Asbestos is a naturally occurring substance that was used in construction in the past. It possesses many construction desirable qualities such as heat and corrosion resistance which make it popular to be used in construction. It is composed of soft flexible fibers and is also electricity resistant. However, these qualities also make it toxic in nature because inhaling or ingesting asbestos can result in grave health issues such as breathing problems and cancer. Asbestos exposure can result in life-endangering diseases therefore it is critically important to have asbestos awareness. This article discusses the significance of asbestos training and awareness.
According to a survey on average, around 500 trades-people die every month, due to some asbestos-related disease. The worst part about asbestos-related diseases is that they don’t show symptoms for years, and precipitate only when the issue has gone out of hand. Although usage of asbestos has been banned in many countries, around 5,500 people lose their lives because of asbestos-related health issues because it is still being used in many countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Russia, etc.
Do’s and Don’ts of Asbestos Training
While it is important to inspect a building for the presence of asbestos, there are some awareness tips for asbestos training that the team must remember during inspecting a building. Let’s take a look. asbestos removal fort worth.
1. Don’t Remove it Yourself
If you come across presence of asbestos in your building, you must never remove it yourself because it will expose you to the toxic substance, resulting in huge health hazards. The task of removing and treating a building should only be given to the specialized team who can handle it with the right tools, required protocols, and safety measures.
2. Do Avoid Contact
Asbestos can find a way into your body through breathing or by physical contact with it. Once exposed, you cannot undo the damage. Therefore it is for the best not to mess with it on your own and avoid it as much as you can. Since asbestos is composed of fibers, therefore it can find its way to your lungs through breathing if it is disturbed even slightly.
Need for Asbestos Training
There is a legal obligation imposed by the Asbestos regulatory body that it is the responsibility of all employers to ensure that all trades-people who might come across asbestos-containing materials during their work must have Asbestos Awareness training. In the UK, this obligation is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which is responsible for ensuring occupational health and safety.
Failure to comply with Asbestos Awareness training for their staff will lead employers to face heavy fines in the event of an accident. Since asbestos remains a serious health hazard for workers, a responsible authority must safeguard the health and safety of workers and ensure their wellbeing. Therefore asbestos training is significantly important.
Who can get Asbestos Training?
Asbestos training must be given to all those professionals and technicians who might come into contact with Asbestos Containing Material. This includes gas fitters, carpenters, electricians, roofers, plumbers, painters & decorators, construction Workers, plasterers, demolition workers, and so on. Basically, everyone who has a possibility of getting exposed to asbestos-containing material has clear awareness training for his well-being.
If you are working on a building that was built before the year 2000, it is important to receive training.
3 main types of Asbestos
There are 3 types of asbestos that you might come in contact with during your work. These are as follows:
Chrysotile (white asbestos)
The most commonly used form of asbestos, chrysolite can only be found in the construction material of buildings today. In the past, it was used in gaskets and boiler seals, automobile brake linings, and insulation for pipes.
Amosite (brown asbestos)
Amosite was frequently used in cement sheets and insulating pipes, boards, ceiling tiles, and other thermal products.
Crocidolite (blue asbestos)
Commonly used for insulating steam engines, Crocidolite was also used in some spray-on coatings and manufacturing of plastics and cement.
Final Words:
If you are looking for reliable and cost-effective Asbestos training services and other Asbestos consulting, get in touch with ACC Env and we will make sure that all trade-person working in a building know what they are dealing with and how to avoid it.