Why Is Asbestos Awareness So Important?

For those who are not already familiar with this material, asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of soft flexible fibres that are resistant to heat, electricity and corrosion. These qualities make asbestos a great material for the construction industry, however, the fibrous structure also makes this mineral a threat to health. The tiny fibres of asbestos can get released into the air due to erosion and other processes. This poses a severe risk to health as the floating particles of asbestos can get into your body through inhalation and ingestion. Consequently, these tiny particles get trapped inside the body and stay for a long time, causing different health issues from inflammation and fatal lung cancers.

According to The Health and Safety Executive,

‘There are around 5,500 asbestos-related deaths every year. That’s 4 times as many annual fatalities as road traffic accidents.’

What is Asbestos Exposure?

Generally, asbestos exposure refers to the possibility of inhaling or ingesting asbestos particles floating in the air. This occurs when asbestos materials erode or get disturbed by other processes and release tiny asbestos fibres into the air. Individuals who are most subject to asbestos exposure include people working in asbestos mines or construction sites handling asbestos products.

Health Risks

Asbestos is dangerous when it gets into your body. It can enter your body mainly through inhalation and ingestion. But, you won’t actually face any immediate effects of asbestos. This is because it takes years to observe the health implications of asbestos after repeated exposure for a long time. It’s important to understand that asbestos rarely gets out of your body. The tiny particles accumulate in your body tissues and internal organs. Over time, this causes irritation and inflammation, damaging the person’s body tissues in the process. This can result in some fatal diseases in the worst cases.

Sadly, asbestos contamination can cause severe cancer and non-cancerous diseases. The most common type is Mesothelioma, a cancer which occurs in the lining of the lungs and abdomen. However, asbestos can also cause other cancers such as lung cancer, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer. The non-cancerous diseases caused by asbestos are:

• Asbestosis
• Pleural effusion
• Pleurisy

Subsequently, the importance of asbestos awareness is a crucial part of avoiding these fatal health implications.

Image Source - https://www.asbestos.com/exposure/

HSE and other government bodies regularly publish guidance on what businesses need to do when it comes to raising awareness about asbestos. However, there are still many industry workers who are not aware of the extent of asbestos use prior to the turn of the 21st century, nor do they realise the harm that it can cause.

Similarly, many homeowners in the UK may not be aware that there is a chance that they might encounter asbestos when conducting any kind of DIY activity within the walls, ceilings and attic space of their home. Alarmingly, around half of homes in the UK contain asbestos somewhere. This is where our asbestos awareness training comes in handy as it allows you to identify the asbestos so that you can deal with it safely. Due to the overwhelming presence of asbestos in homes, it is more important than ever that everyone is aware of how to deal with this dangerous material. It’s also worth noting that in some cases, asbestos-containing products can actually be left in place and simply marked if they do not pose any significant risks.

To read more about asbestos awareness training, take a look at our article, ‘Is Asbestos Awareness Training Mandatory?’

Asbestos regulations place a legal obligation on employers in the UK to ensure that all staff likely to come into contact with asbestos-containing materials (ACM) during their normal course of work, should receive asbestos awareness training. This may include:

• Electricians
• Painters & Decorators
• Carpenters
• Construction Workers
• Plumbers
• Plasterers
• Gas Fitters
• Joiners
• Roofers
• Demolition Workers
• Shop Fitters
• General Maintenance Workers
• Engineers
• Surveyors
• Architects
• Caretakers

Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 states that ‘every employer must ensure that any employee is given adequate information, instruction and training’. This obligation is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which acts as the governing body for occupational health and safety across the UK. Employers who fail to provide asbestos awareness training for their staff can face heavy fines should an accident occur on-site. The Health and Safety Executive has very little time when it comes to non-compliance with regulations. We therefore cannot stress enough the importance of implementing asbestos awareness training in the workplace.

Take a look at our online asbestos awareness course to find out more!

Following the severity of asbestos hazards, the UK government banned the production, import and distribution of most asbestos products in 1999. However, there is still a high risk of asbestos exposure for construction and maintenance workers as there are many old buildings containing asbestos products. According to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, property owners must be aware of the asbestos present in their property and take the right measures to prevent asbestos contamination. Individuals working in properties containing asbestos must understand the importance of asbestos awareness and demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of asbestos and related health hazards.

Asbestos awareness training can be completed online, in accordance with the laws set out by the Health and Safety Executive, should you need to renew your team on their understanding of asbestos awareness through situational change.

To find out more about the history of asbestos, take a look at our articles ‘Asbestos Regulations: Everything You Need To Know’ and ‘Why Was Asbestos Banned in The UK?’.

Our Online Asbestos Awareness Course recognises national training requirements for asbestos awareness under Regulation 10 of The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. This quick online course can be the difference in long-term life-altering health effects caused by asbestos, simply by knowing how to identify it. Our online course provides a UK-based guide to spotting asbestos in British and Irish buildings. This gives the user a realistic understanding of the historic uses of asbestos across the British Isles.

Contact HSEDocs today to get your team fully up to date with asbestos awareness and help reduce risk should they ever come into contact with this dangerous material. You can also take a look at our asbestos awareness risk assessment, designed to make you aware of areas where asbestos could potentially be within your work environment.

What Are The 3 Main Types of Asbestos?

The three main types of asbestos you may have come into contact with include:

• Chrysotile (white asbestos) - This is the most common form of asbestos. It can be found today in the roofs, ceilings, walls and floors of homes and businesses.
• Amosite (brown asbestos) - This form of asbestos was used most frequently in cement sheets and pipe insulation. It can also be found in insulating boards, ceiling tiles and thermal insulation products.
• Crocidolite (blue asbestos) - This form of asbestos was commonly used to insular steam engines. It was also used in some spray-on coatings, pipe insulation, plastics and cement products.

To learn more about the different types of asbestos, take a look at our article, ‘What Does Asbestos Look & Smell Like?’

What Are The Benefits of Taking an Asbestos Awareness Course?

The main advantages of taking our asbestos awareness training include:

• The ability to recognise Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) in the workplace and knowing not to disturb them.
• Making staff aware of some of the diseases and death rates caused by inhaling asbestos fibres.
• Making staff aware that asbestos is a banned substance (asbestos regulations to be met when working in all premises that were built before 2000). To find out more, take a look at our article, ‘Book Asbestos Awareness Course’ where we discuss everything asbestos-related.
• Helping staff identify what ACMs look like.

To explore our course in more detail, take a look at our article, ‘Asbestos Awareness Training For The Workplace’.

How Long is an Asbestos Awareness Course Valid?

Your asbestos training certificates will be valid for one year after the course completion date. This correlates with the advice provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which states that refresher information training should be provided every year.