Dealing with Asbestos

Top Three Most Common Hazards and How to Prevent Exposure in the Workplace

Although asbestos can severely damage our lungs if inhaled, it was a common substance used between the 1950s and 1980s due to its many structural advantages, including its excellent tensile strength, resistance to chemical attacks and inability to conduct heat. Although the use of asbestos has been banned in numerous places around the world, including the U.K., it is still present in many older buildings and structures. 

Though we have more knowledge about the dangers of asbestos than we did several decades ago, we still risk exposure to them when being in the vicinity of structures that contain these fibres. Here are the three hazards most commonly associated with asbestos and how to prevent exposure to them.

Hazard 1: Accidentally Disturbing Asbestos

Whether this is done by accident or intentionally, disturbing asbestos is a hazard that could have severe implications on your health in the years to come. Since asbestos particles cling to your alveoli when inhaled, when they are disturbed, you risk breathing in the tiny fibres that are released, ultimately causing scarring to your lungs.

Asbestos disturbance has the potential to happen anywhere, since buildings that were constructed before the 2000s are quite likely to contain asbestos fibres. When refurbishing or working on the likes of ceilings, insulation, doors, panels, walls and floors, you risk disturbing asbestos.

Hazard 2: Removing Asbestos Illegally

Not only does the illegal removal of asbestos pose a threat to everyone involved in that process, it is also a hazard to those who will occupy the building or structure after it has been completed. Although hiring a specialist to conduct an asbestos survey to check for fibres may add to your costs, it is not something that can be avoided.

Other than the physical threats of removing asbestos illegally, the legal matters are also an issue. If you are in charge of a structural or construction project and fail to hire a contractor to remove asbestos, you breach the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 act. As a result, legal punishments such as extreme fines and potential sentences by the courts can be issued.

Hazard 3: Ignoring Short-term Precautions

To help prevent the disturbance of asbestos, there are some short-term safety precautions that should be followed. There are many ways that asbestos can become hazardous if not dealt with correctly in the short term. For example, using dry cleaning techniques such as dusting or sweeping could cause asbestos to become airborne. Also, forgetting to spray surfaces with water to prevent fibres from becoming airborne can also pose a hazard.

Who is Most at Risk of Asbestos Exposure?

Since asbestos was used in the construction of buildings, those who work within the construction industry are most likely to be exposed to asbestos due to the nature of their work. Those who work in the engineering and automobile industries could also have been exposed to asbestos at some point, since asbestos was used in the likes of boilers, pipework, clutches and brake pads in vehicles before the 1980s.

For those working within any of the industries mentioned, including carpenters, painters, electricians, plumbers, shipbuilders, railway engineers or builders, the potential hazards of asbestos should be taken seriously. Ensuring safety is vital.

Preventing Exposure to Asbestos: The Need-to-Knows

As previously mentioned, the effects of inhaling asbestos may not impact you right now, but in the years to come, this can lead to many health conditions, including asbestosis and lung and mesothelioma cancers. However, if asbestos is handled correctly and is safely managed and contained, the hazards associated with asbestos can be prevented. To prevent exposure to asbestos, the following health and safety measures should be followed:

Identify if asbestos is present. If your job is to conduct maintenance work on non-domestic premises, then you have a duty to check for asbestos fibres in building structures. It is always best to assume there is asbestos present in old buildings until you know otherwise. The premises should be surveyed and analysed to be sure.

Conduct a risk assessment. If asbestos is present, determine who could potentially be at risk of exposure to it and if avoiding the disturbance of the fibres is possible. If a licensed contractor that specialises in asbestos surveying is required, then it is essential they are contacted before getting to work.

Provide training to all those involved. You, as a business, must provide the adequate asbestos health and safety training needed to employees.

Follow all advice provided. If asbestos is present, a guidance sheet should be provided, and it is vital this is not ignored.

Always use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). For those in charge of the job, you must always provide the correct PPE to your staff to ensure their safety. Not only that, the correct decontamination process of all equipment, tools and PPE should be conducted.

Safely dispose of asbestos waste. It is vital that the disposal of asbestos is taken seriously, and any waste is double bagged and discarded at a licensed tip.

If dealt with correctly, the risks of asbestos exposure can be minimised. With this said, it is important that all the potential hazards associated with asbestos are assessed, and the correct health and safety measures are followed. For those working in an occupation that naturally increases the risk of asbestos exposure, determining whether you are likely to come into contact with these fibres is essential before any work is conducted.

References
[1]www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/asbestos-related- conditions/what-is-asbestos
[2]www.chemistryworld.com/news/why-asbestos-is-still-used-around-the world/3007504.articlefile:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/Removal_of_asbestos_from_buildings_prior_to_demolition.pdf
[3]www.haspod.com/blog/asbestos/what-to-do-accidental-asbestos-exposure-site
[4]www.hse.gov.uk/safemaintenance/asbestos.htm
[5]www.asbestos.com/cancer/
[6]www.sokolovelaw.com/asbestos/high-risk-occupations/automotive-mechanics/
[7]www.asbestosnetwork.com/high-risk-occupations/auto-mechanics/#:~:text=Asbestos%20has%20been%20a%20component,of%20new%20brakes%20or%20clutches.
[8]www.hseni.gov.uk/articles/managing-and-working-asbestos
[9]www.nationalasbestos.co.uk/news/the-risks-and-consequences-of-illegal-removal-of-asbestos/
[10]www.southtyneside.gov.uk/media/6887/Removal-of-asbestos-from-buildings-prior-to-demolition/pdf/Removal_of_asbestos_from_buildings_prior_to_demolition.pdf
[11]www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/asbestos-and-health-risks.aspx