Evaluation of the asbestos risk: the advantages of a passive badge

In the course of their work, building and construction workers can be exposed to inhalation of asbestos fibres. To find out more, in 2012, INRS conducted a campaign of measurements making it possible to evaluate the exposure of plumbing & heating engineers during a week of work. A passive badge was tested for that purpose. The research highlighted the presence of asbestos in 35% of cases. For nearly half of them, the operators had not noticed the risk. These results should bring the plumbing/heating engineer trade to improve its awareness of the asbestos risk and to review its practices.