Application of asbestos management index and asbestos recognition in public buildings in South Korea

ABSTRACT

An asbestos management index (AMI) that reflects the risks to residential health and physical damage to asbestos-containing buildings, and suggests an optimal risk communication methodology through recognition test results obtained from residents sharing common buildings, was developed for this study. The test was followed by a management class evaluation and was executed by applying the developed index to a large number of public buildings. The AMI assessed the physical state of 23 public buildings containing asbestos and the associated health risks. One target building that made up 4.4% of the target area was evaluated as grade 3 (high risk); 10 buildings in another location, or 43.5% of the study area, were evaluated as grade 2 (moderate risk); and 12 buildings, or 52.1%, were evaluated as grade 1 (low risk). It is important that information be exchanged between the affected parties in relation to asbestos. In an effort to be socially just, there have been many efforts to continue research pertaining to communication development regarding asbestos risk.

KEYWORDS:

• asbestos
• asbestos management index
• risk communication
• public building
• risk recognition

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIP) (2016R1C1B2016366) and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (2015R1C1A1A02037363).