Asbestos – are you aware of the dangers?

With recent news that a construction firm was fined £5,360 as a result of putting their employees at risk of exposure to asbestos, it’s clear to see that not everyone is aware of the dangers of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Managing asbestos remains an ongoing battle for anyone maintaining or repairing buildings of all sizes and uses, yet still individuals are being put in harm’s way while on site.

With Mesothelioma Awareness Day just around the corner – it takes place on 26^th September annually – we thought now would be the perfect time to share the facts about asbestos, and raise awareness about the aggressive and fatal conditions exposure to ACMs causes.

Asbestos was once celebrated as a building material

There’s a reason why so many buildings contain asbestos in the UK. Prior to the ban on the importation of blue and brown asbestos in 1985, it was widely used as an insulation material thanks to its incredible resistance to heat, fire and chemicals.

Upon further investigation, the status of asbestos turned from celebrated building material to a carcinogen connected to a long list of health problems.

Asbestos related diseases are still killing today

Incredibly, despite the 1985 ban on its importation and use, approximately 5,000 workers die of asbestos related diseases annually in the UK. Tradespeople are considered most at risk, with heating and ventilation engineers, demolition workers, plumbers, construction workers and electricians particularly vulnerable.

Troubling symptoms don’t become apparent until much later

Exposure to asbestos has been known to cause asbestosis and mesothelioma, two rare and serious conditions that result in a number of troubling symptoms. Unlike other conditions however, symptoms don’t become apparent right away.

It can take up to 30 years for symptoms of asbestosis and mesothelioma to show themselves, with some sufferers experiencing no symptoms at all. Symptoms for mesothelioma include shortness of breath, persistent coughing, wheezing, fatigue, and chest or shoulder pain.

While symptoms can be relieved with the right treatment, both conditions are incurable and almost always fatal.

Take action to protect every individual from exposure

Managing asbestos in buildings remains important, with several pieces of legislation covering the responsibilities of the duty holder. Whether protecting your workers from exposure, your tenants or members of the public, knowing when is the right time to commission an asbestos survey and devising an appropriate management plan based on the findings is crucial.