At the inaugural Construction Health Summit held in London on January 21^st 2016 construction giants will discuss possible ways to improve the current industry standards, after shocking statistics were released showing that workers are 100 times more likely to die from occupational diseases than accidents in the work place.

In the construction industry, 40% of deaths are cancer related, with 70% of these cases caused by exposure to the deadly material, asbestos.

The institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) are currently running “No Time to Lose” Campaign, raising awareness about occupational diseases. Currently over 60 construction companies worldwide, are supporting the campaign and have pledged to improve their practises to reduce their workers exposure to hazardous materials.

Other topics discussed at the summit will include; what can be done to limit other causes of ill health caused by working in hazardous environments, such as breathing in dust and diesel fumes, and ill health caused by working around loud noises.

Research suggests that most of work related illnesses are preventable, and that employees need to ensure that employees are taking the correct safety precautions and wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment to protect themselves and prevent contracting a potentially life threatening illnesses.

As an employer, is it your responsibility to ensure that you employees are informed about the potential hazards that they are working around. This can be achieved by clearly labelling any areas that could contain asbestos or by using mandatory safety signs. Here at label source we are proud of stocking and supplying a fully comprehensive range of Mandatory Signs and asbestos warning signs, labels and tapes to a large number of UK Businesses.

Click here to view our full range of Mandatory and Asbestos safety signs. 

Digital Fire and Security was brought before Dungannon crown court in Northen Ireland, after being contracted to install a new fire alarm system. Digital Fire and Security failed to request a copy of an asbestos management plan before commencing their work. This negligence led to employees cutting though an asbestos insulation board ceiling during installation and was exposed to the lethal asbestos. Digital Fire and Security was ultimately fined £1000, plus £800 costs.

To ensure that this does not happen to your business, we, at label source, have taken the time to outline exactly what asbestos is, illnesses caused by exposure to asbestos and What needs to be included in your asbestos managemant plan. 

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a fibrous material which was regularly used in buildings until recently (1999). Asbestos was generally used as a means of fireproofing and insulating building, and many companies used asbestos in ceiling tiles, boilers, roof tiles, and pipe insulations.

There are 3 different types of asbestos;

Chrysotile, widely known as white asbestos. Chrysotile can resist high temperatures making it an ideal material for insulation and fireproofing. It was this type of asbestos which became banned in 1999.

Amosite, known as brown Asbestos was banned in 1986. Amosite was primarily used in the manufacture of insulation and anti-condensation products. Records indicate that 5% of all asbestos used in buildings before 1986 was of the amosite variety.   

Crocidolite is commonly known as Blue asbestos. Crocidolite forms natural bundles of long, straight sharp needles making it exceptionally easy to inhale, making Crocidolite the most hazardous form of asbestos. Unlike Chrysotile and Amosite, Crocidolite is not heat resistant, therefor it was used less in the construction of buildings, it is recorded that on 4% of buildings built before 1980 contain Crocidolite asbestos.  Because of the lack of heat resistance, Crocidolite was added into cement to increase its strength and durability.

Where can you find asbestos?

Asbestos can be found in industrial and residential buildings built or refurbished before 1999. Asbestos was used in many common building materials such as:

Cement, Ceiling tiles, Boilers, Pipes , Vinyl tiles, Fire blankets, Panels, Gutters, Roof tiles and Wall Panels to name a few.

Illnesses caused by asbestos

Asbestos fibres are fatal when inhaled and is known to cause serious lung diseases listed below:

Mesothelioma - Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the pleura (lining of the lungs), and your lining of the lower digestive tract. Inhaling asbestos fibres cases them to get lodged in the lining of your lungs, causing irritation to the pleura, increasing the possibility of causing mutations that can lead to growth of cancer.

Mesothelioma is almost exclusively related to asbestos exposure, and is extremely hard to diagnose. By the time mesothelioma is diagnosed it is almost certainly fatal.   

Asbestos related lung cancer - When someone inhales asbestos, the fibres can get lodged in the lining of their lungs. Once lodged these fibres cause enough irritation and cell damage they can generate tumours.

Researchers reported that 3mm fibres of asbestos are more likely to get lodged in the lining of your lungs whereas 5mm fibres are more likely to get lodges in the lungs tissue, increasing the risk of developing asbestos related lung cancer.

Asbestosis - Asbestosis occurs after many years of exposure to asbestos. This condition’s characteristics are serious scarring of the lungs, which can cause shortness of breath. In severe cases this can be fatal – if you have been exposed to asbestos in the past and are experiencing this you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Pleural thickening - Like Asbestosis, pleural thickening occurs after heavy or prolonged exposure to asbestos. Pleural is the lining of the lungs, is asbestos is inhaled this can cause the lining of your lungs to swell; this can cause extreme discomfort and shortness of breath.

Abestos management plan

If you are managing or are in control of non – domestic premises you have a duty to identify and locate all materials that potentially contain asbestos. This information should be stored in an asbestos management plan and should be passed on to anyone who is contracted to work on the building.

This plan should contain a floor plan outlining the areas that contain asbestos, an asbestos action plan (what work is going to be carried by who and when) and a communication plan, including the placement of warning signs.

If you have been asked to carry out maintenance, refurbishment or installations on a commercial building, those responsible for the work, project manager or company should ask for a copy of the management plan before commencing their work.

To avoid being fined please ensure that you are keeping you employees safe where there is a risk of potentially being exposed to asbestos.

If you manage a non domestic premises and are devising an asbestos management plan, then make sure you view our vast range of asbestos signs, labels and tapes, and clearly highlight areas of potential risk. 

Asbestos was a common building material throughout the 70’s and 80’s when people were not aware of the dangers it presented. Builders started to use asbestos because of the tensile strength, and its resistance to fire, chemical damage and sound absorption

But when materials that contain asbestos are damaged they release fibres into the air that, when inhaled can cause serious diseases;

Unfortunately, Asbestos still kills thousands of workers every year. It is reported to kill around 20 tradesmen a week who has been exposed to asbestos in the past. This week we have seen 2 news stories about workmen who endured prolonged exposure to asbestos. 

A retired workman from Huntingdon, died at the age of 75, 18 months after being diagnosed with asbestos related disease mesothelioma, he is believed to have contracted this disease after enduring prolonged exposure to asbestos during the 70’s and 80’s.  It was thought that he was exposed to the material when work was being carried out on the roof of the factory where he worked 

Mesothelioma is type of cancer which affects the lining of the lungs and the lining around the lower digestive tract. Mesothelioma is only found in people who have been exposed to asbestos. 

Because the illnesses that are contracted from exposure from asbestos are extremely dangerous and life threatening the use of the asbestos was banned in 2003.  However Asbestos is still commonly found in buildings that were built or refurbished before 2000.

If people are working with or around dangerous materials it is important that they are aware of the risks that they could potentially face so they can carry out the correct safety precautions or wear the correct protective clothing.  

Click here to browse our range of Asbestos warning labels. 

If you have any questions about our range of asbestos warning signs, you can contact us by telephoning 0800 3761 693 or emailing info@labelsource.co.uk

Earlier this week, a man named Alan Dykes was sentenced to eight months in prison and ordered to pay £7,660 in costs. His crime? Failing to prevent people from being exposed to asbestos.

Mr Dykes - who owned a building that was rented out to businesses as office space - pleaded guilty to five health and safety breaches at Bristol Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Health and safety inspectors had previously observed "blocked fire exits" and "serious electrical hazards" in Alan Dykes's building, but perhaps the most damning black mark against his name concerned his "failing to manage asbestos to prevent occupants and visitors breathing in fibres".

In case you're unfamiliar with the hazards of asbestos, here are a few facts and figures for you:

• Exposure to asbestos fibres can lead to a number of life-threatening diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer.
   
• Most asbestos-related diseases develop slowly, and are often incurable by the time they are diagnosed.
   
• According to the HSE, asbestos kills rougly 5,000 workers ever year.

The use of asbestos has been completely banned in the UK since December 2003, but it still turns up all over the country, often in surprising places (such as schools, underground, and even Buckingham Palace!)

Dealing with asbestos

If asbestos is discovered in a building, the affected area should be cordoned off using asbestos warning tape to prevent people from being exposed to the fibres.

Additionally, warning signs should be put up to warn of the danger and remind everyone that asbestos must not be disturbed except by qualified individuals wearing the appropriate PPE.

Until the asbestos has been removed by trained professionals, all other people should be prohibited from entering the affected area.

If there is asbestos on your premises and you fail to do anything about it, you could end up facing a hefty fine or even time in jail. Don't let yourself end up like Alan Dykes - make sure your workplace is free from asbestos and safe for all who use it!

Related pages:

• Asbestos Warning Signs, Labels & Tapes
• #BewareAsbestos with Label Source

Reports are circulating that Queen Elizabeth and her family may soon have to vacate Buckingham Palace to make way for 150 million pounds' worth of repair work. The cause? Asbestos, among other issues.

According to The Times, the Royal Family has spent £300,000 on asbestos removal in the past year, and yet "vast swathes of the palace still require asbestos to be removed from the walls and other cavaties". The palace also need a new heating system (this alone could cost upwards of £1 million), along with a whole lot of long-overdue maintenance and repair work.

Still, it's the asbestos that's clinching the headlines...

...and it's not hard to see why. We tend to imagine that asbestos only exists in run-down buildings that haven't been used since the 1980s, but deep down, we know that this isn't the case - earlier this year, we told you that asbestos is still present in a shocking 86% of UK schools, and the news about Buckingham Palace further demonstrates that asbestos really can be found everywhere.

And that's quite a scary thought. Asbestos has been banned more or less outright since 1999, and with good reason: it's a severe health hazard that can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and several other life-threating illnesses. Asbestos-related diseases claim many thousands of lives every year, from tradespeople to schoolteachers, and health and safety authorities are still struggling to bring the death toll down.

With all of this in mind, here are a few quick guidelines for dealing with asbestos on your premises. Perhaps Her Majesty might find them useful?

• DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE ASBESTOS YOURSELF. Asbestos removal should only be carried out by qualified professionals with the appropriate protective equipment.
  
  
• Asbestos is safer when left undisturbed - STAY AWAY FROM ASBESTOS and ENSURE THAT OTHERS DO THE SAME.  We recommend using asbestos signs to identify the hazard, and warning tape to keep people away from the affected area.
  
  
• DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Asbestos is a serious health risk even when left alone, so don't just forget about it once it's been cordoned off - call in a professional to get rid of it (don't worry, it probably won't cost £300,000...unless you live in a palace!)

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