The Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974

Regulations
The Health and Safety at Work etc act 1974 (HSWA) imposes a general duty on employers and requires an employer to provide a safe workplace to ensure the health and safety of their employees. Work with asbestos is covered by its own set of regulations the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (CAWR). There are duties to prepare a risk assessment and to make written arrangements to protect those at risk in the Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1999, and to maintain workplace buildings/premises to protect occupants and workers under the Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. Arrangements to deal with asbestos during refurbishments may also be required by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994. The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulation has now been amended by introducing a specific duty to manage the risk from asbestos containing material in premises. This specific duty will be supported by an approved code of practice (ACOP) and associated guidance. The Method of Determining Hazardous Substances (MDHS100) has now been released by the HSE and sets out how to survey workplace buildings for asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and how to record the results in a usable from. It also gives advice on how to recognise and sample suspected ACMs.

Surveys
The MDHS100 has been produced as part of a guidance issued by the Health & Safety Executive for people to carrying out surveys it will also be of interest to those who commission surveys. The criteria set out in the MDHS100 must be followed or proven to be as good when undertaking surveys in premises. The type of survey undertaken may vary depending on the aim and purpose for which it is to be used. Surveys before demolition and refurbishments will continue to be required under CAWR and the CDM regulations. However it is anticipated that most surveys will be undertaken initially to comply with the new duty to manage asbestos in buildings. In these cases, the aim and purpose of an asbestos survey is, as far as reasonably practicable, to locate identify and assess the risk of all asbestos present in the building and its purpose is to present the information collected in a way, which allows the employer to manage the risk. The aim, purpose, and type of survey and report format required should be clearly established in the original invitation to tender, or agreed with the client at a preliminary site meeting.

The new duty will be enforced from 2002, the HSE will allow a lead-in period of 12-18 months this will enable the duty holders, particularly those with large property portfolios, to plan for and implement the new requirements.

Health and Safety Issues

Diseases
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer which most often occurs in the thin membrane lining of the lungs, chest, abdomen, and (rarely) heart. Virtually all cases of Mesothelioma are linked with asbestos exposure. People, who work in asbestos mines, asbestos mills, factories, and shipyards that use asbestos, as well as people who manufacture and install asbestos insulation, have an increased risk of Mesothelioma. People who live with asbestos workers, near asbestos mining areas, asbestos product factories or shipyards where use of asbestos has produced large quantities of airborne asbestos fibers, are also at risk. Blue and brown asbestos are particularly implicated and there is no known no cure.

Lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure. Blue and brown asbestos are particularly implicated in the cause of this, white asbestos is implicated to a much lesser extent. The incidence of lung cancer in people who are directly involved in the mining, milling, manufacturing and use of asbestos and its products is much higher than in the general population. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing and a change in breathing. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, hoarseness, and anemia.

Asbestos is a serious, chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease. Inhaled asbestos fibers aggravate lung tissues, which causes a thickening and scaring reaction that produces a progressive loss of elasticity and function of the lung, this only occurs in people exposed to large amount of asbestos over prolonged periods Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath and a dry crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. In its advanced stages, the disease may cause cardiac failure.

There is no effective treatment for asbestosis; the disease is usually disabling or fatal. The risk of asbestos is is minimal for those who do not work with asbestos; the disease is rarely caused by neighborhood or family exposure

These are just some of the condition that can be caused by asbestos.

Other Cancers
Evidence suggests that cancers in the esophagus, larynx, oral cavity, stomach, colon and kidney may be caused by ingesting asbestos