How The HSE Are Defending Against Asbestos
As part of its wider #WorkRight campaign the HSE’s latest inspection initiative will target dust related risks, including asbestos, in order to prevent lung diseases caused by construction work.
Surprise inspections will be carried out across Great Britain between 7th October and 1st November, meaning that construction employers need to ensure they have suitable measures and precautions in place to protect their employees from occupational lung disease, especially those related to asbestos and dust.
Lack of prevention and long-term exposure to the likes of asbestos, silica, wood and other dusts can lead to serious health problems and exposure to dust can come from many common construction tasks:
• Grinding
• Scrabbling
• Cutting roofing tiles, paving blocks, wood, flags and kerbs
• Soft-strip demolition
• Sanding
• Sweeping
For this reason, organisations are required to give appropriate protection to any and all employees subjected to these risks, obligations that are codified in law by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012,
Failure to meet these standards could result in you failing the current inspections, the result of which could be heavy sanctions and enforcement orders.
How To Protect Your Staff and With It Your Business?
• Identify any asbestos present before starting work and plan how to avoid the risks.
• Review ways in which the amount of dust created can be reduced.
• Decrease the amount of dust in the air with use of ventilation systems or water suppression.
• Provide equipment to employees to protect them from dust.
• Cut off areas to stop dust from spreading throughout a site.
• Train employees on the risks and how to safely complete their work.
For additional guidance and insurance solutions contact Bullerwell & Co Ltd today.
