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What To Do If You Find Asbestos In The Workplace

Asbestos found on site can be dangerous - it can cause serious diseases, which can be fatal if you come across it and breathe in the fibres. But what exactly is asbestos? What damage can it do? Where is it found? And more importantly, what do you do if you find asbestos in the workplace?

Read on to learn more about asbestos, what you should do if you think you’ve found it in the workplace and what to do if you think you’ve been exposed to asbestos.

 

 

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of six silicate minerals that naturally occur, made up of microscopic fibres. These deadly asbestos fibres are strong - being chemically resistant and heat resistant.

It was frequently used in buildings before the year 2000 (mostly in the 70s and 80s) and was thought to be a great material due to its heat and chemical-resistant properties. It was used to fireproof buildings and make great insulation in buildings.

It was a common additive in a wide range of products, but little was known about the harmful long-term effects of exposure to asbestos.

The six types of asbestos are amosite (brown asbestos), tremolite, crocidolite (blue asbestos), chrysotile (white asbestos), and actinolite, belonging to the amphibole and serpentine groups. Keep reading for more information on each type of asbestos.

 

Amosite (Brown asbestos)

This type of asbestos is usually found in a range of different products, such as:

  • Cement sheets
  • Floor and ceiling tiles
  • Pipes
  • Roofing products
  • Vinyl tiles

Asbestos kills thousands of people each year. In the UK alone, it is estimated that around 5,000 people die from asbestos-related illnesses a year, which is much higher than the number of people killed in all work-related accidents alone.

  

Tremolite

This type of asbestos can be found when mining for other minerals, such as talc or vermiculite. Tremolite can be found in various different colours, including green, white, grey and translucent. The colour of this completely depends on the impurities that are present in the mineral.

Some of the products that contain tremolite include:

  • Insulation
  • Paint
  • Gardening soils
  • Fireproof clothing
  • Paper
  • Plumbing
  • Sealants
  • Roofing

These are just some of the many products that this type of asbestos can be found in.

 

Crocidolite (blue asbestos)

This type of asbestos is the most dangerous type. It is responsible for the most deaths related to asbestos because its fibres are very thin, which means that they can get stuck in the lung tissue more easily.

Some products that contain crocidolite are:

 

  • Fireproofing
  • Electrical insulation
  • Ceiling tiles
  • Cement sheets
  • Gaskets
  • Spray-on-insulation

 

Chrysotile (white asbestos)

Chrysotile was the most commonly used asbestos before it was the last type to be banned in 1999. White asbestos can be found in many different types of building materials, such as:

  • Floor tiles
  • Roofing
  • Textiles
  • Cement
  • Insulation

This type of asbestos is not as deadly compared to brown and blue asbestos, however, it is still hazardous.

 

Actinolite

Finally, we have actinolite. This is less common compared to the other types of asbestos and it was commonly found in insulation materials. This can be found in:

  • Drywall
  • Paints
  • Plasters
  • Roofing
  • Furnace linings
  • Steam pipes

 

Why is Asbestos Dangerous?

Asbestos can cause damage when breathed in - leading to long-term asbestos-related diseases such as cancers of the lungs and chest. The risk can be difficult to identify as it can take anything from 15 years to develop an asbestos-related disease.

However, as long as the asbestos is handled correctly and the ACM (asbestos-containing materials) haven’t been disturbed or damaged, the fibres won’t be released and there won’t be a health risk.

If left alone, it isn’t considered dangerous. However, if the material containing asbestos gets damaged or disturbed, then fine dust gets released. Accidental asbestos disturbance is extremely dangerous.

If this dust is breathed in, the asbestos fibres enter the lungs, causing prolonged damage to them. Due to its high-risk factor, it was fully banned in the UK in 1999.

You’d need long-term exposure to ACM to develop asbestosis, typically over the span of a few years. Asbestosis is pulmonary fibrosis or scarring of the lungs. This is why it is important that you follow the HSE asbestos regulations to prevent any accidental asbestos exposure.

 

Where Is Asbestos Found?

Asbestos can be found in any building that was built or refurbished before it was banned. Before 1999, particularly in the 70s and 80s, asbestos was used in a wide range of construction materials for many reasons - for example, ceiling, floors, roofs, and insulation.

However, in 2022, you’ll only have a chance of coming across asbestos if your work entails damaging materials. This could be construction, demolition, plumbers, electricians, and heating or ventilation engineers. This is one of the reasons why health and safety are so important on construction sites.

 

How Can You Identify Asbestos in the Workplace?

If you are an employer, then it is down to you to check relevant information, such as an asbestos survey or register. If there are no records available or you suspect there could be asbestos, then you may need to arrange a survey and analysis to determine whether or not asbestos is present and the type you are dealing with.

If you are still determining where asbestos can be found and how you can identify it, then this article can help. It includes information and images about what asbestos looks like to help you identify it.

 

What To Do If You Find Asbestos in the Workplace

First of all, if you think you’ve come across and disturbed asbestos and you’re not licensed to work with it, then you should stop working immediately and take steps to evacuate the area, including yourself and anybody else working in the area.

However, if you have debris or dust on your clothes, then stay put to avoid spreading the fibres. Put on RPE (respiratory protective equipment) as quickly as possible to prevent you from breathing in the fibres. This is why appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is vital when working in high-risk industries.

Place a warning sign in the area saying something along the lines of ‘possible asbestos contamination - or if you have to stay put, have somebody else do so. Report the problem and notify the client. Speak to an asbestos surveyor or somebody who is licensed to deal with asbestos, so they can sample the material and inform you of the risk level.

This is an important step as some asbestos products have a lower risk than others. For example, cement products pose less of a risk than insulation boards. Once the asbestos-containing material has been cleared, the asbestos waste should be sealed and labelled so it’s easily identifiable.

If you're looking for some quality health and safety advice, no matter your query, we can help you. At Beaconrisk, we offer quality courses, including a course on asbestos awareness.

 

If You Think You’ve Been Exposed

It's always best to follow the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Control of Asbestos 2012 Regulations guidelines to make sure you are not exposed to it.

However, if you think you’ve been exposed to asbestos, then contact your GP and ensure a note has been made on your record with information about the incident. Contact the asbestos surveyor or licensed asbestos handler to find out more information about the asbestos.

It can take several years before any signs appear on X-rays, but be sure to notify your GP if you notice any symptoms such as chest pains, a dry cough, or breathing difficulties. For more information about our asbestos awareness course, contact us today at 0800 059 0101. We are more than happy to help.

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