The presence of which of the following would indicate a potential risk when dealing with asbestos?

• A. Adequate safety training
• B. High airborne asbestos concentration
• C. Low employee turnout
• D. Regular maintenance checks

Answer: (B)

High airborne asbestos concentration is a significant indicator of potential risk when dealing with asbestos. Asbestos poses serious health hazards, including lung diseases and cancers such as mesothelioma, when its fibers become airborne and can be inhaled by workers or individuals in the area. Monitoring airborne concentrations of asbestos is crucial in occupational hygiene, as this provides direct evidence of the level of exposure that workers may have. Elevated concentrations would necessitate immediate measures to control the risk, such as implementing engineering controls, personal protective equipment, or instituting a respiratory protection program.

Other factors such as safety training, employee turnout, and maintenance checks are important for overall workplace safety and health management but do not directly reflect the immediate risk associated with physical exposure to airborne asbestos. Adequate training ensures workers know how to handle materials safely, while regular maintenance checks can help prevent future hazards, but these elements do not directly indicate the presence or level of airborne asbestos, which is the critical factor in assessing exposure risk.