Asbestos awareness
Find out more about this hidden killer and keep safe!
Be aware of asbestos!
Asbestos Awareness
Did you know that every week on average...
4 plumbers
20 tradesmen
6 electricians
8 joiners
..die from Asbestos-related illness..Find out more about this hidden killer and keep safe!
What is asbestos?
Asbestos was widely used for a variety of purposes as a building material in the UK from the 1950s through to the mid-1980s. It was ideal for fireproofing and insulation. Any building built before 2000 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc) can contain asbestos. Asbestos materials in good condition are safe unless the fibres become airborne; this happens when materials are damaged.
Managing asbestos
People holding responsibility for commercial or business premises have a health and safety duty to others working or using those premises. This includes protection from exposure to asbestos.
There are three essential steps to managing asbestos:
find out whether the premises contain asbestos and if so where it is and what condition it's in. If in doubt, materials must be presumed to contain asbestos;
· assess the risk; and
· make a plan to manage that risk; and
· act on it.
Working on or near asbestos
Working on or near damaged asbestos-containing materials or breathing in high levels of asbestos fibres will increase the chance of getting an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis or pleural thickening.
If you think you or your workforce might be working with asbestos
Do you need a licensed asbestos contractor?
You can check that your contractor holds an HSE license by clicking here
The law about asbestos is contained in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 Read about it here
The duty to manage asbestos Explore the summary by clicking here
Information on Asbestos-related Disease
The link below gives information on the most common asbestos-related disease, mesothiloma.
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