Asbestos and your workplace
Strange But True - We are hopefully aware that asbestos is a dangerous material and should be dealt with by competent contractors, but did you know once upon a time the Crocidolite type of asbestos was used in the USA in cigarette filters. Not only that, more recently, we have seen it in makeup, children’s toys, and the very high-profile case of talcum powder, not to mention the stories that it was used as snow in the Wizard of Oz filming!
Asbestos still kills around 5000 workers each year, this is more than the number of people killed on the road.
Around 20 tradesman die each week as a result of past exposure
However, asbestos is not just a problem of the past. It can be present today in any building built or refurbished before the year 2000.
Do you know all the places it could be in your home, or your business?
Are you doing enough to protect your employees and the others from this killer?
What is Asbestos?
It is a natural fibre found in rock formation, made of crystalised fibres.
What are the health risks?
The four diseases caused by exposure to asbestos are:
Mesothelioma – a type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and the lining around the lower digestive track.
Asbestos-related lung cancer – it looks the same as lung cancer caused by other causes such as smoking.
Asbestosis – serious lung scarring occurs after heavy exposure over several years. This results in shortness of breath that can become fatal.
Pleural thickening – in this case, heavy asbestos exposure causes the lining of the lung to thicken and swell. This also results in shortness of breath and chest discomfort.
You and your employees/colleagues might not be in immediate risk of working with asbestos, however with the appropriate arrangements, training and procedures in place, you can avoid any potential exposure. Imagine that years down the line your former employee gets one of the above diagnoses, and investigations lead back to you.
Why was it used if it is so dangerous?
Prior to our understanding of the horrible health impacts from this material, it was seen as an essential material as it was found across the globe, was cheap and strong! Having heat resistance and a product that does not dissolve or evaporate it fit so many construction and refurbishment requirements.
The building industry has used asbestos extensively since the late 1800s in:
Walls and ceilings coatings
Lagging on boilers and pipes
Toilet seats and cisterns
Fire blankets
Vinyl floor tiles
Asbestos cement roofs
However, in the 1960s and 1970s the long-term danger of asbestos on human health became known.
If you are considering giving your staff UKATA Asbestos Awareness Training, then look no further than Safety For contact our team.
Safety For are about Safety For ALL. Whatever your business size, industry and needs, we are here for you.