Asbestos and Its Dangers
- By:Darren McCowan
Asbestos and Its Dangers
Asbestos is the name given to naturally occurring fibrous minerals that are contained within rock and mined in many countries. Asbestos has a number of valuable properties including physical strength, resistance to chemicals, non-combustibility and good thermal and electrical insulation. It is due to these
properties that asbestos has been widely used in industry for a range of applications.
However, when asbestos is disturbed or damaged, the fibres can be released into the air and inhaled, which creates a risk to human health. It is estimated that Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) may be present in up to half a million premises in the UK and could represent a health risk if the materials are not properly identified and managed.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (CAR) were introduced in order to address the risks involved.
From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest , and asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue. The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke. People who get asbestosis have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. The symptoms of these diseases do
not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos Facts
There are three main types of asbestos still found in premises. These are commonly called blue asbestos (crocidolite), brown asbestos (amosite)and white asbestos (chrysotile). All types of asbestos are dangerous, but blue asbestos and brown asbestos are most hazardous. It is impossible to identify them just by their colour.
Although it is now illegal to use asbestos in the construction or refurbishment of any premises, many thousands of tonnes of it were used in the past and much of it is still in place. As long as it is in good condition
and is not being or going to be disturbed or damaged there is no risk. But if it is disturbed or damaged, it can become a danger to health, because asbestos fibres are released into the air and people can breathe them in.
Breathing in air containing asbestos fibres can lead to asbestos-related diseases, mainly cancers of the lungs and chest lining. Asbestos is a risk only if asbestos fibres are released into the air and breathed in. Over 4 years ago, Asbestos-related diseases killed up to 3000 people a year in Great Britain, and this number is expected to continue rising for the next 10 years. There is no cure for asbsestos-related diseases. There is usually a long delay between first exposure to asbestos and the onset of disease. This can vary from 15 - 60 years. Only by preventing or minimising these exposures now
will asbestos-related disease eventually be wiped out.
Asbestos Statistics
Asbestos-related diseases kill up to 3000 people a year in the UK.
The delay between first exposure to asbestos and the onset of disease can vary from 15 - 60 years.
Asbestos is the only known cause of Mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a combination of several minerals held together by silky strands of fibers.
These fireproof fibers of Asbesdos do not burn, and do not conduct heat or electricity.
Asbestos was used widely in all types of construction products up to the mid-1970s.
Asbestos is the most serious occupational health issue ever experienced in the UK .
Asbestos statistics indicate that the incidence of asbestos deaths in the UK may rise until it reaches a peak in the year 2020.
Asbestos Regulations
The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations introduced by the government, require an explicit duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises. This important legislation was passed to tackle the biggest occupational health killer in the UK, which is unfortunatly asbestos-related disease.
Employers, building owners, landlords and tenants should be considering the implications of not complying to these regulaions, identifying the presence of any asbestos-containing materials within their premises and formalising a strategy for managing the risk.
The Duty to Manage
If you own, occupy, manage or have responsibilities for non-domestic premises, which may contain asbestos, you will either have a legal duty to manage the risk from this material or a duty to co-operate with whoever manages that risk.
The person responsible for a building (The Duty Holder) is required to manage the risk from asbestos by:
Taking reasonable steps to find asbestos on their premises and assess the condition of these materials.