Work involving asbestos
What is the risk?
Exposure to asbestos fibres causes three serious diseases:
- mesothelioma (a cancer of the lung lining);
- lung cancer (indistinguishable from lung cancers caused by other agents); and
- asbestosis (a non-cancerous scarring of the lung tissue).
There are no cures for asbestos-related diseases and they typically take many years to appear after the period of exposure. This latency effect means that an exposure occurring at a young age may constitute a substantially higher risk than the same exposure occurring later in life – simply because it is more likely that a young person will survive to the time following exposure when the disease is most likely to emerge. For example, the mesothelioma risk for exposure starting at age 20 is around twice as high as for the same exposure starting at age 30.
You can only identify the specific risk through a risk assessment of the particular circumstances under which there is exposure to asbestos in your workplace. You should bear in mind that young people may not appreciate the dangers to their health or they may not understand or follow instructions properly because of their immaturity.
How to avoid the risk
You must comply with the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2006. In particular, you should ensure that exposure to asbestos is avoided wherever possible. If exposure to asbestos cannot be avoided, you should ensure that it is at as low a level as is reasonably practicable. All work with asbestos must be carefully assessed and planned, and done by trained workers with suitable controls. You must pay special attention to the requirements of the Regulations for providing young people with:
- information, instruction and training; and
- adequate supervision within a safe system of work.
The importation, supply and use of raw asbestos and asbestos-containing materials is forbidden except for in a few very specific situations.
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