RISK SHEET: ASBESTOS – A NATURAL FIBER Asbestos is a material with numerous qualities which was used on a massive scale before being shown to be highly toxic. However, it can still be found in many buildings and machines. Helping to keep workers in such environments safe, protective coveralls made of DuPont™ Tyvek ®can provide durable, comfortable and robust protection against asbestos fibers. Understanding the dangers of asbestos Asbestos is the common name for several naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals. Asbestos fibers are very heat resistant and strong and were used for many years in thermal insulating materials such as leggings and coatings, floor tiles, roofing, asbestos cement products, electrical insulating materials as well as vehicle clutch and brake linings. Since asbestos is a very friable material, microscopic fibers can release into the air in smaller or larger quantities. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can have serious health effects, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. The Nordic countries banned asbestos between 1970 and 1980. The UK, Germany, and France followed in the 1990s. Directive 1999/77/EC of the European Union bans all types of utilization of asbestos from 1st January 2005 in all of its 27 member states. However, asbestos is still present in many buildings and other structures. Building maintenance workers are at a high risk of coming into contact with the fibers when working on insulation in buildings and industrial installations such as pipes, roofs, walls, etc. Minimizing the risk when working with asbestos The European Council Directive 83/447/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work and its amendments, deals specifically with protecting workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work. Before any work is done, a comprehensive risk assessment has to be carried out and preventive measures have to be established. Employers have to provide the necessary organization of work, appropriate equipment (including suitable personal protective equipment), safe systems of work, training, information, and supervision. Suitable personal protective equipment in general includes respiratory equipment, coverall, gloves, and safety boots. Choosing appropriate protective clothing In order to avoid cross contamination, i.e. asbestos fibers attached to a person’s skin or underwear are carried to uncontaminated places, released and then inhaled, protective coveralls must provide a high barrier against air-borne particles (Category III, Type 5). They have to meet the following general requirements:

• High particle barrier (material, seams)
• Smooth surface to prevent from adhering to the garment
• Tight fit at arm and leg openings (elasticated cuffs and ankles)
• Compatible with additional PPE (masks, goggles, gloves)
• Comfortable to wear, high freedom of movement

However, existing national regulations may go even further: For example, the new French decree n 2012-639, which has come into force on 15 March 2013, dictates the use of a single-use garment that meets, at a minimum, the Type 5 level and has stitched and over-taped or welded seams. What is more, some work related with asbestos abatement may even require protective garments that are also resistant to light or heavy liquid spray (CE Category III, Type 3 and 4). DuPont Tyvek - Durable and robust protection against fine particles and fibers Protective coveralls made of DuPont Tyvek such as Tyvek Classic Plusand Tyvek Classic Xpert provide an excellent barrier against airborne particles (Type 5). When comparing their barrier performance with other Type 5 suits made of Microporous Film (MPF) and SMS (Spunbound/Meltblown/Spunbound), the models made of Tyvek show a significantly lower Average Total Inward Leakage (TIL) according to ISO 13982-2 with an average value of less than 1%. The Type 5 product standard allows for an inward leakage of up to 15% in 8 out of 10 suits tested. *EN 1073-2 measures the inward leakage of particles into the whole suit. The result is then expressed as the Nominal Protection Factor (NPF) of a garment. Tyvek® Classic Plus and Tyvek® Classic Xpert meet the requirements of Class 2 (NPF > 50), whereas most other Type 5 protective suits are only Class 1 (see table below). Thanks to the unique non-woven structure of Tyvek®, which forms a durable barrier against and many water-based inorganic chemicals, barrier performance will remain intact even if the outer layers become abraded in places. With MPF, the protective outer layer is easily damaged by abrasion, whereas the more open structure of SMS allows more particles to penetrate the garment. Beyond its high abrasion and tear resistance, Tyvek® is also lightweight as well as permeable to both air and water vapor, providing a high level of wear comfort. Thanks to its smooth surface and antistatic treatment, Tyvek® prevents particles from adhering to the coverall. DuPontTM Tyvek® Classic Xpert, model CHF5

• Hooded limited-life chemical protection suit, Category III, Type 5-B and 6-B.
• Design and construction provides high protection against particles
• Sleeve design prevents sleeves from riding up when working overhead
• Optimized 3-piece hood design for tight fit around the face
• Elasticated face, wrists and ankles for tight fit
• Tyvek zipper with flap for enhanced protection
• Overall ergonomic shape for perfect fit and protection when moving

Color: white (sizes S to XXL).