It was alleged that a boiler from a particular manufacturer was installed in a building in upstate New York, and had caused an asbestos exposure to a worker in the boiler room in that building. We were asked to determine if this allegation was true.
We visited the site and inspected the boilers. One of the two original boilers had been replaced. Inspection of the remaining original boiler, and observation of casting numbers determined that the boiler was one of the original boilers, and had been produced by the manufacturer. Further inspection found that the boiler was not, and had never been, insulated with an asbestos-containing insulation. Inspection of the replacement boiler found that it had been installed after the alleged exposure, and was also not, and had never been, insulated with an asbestos-containing insulation. Inspection of the replacement boiler installation found that it was the only replacement boiler that had been installed. There had been no preceding replacements. Other asbestos-containing materials were observed, many of which were friable and damaged and presented an exposure risk.
Our analysis found that boilers from the manufacturer had been installed in the building, but had no asbestos-containing insulation, and as such had no asbestos exposure potential. Alternative exposure risks were observed in other materials in the boiler room, and throughout the facility. These materials were of the type that likely contained asbestos, and many of them were damaged, presenting an exposure risk.