This month marks the 25th anniversary since legislation came into force across Great Britain and in Northern Ireland (the UK) making it illegal for anyone to buy, sell, import or export any materials containing asbestos.
Asbestos has unique properties – it is resistant to fire and mechanically strong – and therefore it became, among other things, a popular insulation material for construction projects, making its way into houses, commercial and public buildings, including factories and schools. In a cement format, it has also been used for roofing sheets and pipes.
Undisturbed asbestos does not pose a health risk if the material is managed properly. However, when asbestos fibres are disturbed and become airborne, people in the immediate surroundings will inhale these hazardous fibres, which can induce incurable cancers and lung diseases over time.
Individuals are at a greatest risk if they breathe in high concentrations of these fibres and over a prolonged period. Tragically, chronic lung diseases such as asbestosis can take decades for the symptoms to develop, which is why individuals are still dying 25 years after the UK imposed a total ban.
Ruth Wilkinson, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, IOSH
'We know that about 5,000 people die from asbestos-related diseases every year in the UK. While the cause of their illness was likely exposure from decades ago, we believe that people are still being exposed today, putting them at risk of terminal cancers such as mesothelioma in the years to come. This is unacceptable. What is of significant concern is the lack of consistency in managing asbestos among duty holders and a lack of awareness and knowledge about it among those who are encountering it, particularly in smaller businesses.
'What we’d really like to see is a collective effort by policy makers, government, regulators, employers and worker representatives to address this.
'Within the UK, this can be part of a national strategic plan which is aligned to the built environment and net zero initiatives, as is it expected that buildings will require maintenance, renovation or demolishing as part of that agenda. Such a plan must therefore have a focus on duty holders, the duty to manage asbestos, and the competence of individuals. It must include the development of clear guidance around managing asbestos. It should also include enforcement. Also, essential to it is improved training for employees which raises awareness of the dangers of exposure, informs them how to deal with asbestos and what to do if they come across it.
Source - ioshmagazine.com
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