Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Asbestos Awareness”
The carcinogenic nature of asbestos, and the fact it was once a mainstay material used extensively in industry, means asbestos poisoning is still a threat to health even though the substance was banned in the UK in 1999. Figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that in 2016, 2,595 people died from mesothelioma, an aggressive form of …
Asbestos in residential and non-domestic buildings has been a major health concern for many decades, and questions have been asked as to why asbestos containing materials (ACMs) cannot be removed en masse. Asbestos was widely used in the construction industry until its UK ban in 1999, with asbestos containing materials providing insulation and protection from fire, but they left a …
If you’re thinking of acquiring a business that operates from older premises, or already run one, asbestos due diligence is a key issue that protects your employees’ health and could save you money and time in the future. Under UK asbestos law the person responsible for maintaining non-domestic buildings can be fined and/or prosecuted for failing in this respect. …
According to the BBC, 94% of hospitals in London alone contain asbestos.¹ The prolific use of asbestos in hospitals around the UK has created a complex issue for those tasked with managing it, but crucially, it’s a problem that threatens the health of hospital staff, patients, and visitors. Extensively used in hospital boiler rooms and for lagging pipes, asbestos is …
The dumping of rubbish in our country lanes, towns, and cities, and specifically asbestos fly tipping, has become a serious health issue in the UK and holds particularly worrying ramifications for members of the public. In fact, figures from StatsWales show that 304 cases of asbestos fly tipping in Wales alone were recorded in 2016-17 – a significant increase from …
Asbestos has caused severe illness and high mortality rates around the world for many decades, partly due to a lack of asbestos awareness among workers and their employers. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics show in 2016 alone, 2,595 victims died from mesothelioma, an aggressive form of lung cancer attributed to asbestos exposure. The nature of asbestos disease means that …
A landmark ruling in the Court of Appeal may help asbestos victims obtain compensation. Graham Dring, acting on behalf of the Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum, led a challenge against one of the world’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos products, Cape Intermediate Holdings. The Appeal Court ruling is a significant step towards establishing the true extent of industry knowledge …
Asbestos is a known human carcinogen, and as such, presents a significant danger to anyone who comes into contact with it. This is why it’s essential to hire licensed contractors to safely remove asbestos in many instances. It prioritises health and safety, and is required by law for high-risk asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). If you’re a duty-holder or a contractor not …
If asbestos fibre and dust are released into the air during a fire, it can cause serious health issues for anyone nearby. The presence of asbestos in a fire needs to be carefully managed to minimise the risk to firefighters and the public, as once airborne, the microscopic fibres are easily inhaled. The sharp and brittle nature of some types …
Our rich industrial past, and the subsequent redevelopment of land on which factories, mills and warehouses once stood, has led to a significant health and safety issue in the form of asbestos in soil. Derelict and disused areas of land, known as ‘brownfield’ sites, are being used to address the UK’s housing crisis, but with the obvious benefits of this …
