Asbestos Awareness & Handling
Protecting workers from the dangers of asbestos is vital. According to the HSE, asbestos may be present in buildings constructed or refurbished before 2000. More than 50 percent of UK homes are likely to contain asbestos, and it is responsible for an estimated 5,000 deaths per year in the UK.
Information, instruction and training about asbestos awareness should cover the following:
• The properties of asbestos and its effects on health, including the increased risk of developing lung cancer for asbestos workers who smoke
• The types, uses and likely occurrence of asbestos and asbestos materials in buildings and plant
• The general procedures to deal with an emergency, eg an uncontrolled release of asbestos dust into the workplace
• How to avoid the risk of exposure to asbestos