The residual presence of critical components (e.g. Asbestos Containing Materials – ACMs) still represents one of the main criticalities for the Occupational Safety and Health – OS&H in many large public facilities. The very first step for an effective Risk Assessment and Management is obviously a clear definition of the different approaches, complying with the Italian general and special OS&H regulations, both in scenarios where is confirmed the absence of ACMs, and in those where Hazard modes could be Dormant, Armed, or Active. A research project, encouraged since 2008 by Politecnico di Torino and Universita’ degli Studi di Torino, led to the issuing of a Guideline for Occupational Safety in Universities and large public facilities, and its sub-parts, covering special criticalities. Both the Guideline and sub-parts passed a thorough validation process of extended field tests before approval and dissemination. The paper covers the third and final step – following a) the Canvassing based Hazard Identification technique (of general use, but particularly effective to investigate the presence of critical materials), and b) the discussion on the role of the airborne fibers measurements – of the study for the “asbestos” sub-part of the Guideline, and deals in particular with the substantial improvement made possible by Image Analysis techniques both in the Risk Assessment, and in the Safety and Health quality Management.

The residual presence of critical components (e.g. Asbestos Containing Materials – ACMs) still represents one of the main criticalities for the Occupational Safety and Health – OS&H in many large public facilities. The very first step for an effective Risk Assessment and Management is obviously a clear definition of the different approaches, complying with the Italian general and special OS&H regulations, both in scenarios where is confirmed the absence of ACMs, and in those where Hazard modes could be Dormant, Armed, or Active. A research project, encouraged since 2008 by Politecnico di Torino and Universita’ degli Studi di Torino, led to the issuing of a Guideline for Occupational Safety in Universities and large public facilities, and its sub-parts, covering special criticalities. Both the Guideline and sub-parts passed a thorough validation process of extended field tests before approval and dissemination. The paper covers the third and final step – following a) the Canvassing based Hazard Identification technique (of general use, but particularly effective to investigate the presence of critical materials), and b) the discussion on the role of the airborne fibers measurements – of the study for the “asbestos” sub-part of the Guideline, and deals in particular with the substantial improvement made possible by Image Analysis techniques both in the Risk Assessment, and in the Safety and Health quality Management.