| Did you know that in the UK every week... | | | | * Plumbers |
| 3 plumbers die | | | | * Roofing contractors |
| 20 tradesmen die | | | | * Painters and decorators |
| 6 electricians die | | | | * Plasterers |
| 6 joiners die ...all from asbestos; the hidden killer! | | | | * Construction workers |
| The UK is currently in the middle of an asbestos | | | | * Fire and burglar alarm installers |
| epidemic; more people are killed by asbestos than | | | | * Shop fitters |
| are killed on the roads! | | | | * Gas fitters |
| Working on or near damaged asbestos containing | | | | * Computer installers |
| materials (ACM's) and breathing in the asbestos | | | | * General maintenance staff |
| fibres will increase your chances of getting an | | | | * Building surveyors |
| asbestos-related disease. When these fibres are | | | | * Telecommunications engineers |
| inhaled they can cause serious diseases which are | | | | * Cable layers |
| responsible for around 4000 deaths a year. | | | | Learning Objectives |
| There are four main diseases caused by | | | | On successful completion of Asbestos Awareness |
| asbestos: Mesothelioma (which is always fatal), | | | | Training, delegates should be able to: |
| lung cancer (almost always fatal), asbestosis (not | | | | *Have an increased awareness of the nature and |
| always fatal, but it can be very debilitating) and | | | | properties of asbestos and its effects on health, |
| diffuse pleural thickening (not fatal). | | | | including the increased risk of lung cancer for |
| Because of the latency period of between 15 to | | | | asbestos workers who smoke |
| 60 years, these diseases will not affect you | | | | *Be familiar with types, uses and likely |
| immediately but later on in life. YOU NEED TO | | | | occurrences of asbestos in buildings and plant |
| PROTECT YOURSELF NOW to prevent | | | | *Know how to avoid the risks from asbestos by |
| contracting an asbestos-related disease in the | | | | understanding: |
| future. Also, if you smoke and are also exposed | | | | Where to obtain information on asbestos in |
| to asbestos fibres you are 50 times more likely | | | | premises prior to commencing work. |
| to develop lung cancer. | | | | What to do if suspicious materials are found. |
| To comply with the Control of Asbestos | | | | How to use appropriate workplace precautions, |
| Regulations 2006, Asbestos Awareness Training | | | | including risk assessment or seek advice. |
| must be given to anyone liable to come into | | | | Undertake work activities in a safe manner and |
| contact with ACM's during the course of their | | | | without risk to themselves or others |
| work. This of course includes managers and | | | | *Have an awareness of the general legislation in |
| supervisors who are instructing their personnel to | | | | relation to health & safety and asbestos in |
| go out into the workplace to carryout work. | | | | particular |
| Most at Risk | | | | *Procedures to be followed when coming into |
| * Heating and ventilation engineers | | | | unintentional contact with ACM's and an |
| * Demolition workers | | | | understanding of the appropriate emergency |
| * Electricians | | | | arrangements. |
| * Carpenters and joiners | | | | |