Welcome to Asbestos Awareness

by Alan Houghton

Aim
Raise the awareness of everyone to the new duty to manage asbestos in buildings Enable staff to deal with general enquiries involving asbestos issues

Whats Asbestos all about?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral, looks a bit like rockwool or fibreglass in its raw state It was already in use by the Egyptians around 2000BC, woven into cloth and used as a burial shroud. The Romans used it and the Fins made cooking pots from it in the first millenium. In the latter part of the Industrial revolution its use became common in industry. New uses evolved particularly in building products where its range of properties were exploited to the full

What was so good about it?

Heat resistant, doesnt start to degrade until about 900 deg C Doesn't burn Resistant to acids & corrosion Can be woven into a strong cloth Can be used as a reinforcement similar to fibre glass Cheap & easy to use

So, whats the problem

The wonderful properties that make it useful has a big downside if it gets into the lungs. The tiny fibres are sharp and strong. Breath in the fibres and they get stuck in the lung, in fact every time you take a breath they get drawn deeper.

Remember its properties

Resistant to acid and corrosion Strong Well, this means that the fibres stay in the lungs and cant be broken down by the body They are also sharp and can penetrate lung tissue. Thats where cancers can start

Asbestos related diseases

The inhalation of asbestos fibres has been shown to be the cause of three types of diseases.

Asbestosis Asbestos Cancers Mesothelioma

How big is the problem?

This year around 3000 people will die from Asbestos related diseases By 2020 that may rise to 10,000 per year Nothing can be done for these people, these diseases are not treatable. Can take 5~50 years to show Horrible death

Why dont they do something?

Most intensive use from 1955 to 1970 Which meant that the significant effects only began to show in 1980s Legislation was geared to protecting workers in manufacture and removal of asbestos

Jigsaw Puzzle
But the numbers kept rising when the should have started to fall From a study in 1995 it was clear that 25% of people dying had previously worked in the construction industry

Then
1998 The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations were expanded to include any work done on asbestos board to be carried out by licensed contractors In 1998 Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations was amended Expanded scope to include incidental exposure to asbestos Made it clear that CAWR applied to all workers In 1999 use of all asbestos in manufacture was banned

The Heritage
It is almost impossible to destroy it Thousands of tonnes were used each year in buildings Usage peaked 1950~1970 Estimated 2 ~ 4 Million of tonnes are still left in buildings

Ouch!
Workers, employers, building owners and operators were often completely unaware that asbestos containing materials were present That largest single group at risk? 1.4 million workers in the construction industry

Just who is at risk?

Anybody that disturbs ACM sufficiently to put dust in the air!
Demolition Workers Building Maintenance Workers Gas fitters Joiners Electricians Heating and ventilating engineers Plumbers

The Dilemma
Huge quantity of asbestos in buildings To remove it all would cost billions If removed what can be done with all waste Increased risk to all the removers, people around, transport, waste dumps etc

The Good News

2002 Asbestos at Work Regulations amended further and now include Specific Duty, To Manage Asbestos in Buildings Duty holder is principally the occupier Mostly the employer Housing at the moment excluded

What the new Duty means

We have to find out where all asbestos Risk assess Decide whether to remove, encapsulate it, or leave as is Keep register of all asbestos Monitor its condition Provide information on the location and condition of the materials to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb them

This doesnt happen here?

A few examples of possible ACM

Belgian Board containing Asbestos Belgian Board containing Blue Blue Asbestos
Ohway, by the its water resistant Oh by the itsway, water resistant too ! too !

Asbestos mill board used as a ceiling board for fire resistance, plumber didnt recognise it when he fixed the leak

Acoustic tiles often contained 15 % Asbestos fibres as reinforcement

What are we doing

Asbestos has always been dealt with according to the laws To help us we have employed specialist consultants Thoroughly vetted during selection process One of leading Asbestos Consultants Advise us on all aspects

Next steps
By end of February 05 all data into database By end March 05 all data transferred to our Repairs Management System Asbestos information will automatically be included on every job ticket to help keep our partners safe

So far so good
5% included those selected as potentially worst ~ no surprises The next 5% held no surprises either 90% has not been examined so there is a small chance there is something different in this group.

To meet our duties

Carry on collecting data on our stock Tell anyone that works on our properties where there is any asbestos in that property Make regular inspections of asbestos that is being managed

As our partners we ask you to help

If you suspect that the information on the job ticket is wrong tell us immediately If you suspect asbestos, stop work immediately and tell us If you suspect asbestos that does not affect the job in hand, tell us as soon as possible

Remember
If you work on ACMs you may put your health in danger You are not insured to knowingly work on ACMs

What happens when ACMs are suspected

Report to us Independent surveyor takes samples and advises action Remove, encapsulate or manage Morrisons are Licensed Contractors The have equipment and trained personnel Leave it to the experts

Asbestos Not Dangerous IF

Location is known Precautions are taken Many colleagues who know what to do This means that we need to tell our partners where we find asbestos They should also tell us

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions
Most questions can be answered from FAQs

Remember
Its not a contagious disease Its perfectly safe unless it is disturbed and dust gets into the air

Less Frequently Asked Questions

Anybody?

The end