos—Exposure Limits and Measurement of Airborne Dust Concentrations
EH 35: Probable asbestos dust concentrations at construction process
EH 36: Work with asbestos cement
EH 37: Work with asbestos insulation board
EH 41: Respirable protective equipment for use against asbestos
EH 42: Monitoring strategies for toxic substances
EH 46: Man-made mineral fibres
EH 47: The provision, use and maintenance of hygiene facilities for work on asbestos insulation and coatings
EH 50: Training operatives and supervisors for work with asbestos insulation, coatings and insulation board
EH 52: Removal techniques and associated waste handling for asbestos insulation, coatings and insulation board.

Health and Safety Guidance Booklets

HS(G)53 Respiratory protective equipment—A practical guide for users.

HSE Booklets
Respiratory protective equipment—legislative requirements and lists of HSE approved standards and type approval
equipment.

Note: Further information and a comprehensive list of guidance on asbestos is available from the HSE Library and
Information Services at Baynards House, 1 Chepstow Place, Westbourne Grove, London W2 4TF (telephone 071-
221 0870).

(c) Asbestos Information Centre Publications (available from Asbestos Information Centre, 22 High Street,
Epsom, Surrey KT19 8AH: telephone 037–27 42055)
Health and Safety Data Sheets
HSD 1 Compressed asbestos fibre jointing
HSD 2 Lubricated, proofed and foil-wrapped asbestos packings
HSD 3 Asbestos based beater addition jointing, etc.
HSD 4 Proofed asbestos cloth
HSD 5 Asbestos millboard and asbestos paper
HSD 6 Asbestos textiles and dry packings.

8
(d) International Maritime Organization Publications (available from International Maritime Organization, 4
Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR: telephone 071–735 7611)
The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
Emergency Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods.

9
 ANNEX B

International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code

Published by the International Maritime Organization, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR:
telephone 071–735 7611 with whose permission the following extract appears

CLASS 9—MISCELLANEOUS DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES AND ARTICLES

ASBESTOS, BLUE: BLUE ASBESTOS: CROCIDOLITE (UN No. 2212).

WHITE ASBESTOS (CHRYSOTILE, ACTINOLITE, ANTHOPHYLLITE, TREMOLITE)
(UN No. 2590).

Properties
Mineral fibres of varying length.
Non-combustible.

Observations
Inhalation of the dust of asbestos fibres is dangerous and therefore exposure should be avoided at all times.
Always prevent the generation of asbestos dust.

Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos) should be regarded as the most hazardous type of asbestos.

A safe level of airborne concentration of asbestos fibres may be obtained through effective packing.

Note: The last two paragraphs under this heading are reproduced at paragraph 8.2 of the Merchant Shipping Notice.

Label
NO LABEL REQUIRED.

Packing Package

Kg

1. Strong, sift-proof receptacles —

2. Multi-ply bag, sift proof plastics (5H2), (5H4) or textile (5H2) 55

The packages should be transported in closed freight containers, in other closed type cargo transport units,
or in shrink-wrapped unit loads. For IBCs see section 26 of the General Introduction.

Stowage
Category A (on deck/under deck on cargo or passenger vessel). Clear of living quarters.

“Away from” foodstuffs.

Packing, stowage and segregation

See also General Introduction and Introduction to this class.

IMDG Code—Page 9024

Amdt 25–89.

Printed by HMSO, Edinburgh Press

Dd 8031216 9,000 1/91 (285124)

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