ASBESTOS SURVEYS, AIR MONITORING, CLEARANCES AND MANAGEMENT
THE DUTY TO MANAGE
Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (L143) details the duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises and who the duty holder should be. The full regulations can be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive website http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l143.htm
The Regulations set out your legal duties and the ACOP and guidance give practical advice on how to comply with those requirements. The Regulations give minimum standards for protecting employees from risks associated with exposure to asbestos.
WHAT IS ASBESTOS AND WHY IS IT DANGEROUS?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material which was regularly used in buildings from the 1950s until the late 1990s.
It is still found today in many buildings, including homes, schools and hospitals. If disturbed, it can be a killer.
Asbestos was widely used as an insulation and fire proofing solution. In particular, it found its way into products like ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, boilers, sprayed coatings and garage roof tiles.
Inhaling loose asbestos fibres is known to cause several serious and even fatal lung diseases. So there was no surprise when it was finally banned in 1999. When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases.
These diseases will not affect you immediately; they often take a long time to develop, but once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything.
Asbestos comes in all shapes, sizes and colours. The three types are blue, brown and white asbestos, which were used in countless building products. But as it was often mixed with other materials it can be hard to know if you’ve found it or not.
As long as the asbestos is well maintained and not disturbed or disintegrating, it doesn’t present an immediate risk to your health and can be left in-situ and monitored.
Different types of asbestos need to be dealt with in different ways. CWE Services are at hand to provide any advice you may require.
Asbestos can cause the following fatal and serious diseases:
Mesothelioma
A cancer which affects the lining of lungs (pleura) and the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract (peritoneum).
Asbestos Related Lung Cancer
This is the same as lung cancer caused by smoking or other causes.
Asbestosis
A serious scarring condition of the lung that normally occurs after heavy exposure to asbestos over many year.
Pleural Thickening
Generally occurs after heavy asbestos exposure. The lining of the lung thickens and swells and can cause the lung to be squeezed, causing shortness of breath and discomfort.
If you require advice on asbestos and how to manage it, why not get in touch today?
