A newly released EPA brochure is designed to provide health and safety information for both professional and do-it-yourself mechanics who may work with automotive components containing asbestos. “Current Best Practices for Preventing Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers” emphasizes the need to prevent asbestos fibers from escaping into the air during repair work.
The brochure warns that it is impossible to tell if clutch and brake components contain asbestos, but advises mechanics to automatically assume asbestos is present. It also details three recognized methods for containing asbestos dust. Both EPA and OSHA have been under fire from critics claiming the Bush administration has wavered on issuing stringent asbestos warnings to mechanics.
