comercrawley solicitors

04.12.2008

Asbestos: the hidden killer

According to the health and safety executive, 25% of those affected by asbestos-related illness are former tradesmen, but there are fears that today’s engineers, tradesmen and labourers underestimate the threat it poses to them.

Asbestos was used for many years for insulation and fire proofing until a ban was enforced on its use in new buildings in 2000. However, the highly dangerous material is still present in around 500,000 buildings throughout the UK. It can cause cancers and lung illnesses if its dust is inhaled.

According to the HSE exposure to the material remains the biggest single cause of work related deaths-which is likely to peak at around 5,000 per year in the next five years.

Danger arises when the material is disturbed through cutting or drilling refurbishment work to older buildings. The resulting illnesses, most notably the lung cancer mesothelioma, typically take between 20 and 50 years to develop, depending on the levels and frequency of exposure. Despite the deadly threat posed by asbestos and its prevalence in buildings throughout the UK, the HSE has been accused by the union of construction, allied trades and technicians (Ucatt) of failing in its duty to investigate workers complaints about exposure to asbestos. Research by

Ucatt suggests that only one in ten current tradesmen recognise the danger posed by asbestos.

HSE’s disease reduction programme director, Steve Coldrick says ‘We have a legacy of 500,000 commercial and industrial buildings in this country which still contain asbestos and it is tradesmen who are at risk from it now. ‘Unless we make them really understand the problems it can cause, in 20 or 50 years time we will have even more people dying’.

Despite the dangers posed by asbestos dust the HSE maintains that asbestos-based materials and products do not pose a threat to human health as long they are in good condition, sealed and are not disturbed.

They list likely situations where asbestos may be present and where precautions should be taken:
• Building insulation- wall & floor cavities and roofing insulation
• Panelling – external wall cladding & internal wall panelling
• Guttering – external guttering and down pipes can contain asbestos cement
• Water tanks – pre 1980 installations may contain asbestos cement
• Boilers/heating cupboards – insulation used on heating units
• Bathroom furnishings – EG toilet cisterns, can contain asbestos based composite materials
• Texture coating – EG artex, on both ceilings and walls
• Pipe lagging – fire proofing & insulation on industrial pipe work
• Tiles – thermoplastic & vinyl floor tiles

‘We are still dealing with the results of the careless handling of asbestos in the past’, says Ian Comer of comercrawley, who works on asbestos-related claims on behalf of his clients.

There is a tendency to believe that, because we know much more about it, the risk has been much reduced or almost eradicated.

‘But of course there are still a great many buildings and situations in which asbestos remains, and it’s still of the greatest importance that those working where asbestos may be found should think of that possibility before they disturb the material.

‘As long as we think ahead then the dangers can be neutralised. Otherwise the dreadful long-term toll of asbestos is likely to continue for decades to come’.

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