Asbestos
NEW promotional materials for construction workers and tradesmen – stop and check!
Buildhealth have produced two stickers to remind workers to find out if asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are present in their work area before they start the work. The large one is designed for glass e.g. van doors and the smaller one for dashboards / toolboxes.
Before you start work, ask to see the asbestos management survey which should tell you the location and type of ACMs. Remember – most work with ACMs including lagging, insulation & insulation board must be done by a HSENI licensed contractor.
You are mostly at risk when:
- You are working on an unfamiliar site
- The building you are working on was built before the year 2000
- Asbestos-containing materials were not identified before the job was started
- Asbestos-containing materials were identified but this information was not passed on by the people in charge to the people doing the work
- You don’t know how to recognise and work safely with asbestos
The stickers are available free of charge by contacting HSENI
Asbestos must be properly managed to prevent people from dying from asbestos diseases in the future
The latest figures for diseases in GB associated with occupational exposure to asbestos many years ago, are summarised in the following table.
Deaths from mesothelioma (Mesothelioma register 2015) 2 542
Estimated asbestos related lung cancer deaths (2015) 2 500
Deaths from asbestosis without mention of mesothelioma (2015) 467
Newly assessed cases of asbestosis (IIDB 2016) 1050
Newly assessed cases of diffuse pleural thickening (IIDB 2016) 370
Estimated number of cases of non malignant pleural disease reported to specialist physicians (THOR/SWORD 2016) 482
Further Guidance is available at:
- HSENI Asbestos “Duty To Manage Campaign”
- Guidance for Duty Holders
- HSE: Asbestos Health and Safety Site
- occupational,domestic and environmental mesothelioma risks in Britain
- british lung foundation campaign – take 5 and stay alive
- Asbestos: The survey guide
- Introduction to asbestos essentials
- Asbestos: The analysts guide for sampling, analysis and clearance procedures
- Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Managing and working with asbestos. Approved Code of Practice and guidance
