Plumbers workers exposed to Asbestos

Plumbers and those working in the building trades will often come across asbestos. Although the substance has been widely used in building, it is most common in buildings built or refurbished between 1950 and 1980. Asbestos-containing materials can be found almost anywhere in a building built before blue and brown asbestos was banned in 1985, although some buildings built after this time may contain the substance in products such as asbestos cement. Asbestos can also be commonly found in buildings with a steel frame or have boilers with thermal insulation.

Before you start any work you must make sure you know where all asbestos containing materials are.

The Health and Safety Executive says that the most common uses for asbestos are:

Sprayed asbestos and asbestos loose packaging - generally used as fire breaks in ceiling voids;
Moulded or preformed sprayed coatings and lagging - generally used in thermal insulation of pipes and boilers;
Sprayed asbestos mixed with hydrated asbestos cement - generally used as fire protection in ducts, firebreaks, panels, partitions, soffit boards, ceiling panels and around structural steel work;
Insulating boards used for fire protection, thermal insulation, wall partitions and ducts;
Asbestos cement products which can be compressed into flat or corrugated sheets; corrugated sheets are largely used as roofing and wall cladding; other asbestos cement products include gutters, rainwater pipes, soil stacks and cold water cisterns;
Some reinforced plastics, mastics and sealants;
Millboard, paper and paper products used for the insulation of electrical equipment.
Certain textured coatings, decorative plasters and paints;
Asbestos ropes, gaskets and cloth;
Flues;

The duty to manage is directed at those who manage non-domestic premises: the people with responsibility for protecting others who work in such premises, or use them in other ways, from the risks to ill-health that exposure to asbestos causes.

It requires the person who has the duty to:

Take reasonable steps to find out if there are materials containing asbestos in non-domestic premises, and if so, its amount, where it is and what condition it is in;
Presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not;
Make, and keep up-to-date, a record of the location and condition of the asbestos containing materials - or materials which are presumed to contain asbestos;
Assess the risk of anyone being exposed to fibres from the materials identified;
Prepare a plan that sets out in detail how the risks from these materials will be managed;
Take the necessary steps to put the plan into action;
Periodically review and monitor the plan and the arrangements to act on it so that the plan remains relevant and up-to-date
Provide information on the location and condition of the materials to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb them.

Are you in charge?

Surveying for asbestos

If you are in charge or self-employed it is up to you to search the site for asbestos before work begins, or employ a suitably trained person to carry out the survey. If you are employing someone to do the survey for you, make sure they are accredited (www.ukas.com gives information on accredited firms). Remember you can only be 100 percent sure a suspected substance does not contain asbestos after laboratory analysis.

If you find asbestos containing-materials you need to assess the condition of the material and the likelihood of it being disturbed. You will also have to make a record of where the asbestos is located, its type, its form, the amount of it and what sort of condition it is in. This record has to be kept on the premises and available to be viewed at all times. If you are unsure if something contains asbestos, always presume it does until proved otherwise. If the asbestos present is asbestos insulation, asbestos coating or asbestos insulation board, contact an HSE-licensed contractor. The person in charge of the job has to decide if the work needs to be carried out by a specialist, or if those on site can do the work.
Your responsibilities

If you are in charge of a job, you need to know how to deal with asbestos and when you need to call in a specialist licensed contractor. You are responsible for ensuring those working beneath you know the risks and precautions they should take when dealing with asbestos, and know how to use respiratory protective equipment. As the person in charge you have to prevent exposure to asbestos or reduce it to an acceptable level.

When working with asbestos you need to provide clean protective clothing, respirators that fit properly and are in good working order, training on asbestos and instruction on reducing asbestos dust in the air.

If you are responsible for disposing of asbestos waste, it will have to be taken to a licensed tip in accordance with the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. Asbestos waste has to be double-bagged in heavy-duty polythene bags and clearly labelled as containing the substance with the label prescribed for asbestos.

Consult safety representatives if you need help in developing measures to ensure the health and safety of your employees.
What do I do if I find asbestos on site?

Although any asbestos-containing materials should have been identified before work begins, there may be some hidden materials on site that are not found until work starts. If you think you have found asbestos, STOP WORK IMMEDIATELY and alert people to its presence. Asbestos is not an easy substance to identify, so presume a material contains asbestos until proven otherwise. A sample needs to be tested by a specialist laboratory to confirm if asbestos is present.

Respiratory Protective Equipment

If you are working in a situation where asbestos could be present you should be issued with respiratory protective equipment. Respiratory protective equipment includes facemasks, hoods and helmets worn to protect your lungs from asbestos. The type of respirator you use will depend on the amount of asbestos present and the type of job. Make sure you use the right equipment for the job, or you could expose yourself to asbestos fibres.
MAKE SURE YOUR RESPIRATOR FITS AND WORKS CORRECTLY.

If it does not fit, asbestos fibres will enter your lungs and you will be putting your health at serious risk. Your employer (or yourself if self-employed) has to train you how to fit, clean, look after and use respiratory protective equipment properly, and keep this training up-to-date with refresher courses. Tests need to be carried out to make sure that your facemask fits properly (it is an employer's duty to make sure you have a face fit test before using any kind of respirator) as if you have a beard (even stubble), wear glasses or have sideburns, certain types of respirators may not fit adequately. NEVER TAKE OFF YOUR RESPIRATOR IN A CONTAMINATED AREA, the damage asbestos dust causes is irreversible and may cost you your life.

How can I protect myself if I am exposed to asbestos?

Along with the use of respirators you can take further action to prevent contact with asbestos fibres:

dampening down asbestos-containing materials can lower the amount of fibres in the air;
use of hand tools over power tools (power tools create more dust, it is not advisable to use them on an asbestos-containing material);
clear up asbestos dust using a 'Type H' vacuum cleaner or damp cloths;
clean up, as you go - don't let asbestos-containing waste build up;
wash your hands and face when you take a break and at the end of work;
don't take home any overalls, worn while you have been in contact with asbestos
put asbestos waste into a suitable sealed container.
Asbestos waste has to be double-bagged in heavy-duty polythene bags and clearly labelled as containing the substance with the label prescribed for asbestos;
don't eat or drink in the work area;
don't smoke.