WORKING WITH ASBESTOS IN BUILDINGS
How does asbestos get into the body?
Although the body will get rid of most of the larger fibres that
can enter the nose and mouth, tiny fibres can pass into the
lower parts of the lung. They can stay there for years and in
some cases work their way through the lung lining. The body
naturally gets rid of any asbestos fibres that you might take in
with food and water. Asbestos fibres cannot be absorbed
through your skin.
What types of buildings are likely to
contain asbestos?
Asbestos is likely to be in a building if :
■ it was built or refurbished between 1950 and 1980
and particularly;
■ if it also has a steel frame; and/or
■ it has boilers with thermal insulation.
But you also need to bear in mind that asbestos cement has
also been widely used as a building material since the 1950s.
Where is asbestos found in buildings?
Many thousands of tonnes of asbestos were used in buildings
in the past. Much of this is still there and you cannot easily
identify it from its appearance.
Its most common uses were:
■ sprayed asbestos and asbestos loose packing -
generally used as fire breaks in ceiling voids;
■ moulded or preformed sprayed coatings and lagging -
generally used in thermal insulation of pipes and
boilers;
■ sprayed asbestos mixed with hydrated asbestos
cement - generally used as fire protection in ducts,
firebreaks, panels, partitions, soffit boards, ceiling
panels and around structural steel work;
■ insulating boards used for fire protection, thermal
insulation, wall partitions and ducts;
■ asbestos cement products, which can be compressed
into flat or corrugated sheets; corrugated sheets are
largely used as roofing and wall cladding; other
asbestos cement products include gutters, rainwater
pipes and water tanks;
■ some reinforced plastics, mastics and sealant;
■ millboard, paper and paper products used for the
insulation of electrical equipment. Asbestos paper has
been used as a fireproof facing on wood fibreboard;
■ certain textured coatings, decorative plasters and paints;
■ asbestos ropes and cloth.
So what should you do?
Any asbestos-containing materials on site should have been
identified before work starts. Those responsible for the building
have a legal requirement to provide your supervisor/employer
with information on the location and condition of these
materials. Work with asbestos insulation, asbestos coatings and
asbestos insulating board must normally be carried out by an
HSE-licensed contractor. Before you start work ask the building
manager or your supervisor 'Has the site been checked for
asbestos?' If there is asbestos and if you are likely to come into
contact with it, get advice from those in charge. If you are in
any doubt about whether the material you are working with
contains asbestos, STOP WORK, and find out.
If you come across any hidden or dusty materials which you
suspect may contain asbestos, stop work and get advice. The
person in charge of the job must find out if there is any
asbestos on the site or assume that anything that looks like
asbestos is asbestos. Identification of asbestos-containing
materials is not easy and you can only be sure they are
asbestos if they have been tested by a specialist laboratory.
What should those in charge of
the job do? They must:
■ decide whether or not the work needs to be carried
out by a specialist asbestos removal contractor;
■ assess the risk to your health from any work that you
do, and decide what precautions you need to take;
■ prevent your exposure to asbestos or reduce it to the
lowest level possible by using suitable controls,
banning the use of power tools, dampening the
material, enclosing the work and using dust extraction
equipment;
■ give you information, instruction and training so that
you know the risks and the precautions you should
take;
■ give you clean protective clothing to wear when you
work with asbestos;
■ make sure you are properly trained to use a
respirator (mask) if you need one, that you know how
to fit it properly and that it’s in good working order,
is clean and is stored in a safe place;
■ consult the health and safety representative, if there
is one, about the control measures to be taken.
What can you do to protect yourself? Do:
■ keep the asbestos-containing materials damp while
you work on them;
■ use hand tools;
■ use the personal protective equipment given to you,
including a respirator (mask);
■ clean up as you go, don’t let waste pile up;
■ clear up asbestos dust using a special 'Type H'
vacuum cleaner or damp cloths;
■ wash your hands and face when you take a break,
and at the end of the day’s work;
■ put asbestos waste into a suitable sealed container.
You can use a heavy duty polythene bag, put that in a
second bag and then label it to show that it contains
asbestos (remember that, in most cases, asbestos
waste needs to be taken to a licensed tip).
DONT'S
■ use power tools - they create more dust;
■ take home to wash the overalls you have worn while
working with asbestos;
■ eat or drink in the work area;
■ smoke - the risk of lung cancer from asbestos is
higher among smokers.
DON’T FORGET
Be alert at all times to the dangers of working
with materials that may contain asbestos. If
you come across asbestos - stop work and
tell your supervisor. Avoid exposure to all
dust. Follow the advice in this leaflet and
protect your health and that of your
workmates. Encourage them to do the same.
