What is asbestos - why is it problem?

Asbestos was used extensively as a building material in Great Britain from the 1950s through to the mid-1980s. It was used for a variety of different purposes and was ideal for fireproofing and insulation. Any type of building built before 2000 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc) could contain asbestos. Asbestos materials in good condition are safe unless the asbestos fibres become airborne, which happens when the materials are damaged.

Asbestos fibres are present everywhere in the environment in Great Britain so everyone is constantly exposed to very low levels of fibres. However, a key factor in the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease is the total number of fibres breathed in. So there is a possibility that being exposed to asbestos fibres for a short period of time can cause cancer. Working on or near damaged asbestos-containing materials or breathing in high levels of asbestos fibres, which may be many hundreds of times that of environmental levels, could increase your chances of getting an asbestos-related disease.

When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases which are responsible for around 4000 deaths a year. There are three main diseases caused by asbestos: mesothelioma (which is always fatal), lung cancer (almost always fatal) and asbestosis (not always fatal, but it can be very debilitating).

Remember, these diseases will not affect you immediately but later on in life, so there is a need for you to protect yourself now to prevent you contracting an asbestos-related disease in the future. It is also important to remember that people who smoke and are also exposed to asbestos fibres are at a much greater risk of developing lung cancer.

• Further details on these diseases

Are you sure that you don’t come in to contact with asbestos?

You could be surprised, if you work in any of the following occupations, and are working on a building built or refurbished before 2000, you may come in to contact with asbestos:

This list does not include all occupations where you may come in to contact with asbestos. Some of the places where you may find it can be found in our interactive diagram. It’s not easy to tell asbestos from how it looks, and it needs to be properly identified in a specialist laboratory. But here are a few examples; some pictures are also featured in the asbestos picture gallery:

• Asbestos used as packing between floors and in partition walls
• Sprayed (‘limpet’) asbestos on structural beams and girders
• Lagging on pipework, boilers, calorifiers, heat exchangers etc
• Asbestos insulating board - ceiling tiles, partition walls, service duct covers, fire breaks, heater cupboards, door panels, lift shaft lining, fire surrounds, soffits etc.
• Asbestos cement products such as roof and wall cladding, bath panels, boiler and incinerator flues, fire surrounds, gutters, rainwater pipes, water tanks etc.
• Other products such as floor tiles, mastics, sealants, rope seals and gaskets (in pipework etc.), millboard, paper products, cloth (fire blankets, etc.) and bituminous products (roofing felt, etc)

Some of the examples listed above can only be carried out by a contractor who has been granted a licence from HSE, details of this can be found in the licensing section of this website. Other jobs can be carried out using the task sheets, make sure you use the right sheet for the job. Also check the equipment and method sheets for details on what to use and how.

When am I mostly at risk?

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 recognise 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.

What can you do to protect yourself?

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

Don't:

• Use methods that create a lot of dust, like using power tools
• Sweep up dust and debris – use a Type H vacuum cleaner or wet rags
• Take home overalls used for asbestos work
• Reuse disposable clothing or masks
• Smoke
• Eat or drink in the work area

What should those in charge of the job do?

They must:

• Find out if asbestos-containing materials are present and plan the work to avoid disturbing these materials if possible
• Ensure that anyone who is going to work on asbestos material is trained properly and is supervised
• Know what work can be carried out on asbestos-containing materials, ie does this work need to be carried out by an HSE licensed contractor?
• Take account of other risks as well as asbestos, eg work at height, and take the precautions necessary to do the job safely
• Use the equipment and method sheets and the right task sheet to make sure that the job is carried out properly and that exposure to asbestos is kept as low as possible
• Prepare a plan of work, explaining what the job involves, the work procedures, and what controls to use
• Provide you with the right equipment, which is clean, in good working order, and protects you against asbestos
• Train you in using this equipment
• Make sure the work area is inspected visually at the end of the job, to check it’s fit for reoccupation
• Make arrangements for the safe disposal of any asbestos waste
• Consult the health and safety representative (if there is one)

What does the law require?

There are a number of sets of regulations, which cover work with all types of asbestos-containing material; they place duties on ‘dutyholders’, employers and the selfemployed. A quick summary of these regulations can be found in the asbestos regulations section of this website.

How do I deal with asbestos waste?

Make sure you double-bag it and label as asbestos waste. You can then get in contact with the Local Authority or Environment Agency to find out if they will assist you in disposing of it, they may charge for this service. Alternatively, you can contact the Environment Agency or if based in Scotland, SEPA. The waste must be disposed of at a licensed tip.

Where can I find out more information?

See 'Asbestos campaign- Hidden killer' for information on our campaign. You may also find useful details in the information and guidance and links pages of this website. Also see the Guidance for Safety Representatives [181kb].