UKATA have released some statistics based around asbestos and the effects it has on us. The statistics are truly shocking, and should change the way you approach risks in the workplace.
Asbestos can be found in any industrial or residential building built or refurbished before the year 2000. It is in many of the common materials used in the building trade that you may come across during your work.
An estimated 13 people per day die from an asbestos-related disease. Based on HSE 2023 statistics report for asbestos-related deaths recorded in 2021 for mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, totaling in excess of 5,000 deaths and divided by 365 days to get a daily average.
Inhalation of asbestos fibres can cause cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, and other serious lung diseases such as asbestosis and pleural thickening. There were 2,268 mesothelioma deaths in 2021, with a similar number of lung cancer deaths linked to past exposures to asbestos. Also, 537 asbestosis deaths in 2021 mentioning asbestosis on the death certificate (excluding deaths that also mention mesothelioma).
All asbestos-related diseases typically take many years (15-60 years) to develop so current statistics reflect the legacy of past working conditions.
Widespread use of asbestos containing products in the past, particularly in the post-WWII building industry, led to a large increase in asbestos-related disease in Great Britain over the last few decades.
The cancer, mesothelioma, has such a strong relationship with asbestos that annual deaths give a particularly clear view of the effect of past exposures.
Annual deaths increased steeply over the last 50 years, largely as a result of asbestos exposure prior to 1980, and are now expected to continue at current levels for the rest of the decade.
Workers and supervisors must be able to recognise asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and know what to do if they come across them in order to protect themselves and others.
There are three main levels of information, instruction and training. These relate to:
- Asbestos awareness
- Non-licensable work with asbestos including NNLW
- Licensable work with asbestos.
Attending a training course on its own will not make a worker competent. Competence is developed over time by implementing and consolidating skills learnt during training, on-the-job learning, instruction and assessment.
It is important that the level of information, instruction and training is appropriate for the work and the roles undertaken by each worker (and supervisor). Using a training needs analysis (TNA) will help to identify what topics should be covered to ensure workers have the right level of competence to avoid putting themselves or others at risk.
Information, instruction and training for asbestos awareness is intended to give workers and supervisors the information they need to avoid work that may disturb asbestos during any normal work which could disturb the fabric of a building, or other item which might contain asbestos. It will not prepare workers, or self-employed contractors, to carry out work with asbestos-containing materials. If a worker is planning to carry out work that will disturb ACMs, further information, instruction and training will be needed.
Workers who may need this level of information, instruction and training include those listed under asbestos awareness above and whose work will require them to disturb asbestos-containing materials, such as:
- drilling holes in asbestos materials (including for sampling and analysis purposes)
- laying cables in areas containing undamaged asbestos materials
- removing asbestos-containing floor tiles
- cleaning or repairing asbestos cement sheet roofing or cladding
For any further advice, phone us on 01691 688723 or email us at info@mbo.ltd and we will be happy to assist you.
Sources: HSE: Information about health and safety at work / UKATA Home page – UKATA