By Ian Pemberton


Before recent times, asbestos was a product that was usually used for a large number of construction products and multiple related purposes.

This was before we understood just how lethal this material can be. Its use has left behind a deadly legacy with asbestos related illness now the single most common cause of work-related ill health & death.

Year upon year, almost three thousand people lose their lives because of diseases linked to asbestos

By the time we reach 2020, it is likely that as many as 10 thousand people in the UK will lose their lives because of contact with asbestos.

In light of this, we hope to use this composition to furnish valuable information to assist in guaranteeing the health of anyone who might interact with asbestos.

Who Might Come Into Contact with Asbestos?

Some of the varieties of work in which employees might interact with asbestos include:

Those employed for demolition work;

Those employed in construction work;

Workers involved in fixing a holding;

Those employed by companies focused on caring for a building, like fitters, electricians, and caretakers.

Essentially, any person who alters the structure of a facility may come in contact with asbestos unknowingly.

What is Asbestos Exactly?

A ground-derived mineral, asbestos has a number of prized attributes. For example, it is inflammable, and does not pass heat or electricity. It can also withstand contact with chemicals, which has rendered it perfect for a variety of projects.

Asbestos is found in nature in quite a number of differing types or forms, but it was generally supplied in 3 main types:

* Amosite,

* Chrysotile

* Crocidolite

These three types of asbestos are commonly called brown, white and blue asbestos.

What Were Its Uses?

Asbestos was supplied as raw processed fibre for use as a loose material or for incorporation into asbestos containing products.

Fibres were combined with a unifying substance to attach them to each other. These fibres were usually put on as a nebulized layer, like pipe lagging.

It was used as a reinforcing material in viscous liquid coatings - for example "Artex" type materials.

Additionally, asbestos was utilized to fill in or increase the density of substances used to make vinyl floor tiles and tiles used on ceilings.

Additionally, it was melded with attaching products, created for the fabrication of asbestos cement roof sheets, pipes and gutters.

Most products incorporating asbestos are commonly known as asbestos containing materials, or, ACM's for short.

Quite a number of these items utilize caution notices, but often the notices have been taken off, misplaced, or have fallen off.

When Was it Utilized?

Most asbestos was utilized after the 2nd World War.

In the 1950's post-war building boom, asbestos was a cheap and versatile material and as a result was heavily used in construction applications.

Blue & brown asbestos, scientifically linked with causing a cancer called mesothelioma, were considered to be the more dangerous types and were banned from importation and use in the United Kingdom from 1985.

In 1999, white asbestos was banned, except for a few specialised applications. This later ban is because it was considered to be less harmful.

In Summary

Asbestos is a fatal substance that will perpetually cause the deaths of tens of thousands of workers each year for tens upon tens of years.

In this feauture, we have examined the health framework regarding how to keep those employees that might be exposed to asbestos, safe.




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