Asbestos Awareness Training
Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 sets down requirements for asbestos awareness training. Basically any employer involved in work where there might be a risk of disturbing asbestos, such as general building, maintenance, demolition or refurbishment, is required by law to ensure that all affected employees are educated and trained appropriately.
More recently the importance of adherence to the awareness measures has been emphasised in the Health & Safety Executive’s ‘Duty to Manage Asbestos Enforcement Initiative 2007/8’ and it is now clear that non-compliance will not be tolerated. In fact a number of perpetrators have already been served with improvement notices, or in the worst case scenario a probation notice, which results in an immediate and costly halt to work.
Employee training is believed to be the best way to target the estimated 1.8 million workers who are potentially at risk of life-threatening illnesses following exposure to asbestos in their day-to-day work. These people include plasterers, roofers, plumbers, electricians and joiners but also the less obvious workers such as computer installers and fire and burglar alarm installers.
In order to comply with the regulations, a training program should cover the following aspects as a minimum:
- the properties of asbestos and its effects on health, including its interaction with smoking,
- the types of products or materials likely to contain asbestos
- the operations which could result in asbestos exposure and the importance of preventive controls to minimise exposure
- safe work practices, control measures, and protective equipment
- the purpose, choice, limitations, proper use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
- emergency procedures
- hygiene requirements
- decontamination procedures
- waste handling procedures
- medical examination requirements
- the control limit and the need for air monitoring
The importance of education has once again taken centre stage with the recent Health & Safety Executive-led publicity campaign entitled ‘Asbestos: Hidden Killer’. Due to run throughout October and November 2008 the campaign highlights the dangers of exposure to asbestos, particularly among tradesmen, as shocking figures reveal 20 die each week from asbestos-related illnesses. The campaign has been backed by a number of groups including a regional asbestos support association, a couple of football teams and even former England football player Ian Wright, who was himself a plasterer in a former life.