Real-Life Decision Making
Every day, millions of people go to work and encounter a variety of toxic substances. Sometimes, the dangers are known and employers and workers can take precautions. But sometimes the dangers aren't discovered soon enough to help everyone.
Asbestos is an example of a workplace hazard. Asbestos is the generic name of various fibrous minerals such as chrysotile. Asbestos is valuable to industry because of its refractory nature, resisting alkaline, acid, electricity, heat and fire.
But a couple of decades ago, scientists discovered that breathing asbestos causes lung cancer and pneumoconiosis, inflammation of the lungs. By the time scientists made the discovery, many workplaces had asbestos in their construction materials.
According to Kathy Smolynec, an industrial hygienist for a railway company, exposure usually happens when buildings are being renovated, walls torn down, or ceilings replaced. Sometimes, workers encounter what they think might be asbestos during these renovations.
You are an industrial hygienist working as a private consultant. A small business owner calls you in a panic, saying she thinks asbestos was found in the walls of her business.
After calming her down, you find out she isn't certain that the material is asbestos. She is well into renovations and is afraid the necessary changes will cost her thousands of dollars that she doesn't have.
What do you do?