Health and Safety Consultants

Asbestos, also known as the hidden killer, is responsible for the deaths of 20 tradesmen each week in the UK. Make sure you are clued up the facts so you can protect yourself and others around you.

What is Asbestos and where can it be found?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fibre. There are three main types; Chrysotile, Amosite, and Crocidolite usually called white, brown and blue asbestos respectively. Although its use is now banned by law asbestos was commonly used as a building material for its flame retardant and insulating properties. Asbestos was used extensively as a building material in this country from the 1950s through to the mid 1980s and was used in fire doors, ceiling tiles, internal walls and panels.

How does Asbestos get in to the body and what effect can it have?

Although the body will get rid of most of the larger fibres that can enter the nose and the mouth, tiny fibres can pass in to the lower parts of the lungs. They can stay there for a number of years and in some cases can work their way through the lung lining.  The body naturally gets rid of any fibres that might be taken in with food and water. Asbestos fibres cannot be absorbed through your skin.

Exposure to fibres can lead to lung cancer, fibrosis of the lung or result in asbestosis or mesothelioma, which is a growth in the lining of the chest wall or abdomen.  It is now thought that repeated low level exposures such as could occur during routine repair work may also lead to asbestos induced cancers. 

What is the risk from the Asbestos in my office or the building where I work?

As long as asbestos is intact it will not release significant level of fibre. Disturbing asbestos in any way, such as damage or removal, is far more likely to generate the release of fibres. Therefore unless the asbestos can be easily removed it is often safest to leave it in situ.

What should I do if the Asbestos containing material is damaged?

 Buildings should have been surveyed for any asbestos containing materials and appropriate warning notices posted if any was discovered. If any material containing asbestos becomes damaged it is possible that fibres can be released in to the atmosphere. The room containing the damaged material should be vacated, the door sealed and any windows closed. It should be reported immediately to the Facilities Administrator. Personnel should not enter the room until the appropriate testing and/or maintenance has been undertaken and they have been advised that it is safe to do so.

What is the risk to my health?

The risk to your health from a single exposure to asbestos is very small.  In order to detect the physiological changes that could be caused by exposure to asbestos it would be necessary to undergo regular X-Ray examination. Repeated X-ray examination would pose a more significant risk to your health than the risk associated with exposure to small quantities of asbestos. It is therefore unnecessary to undergo any health monitoring or screening.

 If you are exposed to asbestos you may wish to have this recorded in your Personnel file, occupational health record or your GP’s notes. 

 How can I find out if there is asbestos in my building?

 Asbestos registers should be held for all owned and leased buildings.

Off site working

Some employees may need to visit buildings that are to be demolished or refurbished. It is important to study the building asbestos register before undertaking any work that may disturb any asbestos containing materials.

Edinburgh Council has been fined £14,000 for putting 14 of its workers at risk of exposure to asbestos.  The council’s joiners were carrying out refurbishment work at Castlebrae Community High School, when one of the laboratory doors they were instructed to remove, started leaking white dust.  The council did not have clear procedures in place for informing workers that the substance was in the building and they failed to keep accurate records of the location and condition of the asbestos. The council was found guilty of breaching the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.

This is not the first time the council has had to pay out over work carried out at the school. Back in February this year, they were fined £17,000 after unqualified workmen were sent in to remove toxic material.

Over the next year, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) plans to double inspections of licensed asbestos removal contractors and is appointing more fixed term inspectors as part of their new asbestos Hidden Killer campaign. We would like to remind you that under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 all contractors removing asbestos must be licensed by the HSE.  All new licence holders and contractors renewing their licenses are likely to be checked by the HSE. You have been warned!