Organised jointly by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Engineer division of the Brunei Institution of Surveyors, Engineers and Architects (PUJA), the event drew around 70 registered participants comprising personnel from the Public Works Department (JKR), Ministry of Defence (MinDef), Ministry of Development (MoD), consultants and contractors.
The talk was divided into two sessions delivered by a British national, who is a United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)- certified trainer with the National Asbestos and Environmental Training Institute (NAETI), USA, Colin Winning.
During the morning session, Winning presented on the types of asbestos, its history, the significant harmful and irreversible effects of the fibre substance, which is used in various industries such as construction, shipbuilding and automotive to name a few.
According to him, the mineral - which is thinner than a human hair and invisible to the naked eye - is not generally considered to be harmful unless it releases dust or fibres into the air where they can be inhaled or ingested.
As these particles are too small to be filtered by the human body’s natural defense mechanisms, they could enter the lungs and produce scarring, where in long term lead to cancer.
The afternoon session, on the other hand, focused on the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).
Topics covered included the cleanliness of the air conditioning ducts, the accumulation of dust and impurities in the ducts, methods of inspecting the ductwork and maintaining the required level of air cleanliness for hygienic purposes.
“The climate here is ideal for spores and bacteria to breed into mould, which can be transmitted from air conditioners such as in the office, homes and cars, if not cleaned properly,” said Winning.
Source: The Brunei Times