Asbestos remains the biggest cause of work-related deaths in the UK with more than 5,000 deaths per annum being attributed to asbestos. It is estimated to cost the insurance industry over £200m each year.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a general name given to several naturally occurring fibrous minerals that have crystallized to form fibres.
Asbestos has thermal and acoustic insulating properties. It is also fire and chemical retardant, so it found its way into many products and buildings. Uses ranges from incorporation in fire blankets, oven gloves, all sorts of building insulation materials including cladding, gutters, partitions, pipe and heating lagging and floor and ceiling tiles.
Asbestos-Related Disease —Who is at Risk and Who is Responsible?
Asbestos can cause serious injury to the lungs; it can cause disease such
Pulmonary hypertension
Malignant Mesothelioma
Lung Cancer (though rare)
As long as asbestos is in good condition and is not disturbed or damaged there is negligible risk. However, if it is disturbed or damaged, it can become a danger to health, because asbestos fibres are released into the air and people may breathe them in.
Building contractors, joiners, shop fitters, plumbers, heating Engineers, electricians, computer cabling contractors can all be potentially exposed to asbestos. This exposure to legacy asbestos has been killing workers worldwide for decades.
Data sources: Introduction to asbestos - HSEWhy the Risk of Asbestos Exposure is Still Prevalent - Arch Insurance (archgroup.com)
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