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Asbestos Awareness

Asbestos remains present in many facilities, from commercial and institutional buildings to older structures across the state. Employees who may contact, disturb, or work near asbestos-containing materials (ACM) must understand how to recognize hazards, respond appropriately, and comply with regulatory requirements. This 8-hour Asbestos Awareness workshop provides the knowledge needed to work safely around asbestos and avoid accidental disturbances that could endanger building occupants or workers.

Delivered under the supervision of the Ivy Tech Environmental Management Institute (Indianapolis), this course introduces participants to:

  • Federal and state asbestos regulations
  • Health effects and exposure risks
  • Common locations of ACM and presumed ACM in buildings
  • How to identify signs of damage, deterioration, and potential fiber release
  • Elements of building O&M (Operations & Maintenance) programs
  • Procedures for responding to accidental disturbances or small fiber-release episodes

This course is ideal for maintenance staff, custodial personnel, facilities employees, safety officers, and anyone who works in or around buildings where asbestos may be present.

Note: This course does not certify participants to disturb asbestos; it provides awareness-level knowledge only.

Upon successful completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the basic properties of asbestos and why it presents a health hazard.
  • Identify common building materials that may contain asbestos (ACM and PACM) and understand typical locations within facilities.
  • Recognize signs of damage, deterioration, or disturbance that may indicate a potential asbestos hazard.
  • Describe the health effects associated with asbestos exposure and how exposure can occur in workplace settings.
  • Outline OSHA and EPA regulatory requirements related to asbestos awareness, communication, and building management.
  • Understand the purpose and components of an Operations & Maintenance (O&M) program for managing asbestos in place.
  • Respond appropriately to accidental fiber-release events, including immediate actions and notification procedures.
  • Demonstrate safe work practices to avoid disturbing ACM, consistent with awareness-level training requirements.

If there are no upcoming dates listed below, please reach out to the EMI team at indianapolis-emi@ivytech.edu. We will work with you to ensure you get the EMI class you need in a timely manner.