In the News – BBC Online (yesterday)

• 2020 Current Issue

• How long have we known?

• 1897 – First female HSE Inspector

• 1905 – Coroner confirms

• 1931 – First Factories Act

• Banned – 1999???

Properties of Asbestos

Asbestos Properties

• Resistant to heat (1400°c)

• Thermal stability

• Chemically inert

• Resistant to water

• High electrical resistance

• Poor acoustic conductor

• Strong

• Flexible – can be spun

• Lightweight

• Does not degrade

• Cheap to mine & process

• “Miracle Mineral”

Health Effects

ROUTES INTO THE BODY

• Inhalation• Ingestion

Illness – Half Life

•Asbestosis•Pleural Plaques•Mesothelioma•Lung Cancer

How You Could be Exposed

How could you still be exposed in 2020?

•Ignorant•Forgetful•Apathetic

• Not just your H&S

Asbestos Health Risks

Significant factors that may increase risk:

• Type of asbestos inhaled • Amount of fibres inhaled• Repeated exposure – cumulative effect• Smoking (neutralises hairs in throat) • Age

Avoiding the Risk• Training• Building Management Procedures• Check we have the R&D Survey on site

• Beware the limitations -

• Read the Asbestos Register • Make sure you are inducted• Confirm all locations with the Site Manager• Ask questions, be curious and be suspicious• Note where asbestos might be - do not disturb• Stop work if suspicious of any material

Emergency Procedures

No Time to Lose: spotlight on asbestos

Asbestos-related cancerGlobal estimate

Source: World Health Organization

125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos in the workplace

It claims at least 107,000 lives every year

Asbestos-related cancer Research in Britain reveals impact of carcinogens – and asbestos

5,000 people a year die from an asbestos-related cancer in Britain

Source: Health and Safety Executive

The No Time to Lose campaign aims to:

• raise awareness of work-related exposure to carcinogens as a significant long-term health issue facing employees

• offer businesses free practical, original materials to help them deliver effective prevention programmes

• suggest and communicate solutions to tackle the problem

Free practical materialsAll available from www.notimetolose.org.uk

Support the campaign – join over 250 organisations

New No Time to Lose website

www.notimetolose.org.uk