Lawson-West, solicitors, support the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Asbestos Awareness Campaign week from 13 October 2008. Statistics from the HSE show that every week 20 tradesmen die from an asbestos-related disease. There are still materials containing asbestos present in many buildings throughout the UK.
The key points of the campaign are:-
• Check whether there is asbestos present before you start working.
• Don’t work if the asbestos materials present are sprayed coatings, board or lagging on pipes and boilers – only a licensed contractor should work with these as some forms of asbestos are too dangerous to work with.
• Asbestos cement, textured coatings and certain asbestos materials do not need a licence to work with, but you should have training to be able to work safely with them.
• Where asbestos is present, you should only continue to work if you have had asbestos training and the right precautions have been taken.
To minimise the risk of exposure to asbestos dust:-
• Use hand tools rather than power tools.
• Keep materials damp but not wet.
• Use a special vacuum cleaner and clean up as you work.
• Double-bag asbestos waste and properly label the bags.
• Wear a properly-fitted respirator mask as ordinary dust masks are not effective.
• Use disposable boot covers if your work boots have laces.
• Wipe down overalls and remove them before you take off your respirator mask.
• Don’t take overalls home to wash or carry asbestos into your van or car.
• Avoid eating, drinking or smoking in the work area.
Lawson-West, solicitors, have acted on behalf of clients who have been exposed to asbestos and developed an asbestos-related disease. If you have developed an asbestos-related disease such as asbestosis or mesothelioma, please contact Vicky Jones on 0116 212 1000 for a free initial discussion.
