Use extreme caution when exposing underground ducting systems and report any suspicious materials to management.
You are mostly at risk when:
• You are working on an unfamiliar site
• The building you are working on was built before the year 2000
• Asbestos-containing materials were not identified before the job was started
• Asbestos-containing materials were identified but this information was not passed on by the people in charge to the people doing the work
• You don’t know how to recognize and work safely with asbestos
• You know how to work safely with asbestos but you choose to put yourself at risk by not following proper precautions, perhaps to save time or because no one else is following proper procedures
Remember, as long as the asbestos is not damaged or located somewhere where it can be easily damaged, it won’t be a risk to you.
• You can’t see or smell asbestos fibres in the air
• The effects of asbestos take many years to show up - avoid breathing it in now
• Smoking increases the risk many times
• Asbestos is only a danger when fibres are made airborne
Diseases:
• Mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract (peritoneum). It is almost exclusively related to asbestos exposure and by the time it is diagnosed, it is almost always fatal.
• Asbestos-related lung cancer is the same as lung cancer caused by smoking and other causes. It is estimated that there is around one lung cancer for every mesothelioma death.
• Asbestosis is a serious scarring condition of the lung that normally occurs after heavy exposure to asbestos over many years. This condition can cause progressive shortness of breath, and in severe cases can be fatal.
• Pleural thickening is generally a problem that happens after heavy asbestos exposure. The lining of the lung (pleura) thickens and swells.
• Pleural plaques are deposits of fibrous tissue that develop in the chest cavity as a result of asbestos exposure. These deposits usually are found on the parietal pleura – the membrane that lines the chest wall.
DO:
• Stop and ask if you are suspicious something may be asbestos or if you think the work might need to be carried out by a licensed contractor
• Follow the plan of work and the Task Guidance Sheets; make sure you use the right sheet for the job
• Make sure you take account of other risks such as work at height
• Use your protective equipment, including a suitable face mask, worn properly
• Clean up as you go - stop waste building up
• Make sure waste is double-bagged and is disposed of properly at a licensed tip
• Wash before breaks and going home
If you know of Asbestos:
• Walk away
• Call your manager
• Ensure Mia Direct is made aware
• ALWAYS follow site surveys and route plans for any cabling
Before starting work:
• Ask the building owner or manager if they know of any asbestos in the building
• Ask to see the asbestos register (Business)
• Survey your works area for evidence of asbestos
• If you suspect asbestos to be present, DO NOT start work! Call your manager, and seek alternative routes for any cabling/ works
What you MUST do if you suspect asbestos:
• STOP work!
• Possibly evacuate the area and prevent others entering
• Do NOT disturb the material
• Contact your manager for advice and inform the building owner
IF’ you get dust or debris on your clothing:
• Remove your clothing and place in a plastic bag
• If possible, take a shower
• Leave your clothes sealed in the bag – do NOT wash them
Asbestos should only be removed, worked on, labelled, transported or disposed of by HSE licensed contractors.