Asbestos Awareness: Understanding the Risks and Regulations

1. Welcome to Asbestos Awareness by Alan Houghton

2. Aim • Raise the awareness of everyone to the new duty to manage asbestos in buildings • Enable staff to deal with general enquiries involving asbestos issues

3. What’s Asbestos all about? • Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral, looks a bit like rockwool or fibreglass in its raw state • It was already in use by the Egyptians around 2000BC, woven into cloth and used as a burial shroud. • The Romans used it and the Fins made cooking pots from it in the first millenium. • In the latter part of the Industrial revolution it’s use became common in industry. • New uses evolved particularly in building products where its range of properties were exploited to the full

5. What was so good about it? • Heat resistant, doesn’t start to degrade until about 900 deg C • Doesn't burn • Resistant to acids & corrosion • Can be woven into a strong cloth • Can be used as a reinforcement similar to fibre glass • Cheap & easy to use

6. So, what’s the problem • The wonderful properties that make it useful has a big downside if it gets into the lungs. • The tiny fibres are sharp and strong. • Breath in the fibres and they get stuck in the lung, in fact every time you take a breath they get drawn deeper.

7. Remember its properties • Resistant to acid and corrosion • Strong • Well, this means that the fibres stay in the lungs and can’t be broken down by the body • They are also sharp and can penetrate lung tissue. • That’s where cancers can start

8. Asbestos related diseases The inhalation of asbestos fibres has been shown to be the cause of three types of diseases. • Asbestosis • Asbestos Cancers • Mesothelioma

9. How big is the problem? • This year around 3000 people will die from Asbestos related diseases • By 2020 that may rise to 10,000 per year • Nothing can be done for these people, these diseases are not treatable. • Can take 5~50 years to show • Horrible death

10. Why don’t they do something? • Most intensive use from 1955 to 1970 • Which meant that the significant effects only began to show in 1980’s • Legislation was geared to protecting workers in manufacture and removal of asbestos

11. Jigsaw Puzzle • But the numbers kept rising when the should have started to fall • From a study in 1995 it was clear that 25% of people dying had previously worked in the construction industry

12. Then • 1998 The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations were expanded to include any work done on asbestos board to be carried out by licensed contractors • In 1998 Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations was amended • Expanded scope to include incidental exposure to asbestos • Made it clear that CAWR applied to all workers • In 1999 use of all asbestos in manufacture was banned

13. The Heritage • It is almost impossible to destroy it • Thousands of tonnes were used each year in buildings • Usage peaked 1950~1970 • Estimated 2 ~ 4 Million of tonnes are still left in buildings

14. Ouch! • Workers, employers, building owners and operators were often completely unaware that asbestos containing materials were present • That largest single group at risk? • 1.4 million workers in the construction industry

15. Just who is at risk? Anybody that disturbs ACM sufficiently to put dust in the air! • Demolition Workers • Building Maintenance Workers • Gas fitters • Joiners • Electricians • Heating and ventilating engineers • Plumbers

16. The Dilemma • Huge quantity of asbestos in buildings • To remove it all would cost billions • If removed what can be done with all waste • Increased risk to all the removers, people around, transport, waste dumps etc

17. The Good News • 2002 Asbestos at Work Regulations amended further and now include • Specific Duty, To Manage Asbestos in Buildings • Duty holder is principally the occupier • Mostly the employer • Housing at the moment excluded

18. What the new “Duty” means • We have to find out where all asbestos • Risk assess • Decide whether to remove, encapsulate it, or leave as is • Keep register of all asbestos • Monitor it’s condition • Provide information on the location and condition of the materials to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb them

19. This doesn’t happen here? • A few examples of possible ACM

20. Belgian Board containing Blue AsbestosOh by the way, it’s water resistant too ! Belgian Board containing Blue AsbestosOh by the way, it’s water resistant too !

22. Asbestos mill board used as a ceiling board for fire resistance, plumber didn’t recognise it when he fixed the leak

23. Acoustic tiles often contained 15 % Asbestos fibres as reinforcement

36. What are we doing • Asbestos has always been dealt with according to the laws • To help us we have employed specialist consultants • Thoroughly vetted during selection process • One of leading Asbestos Consultants • Advise us on all aspects

37. Next steps • By end of February 05 all data into database • By end March 05 all data transferred to our Repairs Management System • Asbestos information will automatically be included on every job ticket to help keep our partners safe

38. So far so good • 5% included those selected as potentially worst ~ no surprises • The next 5% held no surprises either • 90% has not been examined so there is a small chance there is something different in this group.

39. To meet our duties • Carry on collecting data on our stock • Tell anyone that works on our properties where there is any asbestos in that property • Make regular inspections of asbestos that is being managed

40. As our partners we ask you to help • If you suspect that the information on the job ticket is wrong tell us immediately • If you suspect asbestos, stop work immediately and tell us • If you suspect asbestos that does not affect the job in hand, tell us as soon as possible

41. Remember • If you work on ACM’s you may put your health in danger • You are not insured to knowingly work on ACM’s

42. What happens when ACM’s are suspected • Report to us • Independent surveyor takes samples and advises action • Remove, encapsulate or manage • Morrisons are Licensed Contractors • The have equipment and trained personnel • Leave it to the experts

43. Asbestos Not Dangerous IF • Location is known • Precautions are taken • Many colleagues who know what to do • This means that we need to tell our partners where we find asbestos • They should also tell us

44. Frequently Asked Questions

45. Questions • Most questions can be answered from FAQ’s

46. Remember • It’s not a contagious disease • It’s perfectly safe unless it is disturbed and dust gets into the air

47. Less Frequently Asked Questions • Anybody?

48. The end