Asbestos is the single biggest cause of industrial disease deaths in the United Kingdom. Complete guidance is available on the Health and Safety Executive’s asbestos site, however, below are some basic health and safety advice and guidance to ensure those who may be in contact with asbestos fibres at work knowing what to do will help safeguard themselves and other people from serious asbestos associated diseases like Asbestosis and Mesothelioma.
Asbestos had been extensively used as a constructing material in the UK between the 1950’s and mid 1980’s. It was used for a variety of purposes and was perfect for fire-proofing and insulation. Any building built prior to 2000 (offices, factories houses and public buildings like stations, hospitals and libraries) can contain asbestos. Asbestos materials in good condition are safe except when asbestos fibres are introduced into the air, which happens when materials are damaged or broken apart.
Asbestos dangers
Any time these asbestos fibres are inhaled they can induce serious diseases which are the cause of almost 4500 fatalities each year. There are four major diseases caused by asbestos fibres: lung cancer (almost always fatal), mesothelioma (which is always fatal), diffuse pleural thickening (not fatal), asbestosis (not always fatal, but it can be very debilitating).
Asbestos fibres are present in the surroundings in Great Britain so people are come into contact with very low levels of fibres. Even so, a key consideration in the risk of developing an asbestos-related condition is the amount of fibres breathed in. Working around or near broken asbestos-containing materials or breathing in excessive levels of asbestos fibres, which can be many hundreds of times that of environmental levels can raise your likelihood of developing an asbestos-related illness.
Asbestos related diseases won’t affect instantly but later on in life, so there is a need for you to safeguard yourself now to keep you from contracting an asbestos-related disease later on.
What can be done to protect myself and my team
Evaluate the risks: Determine if asbestos-containing materials are present and plan the job to prevent disturbing these materials if possible
Alert someone to the suspicious materials: Stop and ask if you’re suspicious something may be asbestos or if you believe the job might need to be carried out by a licensed contractor
Am I producing lots of dust?: Avoid using methods that produce a lots of dust, like using power tools
Dont sweep up debris and dust: Sweep up dust and debris – use a Type H machine or wet rags
Protective suits and protective clothing: Do not take home overalls used in working with asbestos materials and do not reuse disposable masks or clothing
Are you properly trained and asbestos aware?: Make sure anyone who will work with asbestos materials are properly trained and is supervised
Think about other possible hazards: Take account of other risks as well as asbestos, eg working at height, and make precautions essential to perform the job safely
The Asbestos Regulations 2012
The Control of Asbestos Regulations came into force on 6 April 2012,, updating previous regulations using existing EU Directive on asbestos.
Even though the revised regulation is fairly limited, it contains:
- From April 2012, a lot of non-licensed work has to be alerted to the relevant enforcing authority.
- From 2012, short written information must be held of non-licensed work, which has to be notified e.g. copy of the notification with a list of the workers at risk, as well as the level of possible exposure of those individuals to asbestos.
- By April 2015, all workers/self employed doing notifiable non-licensed work with asbestos materials must be under health surveillance by a Medical professional.
Under the regulations however, if your employer is in charge of the upkeep of non-domestic premises, they’ve got a ‘duty to manage’ the asbestos in them, to safeguard anyone working in or using the premises from the dangers to health that exposure to asbestos causes. If they need to carry out work then in most cases, work with asbestos must be made by a licensed company. This work includes most asbestos removal, all work with painted asbestos asbestos lagging and coatings and most work with asbestos insulation and insulating boards.
Most essential of all is that training is required for employee liable to be exposed to asbestos fibres at work. Including maintenance workers and other people who may come directly into exposure to or disturb asbestos, along with those involved with asbestos removal work. If you’ve not been provided with training or if you or somebody you know have been have come into contact with asbestos fibres, then speak to someone on our employee accident team and they’ll let you know if you have a claim for compensation. Fill in our online claim form or ask for a call back using our free accident at work call back service.