There were 2,595 mesothelioma deaths in 2016 and over 5000 deaths in total from asbestos related diseases.
Every employer must make sure that anyone who is liable to disturb asbestos during their normal work, or who supervises those employees, gets the correct level of information, instruction and training so that they can work safely and competently without risk to themselves or others.
Over the past few months we have been delivering Asbestos awareness training.
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.
Examples of those affected are listed below. There will be other occupations where asbestos may be disturbed in addition to those listed:
- General maintenance workers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Joiners
- Painters and decorators
- Plasterers
- Construction workers
- Roofers
- Shop fitters
- Gas fitters
- Heating and ventilation engineers
- Demolition workers
- Telecommunication engineers
- Fire/burglar alarm installers
- Computer and data installers
- Architects
- Building surveyors
Information, instruction and training about asbestos awareness should cover the following:
- the properties of asbestos and its effects on health, including the increased risk of developing lung cancer for asbestos workers who smoke
- the types, uses and likely occurrence of asbestos and asbestos materials in buildings and plant
- the general procedures to deal with an emergency, eg an uncontrolled release of asbestos dust into the workplace
- how to avoid the risk of exposure to asbestos