Asbestos Awareness Training

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.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the US EPA require custodial or maintenance workers are 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)
• Location of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and presumed asbestos-containing material (PACM) in the building
• 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.

1. Log into Blackboard at webcourses.niu.edu
   • Use your NIU email address and password
2. In the left-hand column of Blackboard click ‘Organizations’
3. Click on ‘Asbestos Awareness Training’
   • View the presentation, when finished, click ‘Reviewed’
4. Click on ‘Asbestos Awareness Quiz’ and complete the quiz.
5. Click ‘View and Print Certificate’

Questions? Please contact Mary Schlagel at mschlagel@niu.edu.