Asbestos fiber masses tend to break easily into microscopic size particles that can float in the air and stick to clothes. The fibers may be easily inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems.

Persons occupationally exposed to asbestos have developed several types of life-threatening diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. Although the use of asbestos and asbestos products has dramatically decreased, they are still found in many residential and commercial settings and continue to pose a health risk to workers