There has been a problem with the boiler all week. I know that the asbestos is located near the boiler. Can this seep into the heating system. Should I be worried? and Should my employer be notifying the employees?
I would not be terribly worried about asbestos being in close proximity to a boiler. A boiler heats water that is circulated through the building to heat air that NEVER actually touches the water. You would not have to worry about the water coming up from the boiler spreading asbestos fibers into the air. If there is asbestos in place, it is harmless until it is disturbed. For example, if the boiler needs to be replaced, and the asbestos was in the mounting for this boiler, the replacement team would have to use strict asbestos abatement procedures when removing the old boiler. However, if that same boiler never needed to be moved, the asbestos could remain exactly where it is without harming anyone for decades.
