How big a problem is asbestos?
Asbestos is the biggest occupational health problem ever encountered in the UK. The 15 year plus latency period of asbestos means that positive efforts made now to reduce the effect of this killer disease will not be realised for some time. However, to do nothing is not an option.
Past exposure to asbestos currently kills 3000 people per year in Great Britain. This number is expected to go on rising for the next ten years. There is no cure for asbestos related diseases.
Although it is now illegal to use asbestos in the construction or refurbishment of any premises, many thousands of tonnes of it were used in the past and much is still in place.
It is estimated that over 1.5 million workplace properties currently have some form of asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) in them. Whilst the materials remain in good condition, and are left undisturbed, they pose no risk; however, they have the potential to cause death if they are not properly managed.
There are three types of asbestos still found in premises. These are commonly called ‘blue asbestos’ (crocidolite), ‘brown asbestos’ (amosite) and ‘white asbestos’ (chrysotile). All are dangerous, but blue and brown asbestos are more hazardous than white. You can not identify them just by colour.
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