The dangers of Asbestos - are you at risk?

Although it is over a quarter of a century since the use of Asbestos was banned, the danger it presents has not disappeared. Currently, over 5000 people die each year as a result of contracting asbestos-related diseases, which typically take decades to develop.

While the majority of those affected contracted the disease when asbestos was in common use i.e. before 1999, of the many thousands of tonnes of asbestos used in the past, much of it is still in place. Therefore, people who work in and on older buildings could still be exposed to asbestos today that has not been identified or managed effectively.

Where is Asbestos found?

Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were used extensively in the construction and maintenance of buildings including schools, hospitals and offices, particularly between 1950 and 1980 when asbestos use was at its peak.

Today, many of these buildings still contain asbestos. It is found around pipes and boilers, in Artex wall and ceiling tiles, cement boards under eaves, garage roofs, old bath panels, boiler houses and even in mortar between bricks.

It is thought that in schools (in England) alone, about 90% of buildings contain asbestos. The same is likely to be true of many other public buildings.

Typically, asbestos exposure at work is often considered to only affect workers such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians and other traditional tradesmen, or those exposed to particular types of work such as shipbuilding. However, the reality of the situation is that every type of worker, whether working on or in the premises, could potentially be affected by asbestos related diseases, with studies showing that we should expect to continue seeing a rise in cases in the coming years.

Necessary Checks & Measures

Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of asbestos in premises is required to make this available to the duty holder, but that duty holder will then need to assess its reliability. Those who are not duty holders, but control access to the premises, must co-operate with the duty holder in managing the asbestos.

Workers who carry out building maintenance and repair are particularly at risk unless any residual asbestos is identified and managed through an Asbestos Management Plan (AMP).

Support available

As a smaller business or individual contractor you may be relying on others regarding the presence of asbestos - but can you be sure that the necessary checks and measures have been carried out and that a suitable AMP is in place?

There are a number of resources that can help.

Last year, as part of their "Asbestos and You" campaign the HSE provided 8 quick questions to test your knowledge about asbestos - Asbestos and You - do you know enough to protect yourself and others from asbestos?

Answering these questions can help identify and limit the risk of asbestos exposure.

In addition, earlier this year the HSE launched their "Asbestos - Your Duty" campaign targeting those responsible for managing asbestos in buildings. This included revamping their website to provide a wealth of guidance to help organisations comply with the law and address the issues of asbestos exposure.

Updated information, new templates (including an asbestos management plan template), and explanatory videos can be found on HSE's website to help anyone who is unsure of their legal duties.

For more details on carrying out surveys see Asbestos in the HS A-Z section on the site.