Asbestos exposure and prevention methods in urban renewal process

Asbestos and its health hazards have been keeping occupational safety and health community busy for a long time. although it is forbidden to use asbestos in majority of the world as mandated by legislative bodies, it is known that many existing buildings still contain asbestos containing materials due to its widespread usage in the past. asbestos exposure reality resurfaced when these buildings are being demolished as part of the urban renewal process in turkey. this study thoroughly investigates legal regulations and standards that concern asbestos exposure in turkey and rest of the world. it was found that more effective precautions and improvements are needed in turkish legislation on working with asbestos. based on the findings of comparisons, it is recommended that existing regulations need more effective measures and a newly developed control mechanism. in addition, a flow chart was developed for practitioners to prevent asbestos exposure during urban renewal process and remedial recommendations were made.