Managing asbestos at work

Did you know……

More people die from asbestos related disease per year than are killed on the roads.
Asbestos related diseases count for around 4000 deaths a year
Every week 20 tradesmen die from asbestos related disease.
Every week 6 electricians die from asbestos related disease.
Every week 3 plumbers die from asbestos related disease.
It can be present in any building built or refurbished before the year 2000.

Asbestos was used extensively as a building material in Great Britain from the 1950’s through to the mid-1980’s. Any type of building built before 2000 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc.) could contain asbestos. Asbestos materials in good condition are safe unless the asbestos fibres become airborne, which happens when the materials are damaged. Airborne asbestos fibres can be deadly if they are inhaled over a period of time.

Although use of asbestos is now banned it is still present in buildings in many different forms and states of repair. Examples of asbestos containing materials include pipe lagging, asbestos cement roofing, floor tiles, asbestos insulation board such as on walls, doors and perforated ceiling tiles. Some example photographs of various types of asbestos can be found on The Health and Safety Executive website at www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/gallery.htm.Other useful asbestos information is included at www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/information.htm.

A duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic buildings is part of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2006. If you own, occupy, manage or have responsibilities for non-domestic premises which may contain asbestos you have a legal duty to manage the risk.

Remember, it’s 'duty to manage’ not 'duty to survey’. The HSE website http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/campaign/duty.htm#surveys gives various types of management options to manage asbestos on your site.

The Health & Safety Executive have included a Checklist for managing asbestos, an example Asbestos Management Plan and blank forms on their web site which may be helpful to you as a duty holder in your duty to manage asbestos.

A copy of ‘A short guide to managing asbestos in premises’ INDG 223(rev3) is available by telephoning the HSE on 01787 881165 or you can order online by visiting the HSE Books website where other publications on Health and Safety can be found. More information on Asbestos can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/