How to keep your team safe from asbestos risks

Even though asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1999, the risks of asbestos can still affect your team today. There are plenty of older buildings across the UK that still contain it, including domestic and non-domestic places like schools and hospitals.

Because asbestos is so harmful, it’s important to exercise extreme caution when working around it.

To help you learn more about the dangers and understand what asbestos actually is, take a look through our guide and see how you can keep your team safe and healthy.

Asbestos removal / SMAS Worksafe

What is asbestos?

Asbestos refers to six types of naturally occurring minerals that have crystallised to form heat and chemical resistant fibres. It was once commonly used in construction as insulation or roofing/flooring material before it was discovered to be a dangerous carcinogen (a substance that can cause cancer). Asbestos was used for a range of projects, such as housing, office blocks, factories, schools, hospitals, and shipbuilding.

As the risks of asbestos became clearer, it was completely banned from being used in the UK in 1999 due to health concerns. But buildings that were constructed before the ban may still contain it, which can pose a serious risk to your team – so much so that you need a licence to work with and around asbestos.

What types of asbestos are there?

Asbestos refers to six silicate minerals, including:

Chrysotile (white asbestos)

Thanks to its strength and heat resistance, this is the most common type of asbestos. It was once used widely in construction, and can still be found today in materials like insulation, roofing and cement.

Amosite (brown asbestos)

Known for its brown fibres, amosite is an amphibole mineral, and was used in a similar way to white asbestos. It’s still often seen in thermal insulation and roofing.

Crocidolite (blue asbestos)

This is one of the most dangerous forms of asbestos. At one time, it was found in everything from fireproofing and insulation to textiles and cigarette lighters.

Tremolite

While this is less common than the types of asbestos listed above, it can still cause health risks. It usually looks white, grey, or light green, and is known to contaminate materials like talc, used in baby powder.

Actinolite

Actinolite is a sharp material that can penetrate deep into the lungs if inhaled. It is found in materials like insulation, cement, sealants, and fireproofing, but it isn’t very common due to being harder to work with.

Anthophyllite

This is another rare type of asbestos, as it had limited commercial use. If you do come across anthophyllite, remember that these needle-like fibres can be easily inhaled and easily broken, so you’ll need to be extremely careful when working with it.

Asbestos health risks

The risks of asbestos are deadly. It’s made up of different fibres that can be released into the air if damaged or disturbed, and if inhaled, they can cause serious health complications.

These are some of the key asbestos health risks that can arise from inhaling fibres.

Mesothelioma

This is a very serious risk of asbestos. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, as well as the lining of the lower intestine. By far the most common cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure, and by the time it’s been diagnosed, often several decades after exposure, there’s not much to be done to cure it.

Lung cancer

Exposure to asbestos means fibres can get stuck in your lungs, which causes cellular damage over time. This can lead to lung cancer, which manifests itself in the same way as lung cancers caused by smoking. Asbestos-related lung cancers are just as prevalent as mesotheliomas.

Asbestosis

After being exposed to asbestos over several years, scarring can appear on the lungs due to a condition known as asbestosis. It’s a serious, chronic lung disease that can lead to progressive shortness of breath, chest pain and fatigue. In particularly bad cases, asbestosis can even be fatal.

Thickening of the pleural lining

Pleural thickening is when the lining of the lung thickens and swells due to asbestos exposure. If the lung lining becomes too thick or swollen, the lung can become squeezed, leading to shortness of breath and significant discomfort in the chest.

Protecting your team from asbestos risks

As an employer, you have a duty of care to your team to keep them safe. And when dealing with dangerous substances like asbestos, it’s more important than ever.

Asbestos-related diseases kill approximately 5,000 people a year in the UK, which is more than double the number of deaths on UK roads. So, asbestos health risks should always be taken seriously.

You’ll need to be vigilant in your control measures and ensure that every team member follows protocols.

If you suspect a site may have asbestos, you should take the following actions to protect your team from the dangers of exposure:

  • Adhere to compliance
  • Identify asbestos as a risk
  • Perform a risk assessment
  • Consider a licensed contractor
  • Provide PPE
  • Provide training

Let’s take a more detailed look at these protective measures.

Adhere to compliance

All UK organisations need to meet the Control of Asbestos Regulations to reduce the risks of asbestos. This legislation ensures employees can be safe and protected from asbestos in the workplace.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces the Control of Asbestos Regulations and ensures companies identify asbestos in construction sites. Employers are also legally required to keep an asbestos register, conduct regular asbestos surveys, and implement safety controls to prevent workers’ exposure.

You should be aware that legal compliance includes proper asbestos removal procedures, as well as employee training (more on this shortly). If you fail to follow these regulations, your business may end up with a fine or face legal action.

If you’re a contractor wanting to expand your adherence to Health & Safety , take a look at our SSIP certification.

Identify asbestos as a risk

If you’re working on a site that was built before 2000, there’s a risk that asbestos may be present.

Before starting any work, those working on non-residential premises like hospitals and schools should speak with the owner of the building. They should provide you with information on the asbestos risks in the building, along with the condition the building is currently in.

If there’s no information available, you should have the building surveyed straight away. Visual inspections will need to be carried out, but you should also get a laboratory to assess any samples you suspect of being asbestos.

Perform a risk assessment

If you’re an employer, manager or sole trader, it’s essential to carry out an asbestos risk assessment before you begin your work. This will help you decide whether it’s safe to carry out building or maintenance work on a site that may have asbestos.

Your risk assessment will be used to identify, evaluate, and control the risks associated with materials that contain asbestos in your building or workplace, and will focus on:

  • The specific asbestos risks
  • Who might be harmed
  • The precautions you’ll need to carry out
  • Your key findings

You should use the results of your risk assessment to decide if the work is safe to carry out or if you need to have the asbestos removed by a professional.

Consider a licensed contractor

Working around asbestos can be relatively safe as long as it isn’t damaged or disturbed. If you do find damage to these fibres, or your work can’t be carried out without disturbing them, you may need to arrange for a licensed contractor to remove them before you start your project.

You’ll also need a licensed contractor for work involving sprayed asbestos, for most work on asbestos insulation boards, and for asbestos insulation removal.

You can find licensed asbestos contractors through the HSE, Checkatrade or TrustATrader. Or, if you’re interested in acquiring an asbestos licence, visit the HSE website. Or, if you’re part of the Smas Portal, you’ll be able to find SSIP qualified, specialised contractors in your area.

Provide PPE

PPE is an absolute must for reducing asbestos risks. It safeguards workers from exposure and can prevent serious health issues.Chrysotile asbestos fiber close up.

You’ll need to provide:

  • Respiratory protective equipment (RPE): This stops workers from breathing in hazardous substances.
  • Disposable overalls: They prevent contamination and protect your workers. Just make sure overalls are changed after every shift and disposed of properly.
  • Protective clothing: You’ll need to use clothing that offers high-quality protection from asbestos and should be compliant with UK safety regulations.

If a member of your team is going to a site where there’s a risk of asbestos, but not where they’ll be disturbing it, it’s still a good idea to provide them with facial RPE that prevents them from inhaling any fibres.

Provide asbestos training

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 requires employers to provide training for workers who are likely to be exposed to asbestos. This training includes asbestos awareness training for those who may come into contact with asbestos-containing materials, and more specific training for workers who will carry out asbestos-related work.

We’d also recommend educating your workers on asbestos health risks, as well as the importance of PPE and proper handling techniques. If applicable, make sure workers have emergency response training in case asbestos is accidentally disturbed during a project.

Remember to stay on top of your workers’ learning with regular refresher courses, which will help you stay compliant and maintain excellent safety standards.

Managing asbestos risks with Smas Worksafe

To effectively protect your workers from asbestos health risks, you’ll need to be vigilant in your approach. By abiding by regulations, identifying asbestos risks, considering licenced contractors and providing PPE and training, you’ll be in the best position possible to keep your employees safe.

At Smas Worksafe, we offer a range of Health & Safety services to meet regulations across the UK.

So, whether you want to bolster your recognition with SSIP certification, or upskill your employees with dedicated CITB courses and Health & Safety Awareness (HSA) training, our experts will help you get the right knowledge and documentation to meet regulatory requirements and gain industry-recognised certification.

If you’d like to find out more, get in touch here, and our amazing team will guide you through what we do and how we can help your business excel.