Asbestos Awareness Session

1. Asbestos Awareness Session • What is asbestos? • Why is asbestos dangerous? • Where is asbestos found in buildings? • Am I at risk? • What does the law require?

2. What is Asbestos? • Name given to a group of six fibrous minerals; • Found naturally in many parts of the world; • Produced mainly in Russia, Canada and China.

4. Main Types of Asbestos • Chrysotile (White) • Amosite (Brown) • Crocidolite (Blue)

5. How does asbestos get into the body?

6. Why is Asbestos Dangerous? Asbestos can cause: • Asbestosis; • Lung Cancer; • Mesothelioma.

7. Additional Health Information • Asbestos-related diseases are currently responsible for about 3000 deaths a year; • These diseases can take from 15 to 60 years to develop from first exposure; • Many of those suffering today from asbestos-related diseases worked in the building maintenance trades.

8. Lung Cancer Risk Factor ---------- 1 ---------- x5 ---------- x11 ---------- x53 Non smoker - Non asbestos worker -------------------------------- Non smoker - Asbestos worker -------------------------------- Smoker - Non asbestos worker -------------------------------- Smoker - Asbestos worker

9. Where is asbestos found in buildings? • Loose asbestos; • Sprayed (limpet) asbestos; • Lagging; • Asbestos insulating board; • Asbestos cement products; • Other products.

11. How do I know if I am at risk? • Identification of asbestos materials is not easy and you can only be sure if it has been tested by a specialist laboratory. • If you come across any hidden or dusty materials which you suspect may contain asbestos,STOP WORK AND GET ADVICE!

12. What does the law require? (1) • The Control of Asbestos at Work. • Approved Codes of Practice. • HSE Guidance

13. What does the law require? (2) People in control of premises must: • Carry out a Survey; • Presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not; • Make and keep up to date a register; • Assess the risk from the ACM’s; • Prepare a plan • Provide information

14. Types of survey • Management Survey; • Demolition / Refurbishment Survey;

15. Assess the risk • How likely is it that people will be exposed to asbestos fibres, consider: • The type of ACM; • How much ACM is present; • The condition of the ACM; • If the ACM is in a position where it is likely to be disturbed.

16. Remove it or leave it? (1) If the asbestos is: • in good condition; and • is not likely to be damaged ; and • is not likely to be worked on or disturbed; • It is usually safer to leave it in place and manage it.

17. Remove it or leave it? (2) • If the asbestos is in poor condition or is likely to be damaged or disturbed a decision will have to be made about whether it should be repaired, sealed, enclosed or removed; • Work on asbestos insulation, asbestos insulating board and lagging, including sealing and removal should normally be done by a contractor licensed by the HSE.

18. Recognising ACM - Loose Asbestos Insulation • In some fire doors • Acoustic insulation between floors • Packed around electrical cables • Thermal insulation mattresses

19. Recognising ACM - Sprayed Asbestos Coatings • Loose asbestos mixed with Portland cement and water. • Sprayed onto ceilings as fireproofing, sound and thermal insulation. • Vulnerable to accidental damage. • 55%-85% asbestos content

20. Recognising ACM - Thermal Insulation • Used for the thermal insulation of pipes, boilers and heat exchangers. • Preformed sections covered with calico or sealed with a hard plaster. • Asbestos containing plaster known as `Muck` particularly for joints, bends or small sections of pipe and repairs.

21. Recognising ACM - Asbestos Insulating Board • Widely used in buildings for internal partition walls and linings; • Suspended ceiling tiles often made from AIB; • Fire doors often faced with AIB to achieve appropriate fire rating • Areas around lift shafts • Stairwells and service risers often lined or faced with AIB.

22. Recognising ACM - Asbestos Papers, Felts and Cardboard • Widely used to line the surfaces of other boards, ceiling tiles, sheet materials and insulation.

23. Recognising ACM - Asbestos Textiles • Tapes and ropes • Fire blankets • Fire curtains • Fire resistant clothing • Asbestos content in above items approaching 100%

24. Recognising ACM - Asbestos Gaskets, Washers and Strings • Pipe and valve joint gaskets may contain up to 90% asbestos. • Asbestos string was widely used by plumbers for sealing screw threaded joints. • Strings and ropes can contain approaching 100% asbestos.

25. Recognising ACM - Asbestos Cement • Usually contains 10% - 15% asbestos fibres bound in Portland cement • Extensively used throughout the 20th century. • Corrugated / profile sheets. • Flat sheets used for both interior and exterior cladding. • Also used for rainwater goods, flue pipes, etc.

26. Recognising ACM - Plastics • Floor Tiles • Step Nosings • Toilet Cisterns • Sink Pads

27. Location of ACM’s at Calderdale College • Plans are displayed on the wall in room C03 showing the locations of all known ACM’s. • The asbestos register (kept in room C06) gives detailed information about the ACM’s including photographs.

28. ACM’s Still Present in College Buildings (1) • Asbestos insulation residue and debris in the under floor spaces on the Princess Mary Site. • Asbestos string securing insulation on pipes above suspended ceilings (various locations on PWC site). • Asbestos seal on science laboratory oven door. • Asbestos cement pipe F&G Floor ladies toilets. • Asbestos insulation board duct covers in the PWC North Stairway on A Floor and roof level. • There could be asbestos in old electrical fuse boxes.

29. ACM’s Still Present in College Buildings (2) • Asbestos insulation board ceiling tiles at roof level of PWC North Stairway. • Asbestos containing vinyl floor tiles in store room by Library and in ADC tea room. • Asbestos containing panels to the outside of the ADC Offices / Bistro / Learning Zone 2. • Asbestos containing paper on pipe work in tank room on PWC roof.