Asbestos can cause disabling disease and several types of cancer if significant amounts of the fibers are inhaled. The symptoms of these generally do not appear until 20 or more years after initial exposure. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc) of air over an 8-hour work shift, and a short term exposure limit (STEL) of not more than 1 f/cc averaged over 30 minutes.

Employees potentially exposed to asbestos in concentrations greater than a PEL as a part of their work are required to participate in the asbestos medical surveillance program administered by the NIH Occupational Medical Service (OMS) and the NIH Respiratory Protection Program administered by the TAB, DOHS.