Dr. Akbar

Asbestos, a durable and heat-resistant mineral, was commonly used in the construction of many older buildings. Its presence poses significant health risks to workers and homeowners involved in renovation or demolition projects. This educational animation illustrates the way asbestos fibers can harm lung tissue, potentially leading to serious lung diseases.

Asbestos is a building material which was used widely between 1950 and 1980 for a variety of uses, but mainly for insulation and fire proofing.

Asbestos is only dangerous when damaged and the asbestos fibres become airborne. Any building built before 2000 may contain asbestos.

Asbestos can be typically found in the following forms:

• Textured coating or spray.
• Asbestos cement, mainly in moulded form for roofing and guttering.
• Vinyl Floor Tiles
• Ceiling Tiles.
• Pipe Lagging. Cladding Panels.

The Danger

Asbestos ls made up of millions of tiny fibers so small they cannot be seen by the naked eye but which can be inhaled. IT is these fibers which if released into the environment and inhaled are dangerous to health. Asbestos fibers are present in very small quantitates in the UK environment and these do not pose a significant health problem.

If however you are exposed to high levels of asbestos particles as a result of working in close proximity to damaged or broken asbestos then the chance of contracting an asbestos related disease ls much greater.

Asbestos is regulated in the UK by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 which care into effect on 13 November 2006

• The regulations place an all an compassing ban on the use of all types of asbestos and places a duty of care on those responsible for maintaining existing asbestos installations where they are in good condition.
• The regulations also place a mandatory requirement for training of those lively to come into contact with asbestos at work.
• In addition those carrying out asbestos removal may require a license to be issued by the Heath and Safety Executives.

The tiny asbestos fibers are inhaled Into the lungs damaging the lungs and causing disease to develop. There are three main diseases, caused by inhaling asbestos fibers.

Asbestosis:

Affecting the lung tissue It is fatal and usually caused by heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers.

Mesothelioma：

A form of cancer affecting the cells of the mesothelium, the protective sack which surrounds the body's vital organs. It may take between 30 to 40 years to develop after exposure. Deaths from this form of asbestos related cancer are still rising and are expected to peak in 2015 at around 2500 deaths a year in the UK alone.

Asbestos-related lung cancer:

Asbestos has long been regarded as major contributor to death caused to lung cancer and it is thought that it may be responsible for as many as 2000 deaths per year in the UK.

Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 places a duty to manage on those involved in the running of non domestic premises such as schools, public buildings and workplaces.

This duty may fall on the leaseholder or owner of the buildings or both depending on the arrangements.

In order to comply the duty holder must:

1. Find out whether the promises contains asbestos, and, if so, where it is and what condition it is in. If in doubt, materials must be presumed to contain asbestos;
2. Assess the risk; and
3. Make a plan to manage that risk and act on it.

Who is most at risk?

Those Involved in the demolition and building trades are most at risk from damaged or broken asbestos containing materials; installers of cabling and pipework may also be at risk from cutting through asbestos materials.

The 2006 Regulations place a new lower control limit on safe exposure levels at 0.1 fibers per milliliter of air measured over 4 hours.

Work being cared out with asbestos may require a license from the HSE depending on the level of exposure to fibers.

Employers are required by the regulations to provide adequate and regular training to those who are or may be exposed to asbestos.

If a risk assessment has been carried out and it is identified that operatives are likely to be exposed to asbestos fibers the following should occur:

1. The employer should try to prevent exposure if at all possible.
2. Should this not be possible the employer should provide breathing masks and protective clothing to the operative in order to reduce the level of exposure to below the control limit. There should also be adequate washing and changing facilities.
3. The employer should also ensure that the control limits are not exceeded, however if they are the employer should make suitable arrangements to deal with incidents and emergencies.
4. It may be necessary to carry out air cost sampling to assess the risk and this should only be carried out by an UKAS accredited organization.

All employees who are regularly exposed or likely to be exposed during their work should be assessed regularly as to their health.

The employer should provide for the employees to be medically examined at least every two years during exposure and their heath surveyed by a doctor.

A heath record for these employees should be kept for at least forty years.

The employee should be informed immediately of any signs of diseases or il heath likely to have been caused by exposure.

Despite being banned in numerous countries, asbestos remains a hazard. To learn more about preventing exposure and safeguarding health, access our informative factsheet here: Download the Asbestos Factsheet.