CART Understanding Asbestos and Its Dangers
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Understanding Asbestos and Its Dangers
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was widely used in several industries, as well as in domestic and commercial products in the past. It was popular because of its ability to resist heat, electricity, and chemical damage and its sound-absorption qualities. Asbestos was highly versatile and extracted from open-cast quarries. Even today, asbestos is considered superior to many synthetic products. However, it is often called the "hidden killer" because microscopic fibres are released into the air when disturbed during mining, transportation of raw materials, or manufacturing asbestos-containing products. The most significant danger to most people in the UK is disturbing asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that still exist in products and buildings today. These tiny asbestos particles are invisible to the naked eye, which is why it is so dangerous. The health implications caused by people working with asbestos were first recognised in the early 1900s, yet there wasn’t a total UK ban on asbestos until 1999. The European Union banned asbestos in 2005, and the USA called for a complete ban on asbestos manufacturing, importation, and sales in 1989. However, the ruling was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in 1991, and some asbestos-containing products are still sold in America today.
The health risks associated with asbestos exposure are a significant concern, as the diseases caused by it often take decades to develop. Once inhaled, the fibres of asbestos can become lodged in the lung tissue and lining of the lungs, leading to scarring and potentially resulting in severe health conditions such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. It is essential to have robust asbestos awareness training, asbestos registers, and asbestos risk assessments, including material sampling, to prevent people from contacting or damaging asbestos-containing materials.
Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) are not harmful if left undisturbed or adequately encased. Asbestos does not emit dangerous radiation and only becomes a threat when its microscopic fibres are inhaled into the lungs. The lungs are not designed to deal with such small particles. When discussing disturbing asbestos, we often think of builders demolishing walls and ceilings, which can release a lot of dust and fibres into the environment. However, data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) shows that between 2001-2010, 75 teachers died from mesothelioma, and between 2011-2020, 111 teachers died from the same disease. These deaths were caused by teachers using drawing pins on fire-resistant notice boards that contained asbestos.
Asbestos is a hazardous material that can cause serious health problems. It can float in the air for days once disturbed, making it difficult to control. With enough airflow, asbestos can remain airborne indefinitely. In the UK, an average person breathes in around 5000 asbestos particles daily. The air we breathe contains between 10 and 200 asbestos fibres per cubic meter.
When asbestos is disturbed, many particles can be released due to their microscopic size. These particles can be inhaled or settle on a person's clothes and be taken home, accidentally releasing asbestos into the environment. The inhaled particles may seem harmless because there are no immediate noticeable effects, but it takes 15 years or more before the body develops symptoms. Asbestos is an invisible killer that claims the lives of 5000 people every year in the UK alone.
In Europe, 78% of cancers recognised as occupational cancer were related to asbestos. In 2019, more than 70,000 people died from past exposure to asbestos worldwide. Almost 40,000 people die from asbestos-related diseases every year in the USA alone. The number of global asbestos-related deaths is over a quarter of a million per year.
The invisibility and sheer number of asbestos fibres released when ACMs are disturbed necessitate stringent controls and procedures during any work involving buildings constructed in the UK before 2000.
Asbestos exposure can have severe and complicated effects on health, including a range of conditions that can develop over many years following the initial inhalation of asbestos fibres. One such condition is mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer that primarily affects the lining of the lungs and abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure, making it crucial to raise awareness and take preventive measures.
Asbestos exposure also increases the risk of lung cancer, especially when combined with tobacco smoking. Asbestosis is another chronic lung disease caused by asbestos exposure, leading to lung scarring, breathing difficulties, and decreased lung function. The severity and risk of asbestosis increase with the amount and duration of asbestos exposure.
The latency period between exposure and the onset of symptoms can make it challenging to detect and treat asbestos-related diseases. People may remain asymptomatic for decades, during which the disease progresses undetected. This delay highlights the importance of preventive strategies in the workplace.
Pleural thickening, another condition resulting from asbestos exposure, involves the thickening and hardening of the pleura, the lining surrounding the lungs. This can cause chest pain and significantly impair lung function, further emphasising the critical nature of early asbestos detection and safety measures.
It is vital to understand that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Even minimal contact can result in serious health issues, making it necessary to implement stringent asbestos awareness and safety practices. The long-term impact on individuals' health and quality of life, coupled with the extensive use of asbestos in past construction, makes comprehensive awareness training essential for safeguarding workers' and the public's health.
Accurately measuring the concentration of invisible floating asbestos fibres in the air requires sophisticated air sampling methods. These methods involve drawing air through a filter, which captures the fibres. The filter is then examined in a laboratory, typically using either phase contrast microscopy (PCM) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM), to determine the fibre concentration in the air. PCM is widely used for its efficiency and cost-effectiveness, as it quickly indicates the presence of fibres. However, TEM is more precise and capable of identifying the specific type of asbestos and measuring even the smallest fibres, which are beyond the detection limit of PCM.
This process is critical in environments suspected of asbestos contamination, particularly during and after removing asbestos-containing materials or in buildings where asbestos may have been disturbed. Environmental health professionals usually conduct these assessments to ensure that fibre levels remain within safe limits as defined by health and safety regulations.
Strict legal regulations and safety standards are in place to prevent health risks associated with asbestos. These measures aim to ensure public health and workplace safety by guiding the management, abatement, and disposal of asbestos-containing materials, significantly reducing the potential for asbestos fibre release into the environment.
Authorities have established specific protocols for identifying, handling, and removing asbestos within structures, especially those undergoing renovation or demolition. These protocols include mandatory risk assessments and the development of detailed management plans to prevent inadvertent exposure. Employers must also provide comprehensive asbestos awareness training for all workers who work on properties constructed before 2000. This training helps workers recognise potential asbestos-containing materials and avoid disturbing them.
Compliance with these legal requirements is a matter of regulatory obligation and a crucial aspect of protecting public health. It highlights the collective responsibility of all stakeholders, including building owners, employers, and the construction industry, to manage asbestos risks and uphold the highest safety standards. By doing so, we can prevent adverse health outcomes associated with asbestos exposure.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 establishes guidelines for safeguarding workers from asbestos hazards in the UK. Under these regulations, employers must provide adequate asbestos awareness training to workers who may come into contact with asbestos or asbestos-containing materials as part of their job. This includes construction workers, electricians, plumbers, and maintenance staff.
The aim is to equip those at risk of encountering asbestos with the knowledge to recognise asbestos-containing materials and understand the procedures to avoid disturbing them. This training should be provided before an employee begins work that could potentially expose them to asbestos, and refresher training should be conducted regularly.
Non-compliance with the regulations is taken seriously, with employers facing legal repercussions, including fines and prosecution. The government's commitment to minimising asbestos-related diseases is reflected in the strict compliance and awareness measures enforced.
The legislation also outlines specific requirements for more comprehensive training for those who intentionally work with asbestos-containing materials, such as asbestos removal workers.
Employers must take this obligation seriously to protect their workforce from the long-term health risks associated with asbestos exposure. Asbestos awareness training is a critical component of occupational health and safety strategies across various sectors, reflecting the UK's broader commitment to workplace safety.
Asbestos awareness training is essential for a wide range of workers across different sectors in the UK. This includes various professions beyond construction and building maintenance. It is essential for those whose job duties may involve contact with or proximity to asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), and the aim of the course has one primary message: Don’t touch or disturb asbestos-containing materials.
Tradespeople such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters who frequently disturb the structure of buildings and potentially expose themselves to asbestos need this training. Similarly, heating and ventilation engineers, demolition workers, painters, and decorators should also undergo asbestos awareness training. Their jobs often involve modifications or installations that may interact with asbestos materials, highlighting the need to understand how to manage these risks safely.
Facility managers and custodial staff who maintain buildings also need to be trained. They may handle or disturb ACMs inadvertently during routine maintenance or renovation works. Moreover, architects and building surveyors should be aware of the presence of asbestos to ensure compliance with health and safety standards and regulations.
Science technicians who manage laboratories in schools and colleges where old equipment or building materials may contain asbestos must also undergo this training. This ensures they can recognise potential asbestos hazards and take appropriate precautions to protect themselves and students.
The broad range of professions requiring asbestos awareness training highlights the widespread use of asbestos in past constructions and the potential risks of exposure. By equipping workers with the knowledge to identify and appropriately respond to asbestos hazards, the incidence of asbestos-related diseases can be minimised, fostering safer work environments across the UK.