In the last article, we touched on two of the most serious illnesses that can affect a person exposed to asbestos in a building. We will now point out the other two diseases and explain what to do should you come across it.

A person who is exposed to asbestos consistently over a number of years could be open to getting asbestosis. This is a serious lung scarring condition that is known to cause the sufferer to experience problems with their breathing. In some heavy asbestos exposure cases, this can lead to death.

The problem of pleural thickening is another disease that can happen to a person who is exposed to asbestos on a regular basis. This illness involves the thickening and swelling of the lung lining, which can mean discomfort in the chest as well as shortness of breath.

It is important to note that these diseases are not likely to affect you straight away and it can take years to develop properly. So it means that once it has been diagnosed it is sometimes too late to do something about it, which is why we are reiterating the importance of taking action to protect yourself and those you care about before it even gets to this point.

The reasons why we are always stressing the dangers of asbestos and the need to take precautions when ever going near the substance, especially when it has deteriorated, is because of the serious diseases we are about to mention.

In this article and the next one, we will be taking a look at the four main illnesses that can be caused due to exposure to asbestos particles in the atmosphere.

These should highlight how important it is to get asbestos removal specialists round to your property to assess the situation before going ahead with work near to where asbestos is present.

The first disease we will be considering is mesothelioma, a cancer which often proves to be fatal. This is because this illness is nearly always related to exposure to asbestos and therefore it is usually too late to help a patient once it has been diagnosed. Mesothelioma can affect the lung lining as well as the lining around the lower digestive tract.

With regards to asbestos-related lung cancer, this appears the same as the usual form of the disease which is often caused by smoking.

In the next article we will cover the other two serious illnesses caused by asbestos exposure.

Over the last few articles we have been stressing the point that you should only get started on a project where asbestos is involved if you have been made aware of where the asbestos is in the building, plus what condition it is in at this time.

Your safety is obviously your main concern, so unless you have been given the appropriate training to work with even non-licensed asbestos materials, then you should refrain from going ahead with the work.

The work should only be carried out if the proper planning has already taken place, with the necessary precautions taken. Everything should be carefully laid out for you so there is no margin for error.

The equipment provided for working with this potentially dangerous material needs to be right for the task.

Some asbestos-containing materials like textured coatings and cement do not require a special licence, but it is still important to consider training in asbestos work and how to work safely.

If you need to find out more about asbestos then you can check out the Asbestos Essentials section of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website.

If you are wondering how to handle asbestos, most people will never really need to actually work with it, but if you have to do this as part of your job, then it is important to know exactly what to do.

Those that have already worked with asbestos before will know the dangers it poses, but those unfamiliar with this material need to avoid disturbing it, unless trained to carry this out in a safe manner.

There are various organisations around that offer training on this subject, so if it is going to be something you may come across through your work then this could be right for you.

Remember, if you are ever asked to work in an environment where asbestos is expected to be present, it is your right to know if it has been checked or not. It should be deemed safe for you to proceed, so ask your manager to confirm this.

It is your employer’s duty to protect their workers against such a dangerous material, so you need to be passed on information pertaining to the asbestos, such as its condition and whereabouts, by the. They can gain this from the person who is in charge of the non-domestic building.

It is important to make clear that nobody should ever force you or make you feel uncomfortable about working on domestic or commercial premises where asbestos is said to be present.

There are legitimate reasons why you wouldn’t want to take on this work until you have been provided with the full answers to any queries you might have.

For a start, you shouldn’t be expected to take on a job if you are unsure whether asbestos is an issue or not.

If you know that the asbestos-containing materials involved in the work are within the lagging on pipes and boilers or sprayed coatings, insulation or board, then you are right not to continue. This is because only contractors with a specialism in asbestos removal have the licence required to work on these products.

It might be the case that you have not been given the required training to carry out non-licensed work on these materials. Again, you shouldn’t begin the work unless you have had the right level of training – certainly more than just basic awareness of asbestos products.

These are all justifiable reasons why you would not want to jump into something like this, so make sure you always take the right precautions where asbestos is involved.

For those who are thinking on improving their home with a renovation project, if you suspect that asbestos materials have been used in the construction of the building, it is important to notify any tradespeople you use.

The same thing applies to any repair or maintenance work you have planned for the near future. When you bring in contractors, maintenance workers or builders to help with the project at any stage, you need to inform them of this fact.

By doing this you can help to reduce the chances that any asbestos-containing materials will be disturbed. The Health and Safety Executive advises householders to consider the use of asbestos removal contractors to dispose of or encapsulate these products to make them safe.

These trained professionals will be able to give the go ahead for the planned work to continue.

And if you are going to embark on DIY work yourself, it is crucial that you put on the correct protective equipment as well as following the recommended methods for safe working. Also, remember that asbestos has to be disposed of legally in accordance with current hazardous waste procedures.

If you want to find out more about this then you can get information on the HSE website.

You may or not be aware, but if you have bought a house or business premises which were constructed before the start of the new millennium then there are a number of things you need to do before any work is begun on the building.

This advice is important for tradespeople who are hired to carry out work on buildings that may contain asbestos products.

Firstly, it is necessary to determine whether you will be working in an area where asbestos-containing materials are present. You should be advised as to where this can be found on the site, if at all.

If you are working on domestic premises, your manager should have made you aware about this.

When it comes to non-domestic buildings, you need to read the information on where the asbestos is and what condition it is in before work is even started.

You should never feel that you have to begin work where you are uncomfortable about this. The asbestos should have been pointed out to you beforehand.

The client may need to call in asbestos removal specialists before the work can get the go ahead, for total peace of mind.

Many people have heard of asbestos, but the extent of their knowledge on the subject is limited to knowing that it can be dangerous. However, it is worth understanding a bit more about it, so that should you ever come across it, you are much better prepared.

Asbestos has been used as a material for building ever since the 1950s and this naturally occurring fibrous matter is an excellent insulator – which explains why it was so widely used in housing developments at this time.

Due to its beneficial properties for keeping heat in and keeping the cold out, as well as its fire-resistant and non-corrosive qualities, it is no wonder then that you can find it present in many old buildings – and even some newer ones.

However, as you may already be aware, asbestos is also known to cause respiratory problems and a number of diseases which is why it is now illegal to use it in construction.

Despite this, asbestos is still frequently found, as part of other products and so it can be difficult to know which materials may be mixed with it or not. If the building you are in was built more than 11 years ago, chances are, at least part of it will contain this material.

In the previous blog post, we warned workers that if they do have to come across asbestos through their employment then, in case they don’t already, there are a number of things they should be aware of.

Here are some more pointers for those required to work with this material:

• As you go about your work, clean up after yourself using a Class H vacuum cleaner designed for this task, instead of sweeping using a brush
• When you have finished the project, use a damp rag to wipe down the overalls you are wearing or alternatively put on disposable (Type 5) overalls instead
• Before you take off your mask, you need to remove your overalls first
• It is not a good idea to wash your overalls at home in case of contamination
• In terms of footwear, put on boots that do not have laces and consider disposable boot covers too
• Use asbestos waste bags to put any disposable items of clothing in and make sure they are disposed of in the correct manner
• Finally, you should never carry asbestos products into your home.

To find out more about this you can go to the Health and Safety Executive website where you will find free Asbestos Essentials task sheets.

Because of the fact that asbestos is contained in a variety of products and is mixed with all kinds of different materials, it is good to take precautions whenever you think you may be exposed to it.

The sorts of products often consisting of asbestos include things like sprayed coatings, boilers, pipe insulation and ceiling tiles, so you can see that this list is fairly widespread for those working in various trades.

So if you do have to work with the material as part of your job, make sure you bear the following in mind:

• Put on a suitable mask that fits you properly (such as a disposable FFP3 mask) – remember that a normal dust mask is not a substitute
• Do not eat, drink or smoke in the area where you are working
• Ensure that materials are damp but not too wet
• Do not use power tools but consider using hand tools instead
• When disposing of asbestos waste be sure to double-bag it and label these bags clearly.

In the next article we will be considering some more things for you to think about when working with asbestos.