Asbestos Matters - no other matters just Asbestos Matters

“So how much asbestos does it take to result in an asbestos related disease or death” After 20 years in the asbestos related training industry I must have had that question asked numerous time! Experts have never established a safe level nor have they have ever established a level at which the diseases or deaths are caused at.

Of course its imperative that we always avoid any exposure to asbestos at all times, in fact it’s a legal requirement that as an employee your employer has a very strict legal requirement to ensure that you are protected from asbestos at all times whilst at work. If you are self-employed, then that legal requirement also extends to you.

The protection of others not in your direct employment such as members of the public, other sub-contractors and even tenants is also strictly controlled by statutory acts of Parliament such as The Health & safety at Work 1974 and many others.

With over 4,500 deaths each year from asbestos related diseases equating to over 20 trades persons a week dying from this deadly fibre.....its quite easy to understand why and how these deaths can happen.

Millions of tons of asbestos were used in millions of properties in all sectors throughout the UK including, schools, hospitals, public buildings, industrial and commercial properties and of course domestic properties.
The peak periods of the use of asbestos in buildings was between 1950’s and 1980’s and subsequently buildings of that age group have been constantly worked on, maintained and demolished since those times.

Subsequently thousands of workers have disturbed the materials or of course have been involved in the installation of asbestos products.....resulting in large scale exposure to asbestos fibres over sustained periods of time or perhaps even short periods of time but constant smaller levels of exposure?

But sometimes asbestos-related deaths and disease strike at those who don’t fit into any of those criteria? The story of Jane Garner and her fight against asbestos related disease is sadly one of those cases.

Described by the coroner as “unusual” it’s a tragic tale yet again of the un-predictable nature of asbestos and the extent of related deaths not attributed to the industries where workers were exposed in ‘heavy’ amounts of ‘long periods of time’....

Here is Jane Garners story:
A popular mum developed an incurable cancer after ‘the lightest dusting’ of exposure to asbestos as a teenager – an inquest has heard.
Penny Jane Garner, 46, died in March this year, after a three-year battle with malignant mesothelioma, a terminal cancer linked to exposure to asbestos.

At an inquest, lung cancer specialist Dr Simon Taggart described the case of Ms Garner, who lived on Woodlands Avenue, Peel Green, Salford, as one of the most unusual he has ever seen.
He said the mum-of-three may have been exposed to a ‘sudden burst’ of asbestos or could have come into contact with the substance in several places, which had an accumulative effect.
He said: “It’s unusual, but Penny is unusual. She died at 46 and her lungs were healthy. The average age of mesothelioma sufferers in Salford is upwards of 70 years old.
“This is the lightest dusting of exposure I have ever seen.”
Bolton Coroners’ Court heard that Ms Garner was ‘devastated’ when an attempt to sue Salford council and Ardwick-based building firm P McGuiness and Co, which demolished Seedley swimming baths, was unsuccessful.
The seamstress believed demolition of the baths had exposed her to deadly fibres while she was a child playing at neighbouring Seedley Primary School, but a High Court ruling found neither party was responsible.
Ms Garner was initially given antibiotics for pneumonia before doctors discovered she was suffering from mesothelioma.
The inquest heard she may have been exposed to asbestos while working at a textiles factory in her late teens. Deborah Hopwood, who worked with Ms Garner at a factory during the 1980s, said ‘cracked’ floor tiles, clothes presses and heating pipes used at the workplace may have contained asbestos.
Coroner Jennifer Leeming said Ms Garner’s ‘shocking’ death was a result of industrial disease and added: “I was so touched by what you said about Penny and how cruel what had happened to her was.”
Speaking after the inquest, Ms Garner’s mum Jane Garner, 66, said she was shocked her daughter could have developed a terminal illness from such a low exposure to asbestos.
She said: “It’s just so sad that with such a low exposure she passed away.
“She was a lovely, hard working mother, who adored her children and loved her jobs.”

Source: Manchester Evening News

It’s not a secret that some of the highest rates of Mesothelioma and other asbestos related deaths are centred in and around the North East of England. Being a former ‘heavy industry and construction worker’ myself and with hands on experience of this deadly substance, I read with interest a story of a local man from our region who is urging trades men and women to be aware of the ‘hidden killer whilst carrying out work on buildings.

I also read this month the findings of a fascinating research report carried out by the Health & Safety Executive which has highlighted many concerns about workers true perception of the risk from asbestos in buildings.

Having over 20 years experience in the training industry and travelling the length and breadth of the UK training the construction, refurbishment and engineering industries certainly back that study up. The ‘it wont happen to me’ perception is a hard one to break, however when you see and read stories like that of Simon Clark it certainly strikes home a sobering message that even today.......despite the perceptions shown by many, asbestos is still the biggest occupational killer this country has ever experienced or probably will ever experience!

Here’s the article published recently within the Newcastle Evening Chronicle. Read on it certainly made me think.

A former electrician suffering from an industrial diseased has urged people to be cautious of asbestos as figures reveal Tyneside tradesmen could come into contact with the substance more than 100 times a year.

Simon Clark was diagnosed with mesothelioma - a life-threatening, aggressive form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos - in 2012, aged just 52.

The Health and Safety Executive has said tradesmen in Newcastle could come into contact with asbestos an average of 115 times a year following a new survey.

On hearing the figures Simon made a plea to fellow tradesmen.
He said:

“When I was younger I didn’t think of the dangers of asbestos and I must have been exposed to it frequently. Since being diagnosed, I’ve had to give up my work and let some of my employees go - which is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It is vitally important that everybody knows when they might be exposed and takes the correct steps to protect themselves.”

As well as illustrating how often trades people in Newcastle can be exposed to asbestos, the survey revealed some common myths believed by those at risk, with four per cent believing that drinking a glass of water will help protect them from the deadly dust and 33 per cent thinking that opening a window will help to keep them safe.

Asbestos can be found in walls and ceilings, or the structure of a building, as well as a host of other places like floor tiles, boilers, toilet cisterns, guttering and soffits.
It can be disturbed by basic maintenance work like drilling holes and sanding and once disturbed, the microscopic fibres can prove lethal if breathed in, causing lung disease and cancer.

The research, undertaken by Censuswide in September 2014, shows that while more than half (53 per cent) of trades people in Britain knew that asbestos could be in old buildings built before 1970, only 15 per cent knew that it could still be found in buildings built up to the year 2000.
To encourage trades people to think about asbestos on every job the HSE has launched a new safety campaign.

Philip White, HSE’s Chief Inspector of Construction, said: “Asbestos is still a very real danger and the survey findings suggest that the people who come into contact with it regularly often don’t know where it could be and worryingly don’t know how to deal with it correctly, which could put them in harm’s way.

“Our new campaign aims to help trades people understand some of the simple steps they can take to stay safe. Our new web app is designed for use on a job so workers can easily identify if they are likely to face danger and can then get straight forward advice to help them do the job safely.”

Source:Evening Chronicle

Its not exactly ‘cloak and dagger’ or ‘Agatha Christie’s latest murder mystery’......but often enough their presence on site can sometimes make the difference between life or death! Curious...? read on.

Here is the second blog in our series of blogs telling you all you need to know about the Health & Safety Executive

Health as well as safety’ is the message during this year’s Construction Initiative being undertaken by the HSE. As poor standards and unsafe practices on Britain’s building sites are being targeted during a nationwide drive aimed at reducing ill health, death and injury in the industry.

During October this year the HSE Construction Inspectors will carry out unannounced visits to sites where refurbishment projects or repair works are underway.

This is the ninth annual Initiative and building on previous campaigns, HSE Inspectors will ensure high-risk activities particularly those affecting the health of workers, are being properly managed.

What the initiative does
The main aims of the initiative are:
• to achieve an improvement in industry standards, in particular at small sites
• to increase awareness of HSE’s expectations of the industry
• to demonstrate that HSE will use the enforcement tools at its disposal to prevent immediate risk and bring about sustained improvements

What inspectors look for?
During inspections, HSE inspectors will consider whether:
• risks to health from exposure to dust such as silica are being controlled
• workers are aware of where they may find asbestos, and what to do if they find it
• other health risks, such as exposure to noise and vibration, manual handling, hazardous substances are being properly managed
• jobs that involve working at height have been identified and properly planned to ensure that appropriate precautions, such as proper support of structures, are in place
• equipment is correctly installed / assembled, inspected and maintained and used properly
• sites are well organised, to avoid trips and falls, walkways and stairs are free from obstructions and welfare facilities are adequate
HSE uses the inspection initiatives to reinforce its message to the construction industry that poor standards are unacceptable and liable to result in HSE taking enforcement action.

And of course just to finish off........any action taken against the employer can result in the implementation of intervention fees which have just recently been introduced by the HSE, for more information on these, see our previous blog?

If you are breaking health and safety laws, HSE may recover its costs from
you by charging a fee for the time and effort it spends on helping you to put
the matter right, investigating and taking enforcement action.
This is called....Intervention Fees introduced from October 1st 2014.

What is fee for intervention (FFI)?
HSE’s inspectors inspect work activities and investigate incidents and complaints.
If, when visiting your business, they see material breaches of the law, you will have to pay a fee. The fee is based on the amount of time that the inspector has had to spend identifying the breach, helping you to put it right, investigating and taking enforcement action.

Why is FFI being introduced?
HSE and the government believe it is right that businesses that break health and
safety laws should pay for HSE’s time in putting matters right, investigating and
taking enforcement action. Before FFI was introduced, this was paid for from the
public purse. FFI will also encourage businesses to comply in the first place or put matters right quickly when they don’t. It will also discourage businesses who think that they can undercut their competitors by not complying with the law and putting people at risk.

Will FFI apply to me?
If you comply with the law you won’t pay a fee. FFI only applies to work carried out by HSE’s inspectors so if your business is inspected for health and safety by another regulator, such as local authority environmental health officers, it will not apply.

FFI will apply to all businesses and organisations inspected by HSE, except for:
• self-employed people who don’t put people at risk by their work;
• those who are already paying fees to HSE for the work through other
• arrangements; and
• those who deliberately work with certain biological agents

Need to know more?.......check it all out by visiting:

HSE

The Asbestos Specialists in another asbestos training industry first today are proud to announce the launch of The Duty to Manage online and face 2 face training courses.

The Duty to Manage Asbestos training course is directed at those who manage non-domestic premises: the people with responsibility for protecting others who work in such premises, or use them in other ways, from the risks to ill health that exposure to asbestos causes.

RoSPA Approved
The e-learning (on-line) course

The Asbestos Specialists can offer you the opportunity to undertake the Duty to Manage Asbestos training course through two routes; traditional face-to-face training or our industry leading online version. Both courses are examination based and are fully certificated. The course will assist building owners to comply with The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and ACoP L143 (second edition). This course is suitable for delegates who already have attained an approved asbestos awareness qualification.

Face-to-Face Option
Available as both in-house and at locations throughout the UK. The in-house option can accommodate up to a maximum of 15 delegates. It follows all relevant guidance published by the HSE. The course includes specific information contained with HSG 264 and ACoP L143. This course is a 2-day training course that includes a tutor-led practical exercise on asbestos risk assessments and use of the priority assessment – HSG 227. The course is also inclusive of a 1-hour examination externally marked. Certification is issued on successful completion of the course.

This course is available in the following training centre locations:

South East, South West, Midlands, North West, North East and Central Scotland.
Call us for dates and booking details

If you are interested in either of our industry leading asbestos management Duty to Manage courses......just give our expert training advisers a call, we will guide you to the most cost efficient route to gaining this vital qualification to enable you to comply with The Control of Asbestos Regulations.

Another first for the UK’s most innovative asbestos training provider.
”...we would rather fail in originality than succeed in imitation...”

5 surprising facts about asbestos.

With graphic descriptive terms used to describe it, such as ‘the hidden killer’ and ‘deadly fibre’, the discovery or presumption that you may have asbestos in your workplace or even in your home is enough to strike fear into the minds of many people – and rightly so. Despite there being legislative controls to protect workers and members of the public from the 1930s right up until 2012, asbestos is still the single greatest cause of UK work related deaths and to this day it also remains a source of misery and ill-health the world over.

Here are 7 of some of the most surprising facts about asbestos…

1. Asbestos is a natural product – and still mined today:
Yes, asbestos is actually a mineral, unlike many other dangerous materials and substances found in the workplace, asbestos is not manmade. It’s not made in ‘asbestos factories’ - it is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin needle fibres or soft silky strong fibres held within the rock which is mined from the earth – a practice which is still carried out in many countries such as Russia, China, Brazil, Kazakhstan and, up until 2011, in Canada. In 2009, there were still two million tonnes of asbestos fibre mined worldwide.

2. Asbestos refers to a group of minerals:
The term ‘asbestos’ actually refers to a set of six minerals. All six are strong, heat resistant and chemically inert – properties that originally made it such a desirable material for a range of products and applications. Of the six types, three were commonly used in the UK:
chrysotile (white asbestos),
amosite (brown asbestos) and
crocidolite (blue asbestos).
All six have been found to harm human health due to the long term damage that breathing microscopic asbestos fibres causes to the lungs.

3. We have used asbestos for almost 5000 years:
The earliest known use of asbestos was in about 2,500 B.C in what is now Finland, where fibres were mixed with clay to form stronger ceramic utensils and pots. Since then it was used by most of the world’s major civilisations, including the ancient Greeks, Romans and Persians, where its fire-resistant properties were heralded by many as a form of ‘magic’. However, it wasn’t until 1858 that the asbestos industry formally began, when the Johns Mannville Company in New York began mining asbestos for use as industrial insulation.

4. Remarkable but true:
It might seem absolutely incredible to us now that we are aware of its dangers but, during the 1950s, asbestos was used as a medium in cigarette filters. Between 1953 and 1957 it is estimated that over 13 billion ‘Kent Micronite’ cigarettes were sold worldwide, mostly in the USA. Blue asbestos was used within the filter material to remove the heat from the smoke and tar from the tobacco.
Actually within the first half of the twentieth century asbestos was used in a variety of surprising applications. Back in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, for example, asbestos was within a fake snow product that was used as a Christmas decoration. Its heat-resistant properties meant it was thought of much lower fire risk than alternatives – and it was even used on the film sets of ‘The Wizard of Oz.’


5. Asbestos exposure kills somebody every five hours:
As early as the 1930s it was understood that exposure to asbestos fibres could cause the disease which is known as asbestosis. However since then we have also discovered other diseases associated with being exposed to asbestos fibres.
The most serious disease is mesothelioma – cancer of the outer lining of the lung which is invariably fatal. Due to the risks posed by other people such as family members and ancillary workers who may have been subject to indirect exposure, it is difficult to put an exact figure on the number killed. However, the British Lung Foundation and the Health and Safety Executive estimate that more than 2,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year in the UK and someone dies every five hours. What’s more, in a report called the ‘Projection of Mesothelioma Mortality in Great Britain’, produced for the HSE, around 91,000 deaths are predicted to occur in the UK by 2050 as a direct result of exposure to asbestos.

Our vision and mission statements are the purpose of our Company business and the reason for our Company’s existence.

Our vision and mission statements will guide the Asbestos Specialists to spell out our overall goal, provide a path, and guide us with business decision-making.
Commenting on the launch of the company statements Managing Director Les Cooper said:

“...these statements will provide the framework or context within which the company's existing or future business strategies that are, or will be formulated. We take our statements seriously, they are a clear way forward, they are a goal for what the Asbestos Specialists as a company wants to achieve in the asbestos related training industry...”

Company motto
“...we would rather fail in originality than to succeed in imitation...”

Vision Statement
The guiding vision of The Asbestos Specialists is "To bring the best to everyone we deal with". What do we mean by the ‘best’...? we mean the best customer service, the best training and the best price. These three pillars have been the hallmarks of our Company since its foundation in 2003. They remain the foundations which we will continue to build upon.

Mission Statement
To supply outstanding service and training solutions through dedication, innovation and excellence. To become and sustain the position of undisputed marketplace leaders in asbestos related training.

Once again UK Asbestos Specialists are proud to announce another major step forward in the continuous improvement programme of our company, which has been on going since the re-launch in December2010.

Today we are very proud to announce that we have become members of RoSPA.
Of course our membership of RoSPA is just another step on the ladder to maintaining our position as the UK’s leading asbestos awareness and asbestos management training provider.

RoSPA’s Mission and Vision
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), work is centred on two simple statements their mission and vision.

The RoSPA mission is to save lives and reduce injuries.

The RoSPA vision is to lead the way on accident prevention.

These statements provide the foundation on which their work is based - including their long-term goals and what they do on a day-to-day basis.

The RoSPA mission describes their passion, their belief in their "cause" and their energy and commitment to improving the lives of others.

Too many people are killed and seriously injured in preventable accidents. At RoSPA, they remember that every accident “statistic" represents a real person - a life lost or affected, often severely - and a family left enduring the consequences. Everything they do, therefore, is focused on preventing this unnecessary suffering.

The RoSPA vision encapsulates how they work towards the RoSPA mission.

RoSPA have been at the heart of accident prevention in the UK and around the world since our inception back in 1917. With a huge toll of death and injury from accidents remaining in this country and overseas, they are committed to using and adding to the tremendous base of expertise they have built up over many decades.

Commenting on our membership of the British Safety Council, UK Asbestos Specialists Managing Director Les Cooper said;

“As a company we are proud to become members of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

The Asbestos Specialists believe in the RoSPA ethos of improving health and safety standards in the workplace, which is why we have made another significant investment promoting the RoSPA mission and vision. We already have courses approved by RoSPA and this membership will cement our place at the forefront of the asbestos training industry once again.

Having practised occupational health & safety in many industry sectors for over 20 years, I have always been aware of the fantastic work that RoSPA undertake to promote safe working environments for the employee and employer.

A statement of commitment....
"It not only demonstrates our commitment to improving health & safety in our work places, but also allows us access as an organisation to a constant source of information and support in all areas of occupational health & safety……of course being members of RoSPA will also compliment our other professional membership of The British Safety Council”

On mesothelioma action day campaigners demand research into asbestos cancers set to claim 60,000 lives in next three decades

HEALTH campaigners will mark National Action Day on Mesothelioma today by ramping up their fight for funds to research into the fatal asbestos-related cancer.

Latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed a shocking rise in the number of fatalities from the disease in Britain, which has the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world.

The HSE said that 2,535 people died from mesothelioma in 2012, an increase from 2,291 in 2011 and the disease is expected to kill around 60,000 people over the next 30 years unless new treatments are found.

But campaigners say that investment in mesothelioma research has long been dwarfed by amounts invested in cancers that kill similar numbers of people, such as skin cancer and myeloma.
Asbestos was used widely in construction industry up until the 1970s.

One of the major difficulties for those who contract the disease is establishing when and where they were exposed to the deadly fibres due to the length of time symptoms can remain dormant.

Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group spokesman Graham Dring told the Star the group often came across victims who were diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos 60 years previously.

Following a lengthy campaign the government has now established a compensation scheme for those unable to establish liability.

But campaigners argue that the scheme, which caps compensation at 80 per cent and only applies to those diagnosed with the disease after 2012, does not go far enough.

Mr Dring said the new figures were “shocking” and urged greater government action on the issue. “New cases of mesothelioma in Greater Manchester are increasing year on year,” he said. “It is vital that the government commits research funding to give some hope to sufferers, most of whom contracted this disease simply by going to work.”

Malcolm Yates, a mesothelioma patient from Blackrod, said: “One of the worst aspects of being diagnosed with mesothelioma was the despair of knowing that there were no treatments available. “It just left us feeling so hopeless. We desperately need more funding for mesothelioma research, so that families can hope for a future.”

And construction union UCATT general secretary Steve Murphy said: “This large increase in mesothelioma deaths demonstrates the continuing dangers of asbestos.

“It is essential that today on Mesothelioma Day and in the future far more pressure is applied to politicians to ensure that training is improved for workers and that far greater funding is provided for treating and curing this terrible disease.”

Source: Courtesy of the Morning Star 04/07/2014

Got 5 minutes to spare?.......it just could go a long way to help you avoid the risks of asbestos in the buildings you or your employees carry out works in!

Launched in 2013 the Take 5 and Stay Alive initiative is leading the way within the UK to highlight the risks of working in buildings, which may contain asbestos.

The Take Five British Lung Foundation website has a number of brief easy to understand sections with vital information about asbestos, where it can be found, the risks associated with it and of course important information about rules for working with asbestos.

The website also recognises that the risks from asbestos are not just about those who work in buildings but also of course about the risks of asbestos in the home. It is essential that those who are keen non-professional DIYers also understand the dangers of working near or on asbestos.

This section in the website provides a very handy 5-step checklist for anyone planning to carry out work around the home.

The checklist includes:
• What is asbestos?
• Where and when was asbestos used?
• What does asbestos look like?
• What if I find asbestos in my home?
• Where can I get all the facts?

Its very rare that any organisation tackles the subject of asbestos dangers during DIY and this section within the website also enables you to download a very useful free download fact sheet.

The Asbestos Specialists are proud to announce that we become official partners with The British Lung Foundation last year, enabling anyone to locate us direct from the website for training in asbestos awareness or asbestos removal.

For further information about Take 5 and Stay Alive, check out the website: www.take5andstayalive.com or contact the British Lung Foundation their website is: www.blf.org.uk