The Health and Safety Executive has published revised guidance on managing and controlling asbestos to help businesses understand how to work safely with the hidden killer.
Asbestos is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK; the HSE estimates that asbestos-related diseases account for around 4,500 deaths a year. On average, 20 tradesmen die from asbestos exposure every week.
The HSE has consolidated approved codes of practice (ACoPs) L127 (the management of asbestos in non-domestic premises) and L143 (work with materials containing asbestos) into a single revised ACoP — L143 Managing and working with asbestos.
L143 has been revised to make it easier for businesses and employers to understand and meet their legal obligations. The consolidation also reflects the changes introduced in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) on the notification of non-licensed work with asbestos, and consequent arrangements for employee medical examinations and record keeping.
The naturally occurring fibrous minerals, which were used extensively as a building material in the UK from the 1950s through to the mid-1980s, can cause a number of diseases if high levels of airborne fibres are inhaled. The most serious is mesothelioma, which is always fatal.
Kären Clayton, director of the HSE’s long latency health risks division, highlighted the benefits brought about by the guidance revision: “The two ACoPs have been updated and brought together to help employers find the information they need quickly and easily and understand how to protect their workers from dangers of working with asbestos,” she said.
“The revised ACoP also provides better clarity on identifying duty holders for non-domestic premises and the things they must do to comply with the ‘duty to manage’ asbestos.”
Legal responsibilities to protect workers’ health and safety are not altered by any changes to the ACoPs.
The changes follow public consultation and HSE board and ministerial approval. The revised ACoP is available on the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l143.htm
The report refers to high levels of airborne fibres causing a number of diseases. I have always been taught that the smallest inhalation can eventually result in mesotheleomia. As I am seventy and have no doubt inhaled small amounts when I was younger this is of personal interest although I am fatalistic as to whether it will eventually kill me. Can someone clarify whether this reference is new HSE advice or a mistake?
What happened to the third comment?
The reference was taken from here:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/dangerous.htm