AIC's 45th Annual Meeting

The treatment and handling of materials containing, or contaminated with, asbestos is a complicated issue for collection care professionals. Poor handling can result in health risks and regulatory problems. Ensuring safe access, display and installation of these collections requires proper protective equipment, training, engineering controls, isolation, and labeling. For conservators, questions about identification methods and safe work protocols will depend upon intended use, installation requirements, storage conditions, and how the proposed work has been classified according to federal and state regulations. Collaboration with health and safety experts is critical to each of the following steps: material testing, exposure monitoring to develop adequate controls per OSHA and EPA, receiving the correct level of regulatory training and medical certifications, and protecting collections during contracted abatement.

Health and safety professionals from the Art Institute of Chicago and Environmental Analysis, Inc., will provide examples of asbestos-containing building and collection materials, offer resources for certified contractors to conduct testing and abatement, and describe the questions you should be asking.  Advice will be given on how to prepare for collection storage and work area restrictions during asbestos removal activities. Presenters will also discuss the levels of OSHA training, engineering controls and best practices required to prevent asbestos exposures, as well as where to find EPA-accredited training providers.
Conservators experienced in working with asbestos-related collections will present case studies involving consolidation, isolation and decontamination, along with discussion on the complexities involved in making decisions about the right treatment and safety protocols for handling objects that are made from asbestos-containing materials.

A plated lunch will be served.

Cost: $39