Introduction Asbestos refers to a set of “six naturally occurring silicate minerals exploited commercially for their desirable physical properties” (Hamer & Dodson, 2011). The various types of asbestos normally exist as crystal fibers which are often long and thin in size. There are two categories of asbestos namely the serpentine and the amphibole asbestos (Hamer & Dodson, 2011). The serpentine asbestos is usually white in color and is found in almost every part of the world. Chrysotile is the most common example of serpentine asbestos and it is mainly used to manufacture corrugated roofing sheets. The amphibole asbestos can be either brown or blue in color. The brown type which is popularly known as amosite is associated with the cummingtonite-grunerite solid series and is mainly found in Africa (Hamer & Dodson, 2011). The blue type, crocidolite, is mainly found South Africa. History of Asbestos The origin of asbestos can be traced to Lake Juojarvi region, where its usage began 4500 years ago (Hamer & Dodson, 2011). It was used to make pots and lamp wicks. The first attempt to describe asbestos was made in 300 BC by Theophrastus. His description of asbestos is found in the text titled ‘on stones’ (Hamer & Dodson, 2011). In the United States the use of asbestos began in 1858. However, commercial mining started in 1874 in Quebec’s Appalachian foothills (Hamer & Dodson, 2011). The use of asbestos in manufacturing and construction sectors of most countries became popular towards the end of the nineteen century. Uses of Asbestos In the manufacturing industry, asbestos are used to make the wiring systems of electronic ovens and hot plates (McCulloch, 2008). Its use in the manufacture of electronic ovens is based on the fact that it can resist heat even at very high temperatures. Asbestos is also used in the construction industry to manufacture roofing sheets and pipes (McCulloch, 2008). The characteristics that make it suitable for manufacturing the mentioned building materials include flexibility and high tensile strength (Hamer & Dodson, 2011). Asbestos is also resistant to many chemicals and this makes it suitable for manufacturing building materials. In the US, it has been used to build ships. In the past, “asbestos was used in the automobile industry to manufacture brake pads as well as clutch discs” (Hamer & Dodson, 2011). Harmful Effects Exposure to asbestos especially in its raw form is associated with severe health consequences. If inhaled, the fibers of asbestos can lead to serious diseases (Dewees & Daniels, 2007). The most harmful types of asbestos are amosite and crocidolite. This is because their fibers stay in the lungs for a very long time if inhaled by a person exposed to them. The major diseases caused by asbestos include “mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, asthma and tumors in animals” (Dewees & Daniels, 2007). The chances of getting ill as a result of being exposed to asbestos’ fibers increase if the exposure time is prolonged. Thus those who are exposed to it on a daily basis are more likely to suffer from asbestos-related illnesses. This is supported by the fact that about 70% to 80% of asbestos-related illness are reported by people who work in manufacturing plants that use asbestos (Dewees & Daniels,