The dangerous material was banned from construction 25 years ago BUT Asbestos may still be present in buildings built before 2000. Buildings that people use in their daily lives, such as workplaces, schools and hospitals are the focus of a new campaign to keep people safe from asbestos.
Asbestos: Your Duty was launched in January, with aims to improve understanding of what the legal duty to manage asbestos involves.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) wants anyone with responsibilities for buildings to do everything they must do to comply with the law and prevent exposure to this dangerous substance, which was widely used in post-war construction before it was completely banned in 1999.
The legal duty to manage asbestos covers a wide range of buildings such as museums, schools, hospitals, and places of worship, as well as workplaces like offices and factories.
Businesses and organisations responsible for premises built before the turn of the century, and especially those between 1950 and 1980 when the use of asbestos in construction was at its peak, must carry out the necessary checks and understand their legal responsibilities.
People who visit or work in these buildings will not be exposed if asbestos is properly contained. But it can become dangerous when disturbed or damaged.
Updated information, new templates (including an asbestos management plan template), and explanatory videos can be found on HSE’s website to help anyone who is unsure of their legal duties – or just need to refresh themselves – on what they need to do.
HSE will check how asbestos is managed when visiting a range of buildings – like schools and hospitals – requiring those responsible for managing asbestos risks to ensure they have the right arrangements in place.
Sarah Albon, HSE’s chief executive said: “To keep people safe from the harms of asbestos, a culture of safely managing asbestos is needed in our building industry and among those responsible for buildings. “Asbestos exposure in Great Britain is still the single greatest cause of work-related deaths due to exposures decades ago.
“Together, we must protect people in the workplace and reduce future work-related ill health.”
HEALTH AND SAFETY SNIPPETS
Your Route to CMIOSH CPD Update
For those NEBOSH Diploma graduates wishing to progress to Chartered Member (CMIOSH) status, the current IOSH Initial Professional Development (IPD) route will remain open for members looking to progress. The current cost is £180 to register for IPD which covers the Part A and B Electronic assessments and a review of the members Blueprint CPD record.
Once completed, IOSH then allow members to book a peer review interview which will cost an additional £80 to complete the process.
IOSH have recently announced they will replace IPD with the new Professional Development Assessment (PDA) route, which will launch no earlier than Spring 2024 at a cost £550.
IOSH have said they will publish full details closer to the launch date.
https://iosh.com/my-iosh/my-ipd/
Keeping on top of your Continual Professional Development (CPD)
For those IOSH Members, some of you may have seen a recent article in the Jan / Feb edition of IOSH Magazine about ways of keeping on top of your CPD. It may come as no small surprise that members of IOSH all the way from Technical Member up to Chartered Fellow are required to complete 30 CPD hours within a 12- month cycle to retain their membership status, or could run the risk of being transferred to Affiliate Member status.
The article suggested some clever ways of clocking CPD hours including podcasts, wider learning and reading, volunteer work and even mentoring non-IOSH professionals. Our tutor Richard, is in the process of creating a CPD video presentation about using the IOSH Blueprint and ways to maintain your CPD easily.
Again if former delegates feel they need some help in this area then please feel free to contact us.
Whilst maintaining your CPD isn’t just about doing courses anymore, maybe consider completing one of our NEBOSH 1 days Skills Courses as these last 6 hours (20% of your annual CPD requirement) and give you a recognised NEBOSH Certificate Level qualification.
CHECK OUT THE NEW HSE ASBESTOS RESOURCES
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis (sometimes called Wiel’s disease) is a zoonosis (an infection that can pass between animals and humans) caused by spiral-shaped pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira.
Animals such as rodents, cattle, pigs and even dogs can spread the Leptospira bacteria through their urine. Nearly all mammals are capable of carrying the bacteria’ and may spread the disease among others of their own kind and to other species, including humans.
Leptospirosis is generally contracted from contact with soil or freshwater (such as water from rivers, canals or lakes) that contains infected urine getting in your mouth, eyes or a via a cut to the skin during activities like kayaking, outdoor swimming or fishing or via infected animal’s blood or flesh, by those who may work with animals or animal parts.
It’s very rare to get Leptospirosis from pets, other people or bites. There are isolated cases in construction from those workers who are engaged in drainage / ground works.
Whilst Leptospirosis is rare in the UK and most people who contract the disease have no symptoms, or mild flu-like symptoms, some people may become seriously ill and end up with potentially fatal infections of the kidney, liver, brain, lung or heart. To reduce your chances of getting leptospirosis, it is advised that workers wash their hands with soap and water after handling animals or animal products, clean any wounds as soon as possible, cover any cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters, wear protective clothing if you’re at risk through your job and shower as soon as possible if you’ve been in potentially infected water.
One of our regular features where we will be exploring a range of common and not so common H&S terms.
HARM – Injury or damage caused by a hazard
HAZARD – A condition that has the potential to cause harm. The hazard is the potential to cause harm not the harm or damage itself. There are four man categories which can be used to identify and segregate hazards: Physical which involve energy sources e.g. damaged electrical cable, Ergonomic this could be manual handling of a heavy load or stress or pressure from unrealistic targets, Chemical hazards could be in the form or liquids or vapours & Biological hazards include viruses, bacteria and mould. They could just be the good old fashioned by serious blocked fire exit as seen in the photo here.
HEAT CRAMP – A heat related problem in the muscles, usually as a result of restricted salt intake.
HEAT EXHAUSTION – Muscular weakness, nausea, vomiting etc associated with lack of acclimatisation to hot areas.
HEAT STRESS – Physiological strain caused by an increase in the body’s core temperature.
HEAT STROKE – Medicinal condition from an excessive increase in the body’s temperature. The signs and symptoms include loss of consciousness, nausea, headaches and bizarre behaviour.
HEALTH SURVEILLANCE – A provision of certain sets of safety legislation, in particular COSHH, the employer must check on the health of their employees.
Watch our Take Five Minutes for Health & Safety
Back to blogs
