The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) considers asbestos a hazardous air pollutant. To keep it out of the air, those who work on asbestos-containing materials must receive specific training on how to do so properly. Even if you don't purposefully disturb or disrupt these materials but have the potential to do so in the course of your work, you are required to have asbestos awareness training.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the US EPA require that those whose work brings them in contact with asbestos-containing materials be trained in the following:
- Forms and uses of asbestos
- Health effects of asbestos exposure
- How to recognize damaged or deteriorated asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and presumed asbestos-containing materials (PACM)
- Requirements in the OSHA standard related to housekeeping
- Proper response to an asbestos fiber release
- Who to contact to report an asbestos issue or ask questions
- Location and availability of the asbestos management plan
Access Training
Asbestos awareness training is available for all NIU employees whose work brings them into contact with asbestos-containing materials.
The online training is on Blackboard.
- Log into webcourses.niu.edu
- Click 'organizations'
- Click on 'asbestos awareness—ultra version'
- Take the training
- Complete the quiz
- Print out the badge/certificate and save a digital copy
- Give a copy of your certificate to your supervisor for department training records.
Questions? Please contact Mary Schlagel at mschlagel@niu.edu.