Twenty UK Tradesmen Die Every Week From Asbestos Related Disease

Twenty UK Tradesmen Die Every Week From Asbestos Related Disease

Every week twenty tradesmen die from asbestos-related disease. If you are an electrician, plumber, heating and ventilation engineer, joiner, plasterer or work in any similar trade, you are likely to come across this hidden killer in your work asbestos dust could kill you.

Do you know if there is asbestos where you are working? Every week six joiners die from this hidden killer.

Avoid working with asbestos if possible. If you are not sure if there are asbestos materials where you are working, don't start work. Your boss should tell you if there is asbestos present. There should be an asbestos register for workplace buildings you can ask to see it. If asbestos is present:

Don't start work if:

you haven't been trained to work safely with it; the asbestos materials are sprayed coatings, board or insulation and lagging on pipes and boilers only licensed contractors should work on these. You can't work with some kinds of asbestos they are too dangerous.

You may only continue to work if:

you have had training in asbestos work, the work has been properly planned and the right precautions are in place (eg you have the right equipment); and the materials are asbestos cement, textured coatings and certain other materials (listed in Asbestos essentials) which do not need a licence.

Do you know where you are likely to find asbestos? Every Week three plumbers die from asbestos-related disease.

Some common places you will find asbestos materials are:

ceiling tiles; coating on ceilings, walls and stairwells (textured coatings); sprayed coating on ducts, pipes and some ceilings; boards around radiators, windows, fireplaces, building columns, pillars; inside fire doors; soffit boards; insulation on pipes; sealants on pipe joints, gaskets; ropes and yarns; fuse boxes; electrical switchgear; water tanks; external cement products: roof sheets, down pipes.

Work safely with asbestos - Every week six electricians die from asbestos-related disease.

The most important thing to remember is to be prepared when you work with asbestos. You need to minimise dust and protect yourself from breathing it in. So, make sure you do the following.

Use hand tools not power tools. Keep materials damp not too wet. Wear a properly fitted, suitable respirator (eg disposable FFP3 type), an ordinary dust mask will not be effective. Don't smoke, eat or drink in the work area. Clean up as you go use a special vacuum cleaner (class H), not a brush. Double-bag asbestos waste, label the bags and dispose of them at an appropriate waste site. Don't carry asbestos into your car or home. Wear suitable disposable overalls (Type 5') and boots without laces or disposable boot covers. Don't take overalls home to wash. Put disposable items in asbestos waste bags and dispose of them properly. When you finish work, decontaminate yourself wipe down your overalls with a damp rag and remove them before removing your mask.

Where can I find asbestos training? Asbestos is a hidden killer.

Contact the UK Asbestos Training Association (www.ukata.org.uk, Tel: 01246 824437) for a list of asbestos training providers in your area. Other
training organisations may also provide asbestos training. Ask for a combination of asbestos awareness and job-specific training, usually called non-licensed asbestos training', that covers:

asbestos health risks; where to find it and what it looks like; safe work methods to control exposure; how to use and fit a face mask; how to deal with asbestos waste; how to decontaminate yourself and the work area. Remember - every week twenty tradesmen die from asbestos-related disease.

You can Download the Health & Safety Asbestos Killer Campaign PDF Brochure at Asbestos Supermarket - The UK's Leading Price Comparison Site for Asbestos Surveys & Asbestos Removal Services

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