Although banned in the UK, the presence of asbestos in buildings can still pose a lethal threat. Today we are taking a look at what organisations and facilities managers need to do.
If you asked most people whether asbestos or road accidents are more dangerous, they’d likely assume traffic accidents cause more deaths. They’d be wrong. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that more people die each year from asbestos exposure than from road accidents, and asbestos is considered the leading cause of death from occupational cancer.
The risks associated with asbestos are so severe that its use had been fully banned in the UK since 1999. However, despite the ban and comprehensive legislation surrounding how asbestos is managed, it still causes approximately 5,000 deaths each year, showing that asbestos remains a genuine threat.
One reason asbestos continues to be deadly is that asbestos-related diseases take many years to develop, and by the time they are diagnosed, it's often too late for a cure. While the annual death toll reflects past working conditions, asbestos is far from being a thing of the past. Many buildings constructed or renovated before 2000 are still in use today, meaning they may still contain significant amounts of asbestos. If not properly managed, this could allow asbestos to perpetuate its deadly legacy.
Why is asbestos so dangerous?
Asbestos refers to several types of fibrous minerals that are highly resistant to fire, heat, and chemical damage. These qualities made asbestos a popular choice in the building industry, where it was used as an cheap and effective additive in materials such as insulation boards, solvents, reinforced plastics, and spray coatings.
In the UK, three main types of asbestos were commercially used: chrysotile (white asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), and amosite (brown asbestos). Although each has its own particular quality— for example, blue asbestos is the strongest — but all share a similar fibrous structure. While these fibres contribute to asbestos's useful properties, they are also the primary cause of asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestos fibres break down into tiny particles when disturbed, releasing microscopic fragments that can be inhaled as dust. These particles can become trapped in the lungs, causing scarring and inflammation. Over time, this damage can lead to serious health issues, including cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer, as well as respiratory diseases such as asbestosis and pleural thickening.
What does this mean for businesses?
Under the regulations anyone responsible for managing asbestos will need to undertake the following steps:
· Identify if asbestos is present.
· Compile records of the condition and location of any ACMs (known as asbestos register)
· Carry out a risk assessment and prepare a management plan.
· The management plan should put in place actions to:
· Monitor ACMs in good condition
· Repair or remove ACMs in bad condition
· Manage maintenance work through mitigating measures such as training.
An asbestos management survey is typically conducted to locate any asbestos in a building. If no survey is performed and there is a chance that asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) may be present, the duty holder must assume that asbestos is widespread throughout the building. To prevent this, carrying out an asbestos survey is often a more cost-effective approach.
If significant work is planned for a building, such as renovation or demolition, facilities managers (FMs) have two options: they can either conduct a refurbishment or demolition survey to identify the specific locations of asbestos, or they can assume that asbestos is present and ensure that workers follow full asbestos safety protocols. Often, carrying out a survey is more cost-effective because, without it, many materials must be presumed to contain asbestos and can only be handled by licensed or trained contractors.
Once a survey is completed, a risk assessment can be performed to determine the necessary safety measures. Depending on the work, a licensed contractor may be required, or the work may need to be officially notified.
Before construction begins, asbestos information must be shared with contractors. In most cases, asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) must be removed before refurbishment or demolition, and this information must be included in the pre-construction details under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
Are there still issues?
Despite the clear controls outlined in the legislation, there is still considerable concern among health and safety professionals that asbestos is not being given the attention it warrants.
The HSE estimates that every week 20 people from the building industry will die from asbestos-related exposure and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has recently launched the fourth phase of its campaign No Time to Lose, which highlights the risks of asbestos on occupational cancer.
As part of the launch, IOSH conducted a survey of construction workers. Alarmingly, it revealed that 32% of respondents had never checked the asbestos register before starting work on a new site, with half of them unaware of what an asbestos register even was.
This lack of awareness has led to ongoing prosecutions. For example, a construction firm in London was fined £750,000 last year for failing to protect workers from asbestos exposure during a conversion project, despite a survey confirming asbestos was present on site.
In conclusion, asbestos remains a significant risk, and businesses must take proactive steps to manage its presence to protect workers and avoid hefty fines. Awareness, regular surveys, and proper safety protocols are crucial to prevent exposure and ensure regulatory compliance. At Base Solutions, we offer specialized courses designed to equip businesses with the knowledge and tools needed for effective asbestos management.
Click the button below to access our Asbestos Awareness course
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