What to do if you are exposed to asbestos?

If you are exposed to asbestos there are some things you should consider:

If you are a smoker, try to stop smoking. Evidence suggests that people exposed to asbestos who quit smoking can significantly reduce their risk of developing lung cancer
Talk to your doctor about whether you should get regular health checkups. You may want to ask about seeing a doctor experienced with asbestos-related diseases. Some doctors recommend that people with heavy asbestos exposure get regular chest x-rays or CT scans, and lung function tests. These tests can't detect asbestos fibres, but they may be able to detect problems that could be caused by the fibres
Tell your doctor if you start to have symptoms that might be related to asbestos exposure. This may include:
- shortness of breath
- a new or worsening cough
- pain or tightness in the chest
- trouble swallowing
- unintended weight loss.

See your doctor promptly for any respiratory illness.

Ask your doctor about getting vaccines against flu and pneumonia
If you were exposed to asbestos in the workplace, register a workplace incident. Make sure you keep records of:
- the incident
- any reports
- your employment at the time the incident occurred
- any medical records related to the exposure.