Many know that asbestos can be dangerous, that it is something to be treated with great care, but just how big a problem is it? What are its effects on health? Clearly it is a serious issue, because governments all around the world have introduced legislation to help control the risks, and the use of asbestos and asbestos-containing products is illegal in many places.
The UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is staging a campaign to increase awareness among workers of the risks associated with asbestos, claiming it is the biggest single cause of work-related deaths in the UK. According to the HSE, 4,000 people in the UK die each year from asbestos-related diseases, and this figure is expected to rise to 5,000 each year over the next few years.
The Senior Labour Inspectors' Committee of the EU has produced a guide on how to deal with asbestos, and as far back as 1983 there have been European directives requiring member states to introduce specific minimum standards to control the risks associated with asbestos. In Malta, Legal Notice No. 323 of 2006 addresses some of the problems of asbestos.
What is asbestos? Asbestos is a mineral with long, thin fibres. The word is derived from an adjective meaning inextinguishable. It was thought of as a 'miracle mineral' because of its soft and pliant properties, as well as its ability to withstand heat. It became increasingly popular among manufacturers and builders in the late 19th century due to its resistance to heat, electricity and chemical damage, its sound absorption and tensile strength. When asbestos is used for its resistance to fire or heat, the fibres are often mixed with cement or woven into fabric or mats.
Today, asbestos can be found in some buildings built before the late 1990s, in asbestos cement products such as corrugated roof sheets and wall cladding, as well as in a range of pipes made from this type of material. It can also be found in some textured surface coatings, ceilings, walls, beams and columns; in floor tiles, textiles and composites; in insulating boards and lagging; and in loose fill materials used for insulation and fireproofing.
Contrary to popular belief therefore, it is not simply a problem of the past, but something that poses real dangers. Any process that involves disturbing these materials by drilling, cutting or breaking, or that causes abestos fibres to be released into the air can be hazardous to anyone who inhales them.
Asbestos is known to pose serious risks to health, resulting in conditions known collectively as 'asbestosis', which include malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer. When inhaled, tiny asbestos fibres penetrate deep inside the lungs and chest cavity. They can also enter the body via the digestive system through ingestion.
Their indestructible nature means that the body's natural defences cannot combat these foreign objects, and its attempts to do so often result in unwanted side-effects. After exposure to asbestos, the development of diseases can take 15 years or longer, and so asbestos is a killer that takes its victims very slowly.
What can be done? The key to dealing with the problem of asbestos is knowing where it is to be found. This means that those who control and/or own buildings should arrange for checks to be carried out by a competent person to identify materials in the buildings and plant that may contain asbestos.
In some cases this may require a simple laboratory analysis of suspect materials to determine their composition. Once this has been completed it should then be possible to draw up an 'inventory' to show where any asbestos was found. Decisions can then be taken about how best to manage the problem, remembering that asbestos only becomes hazardous when disturbed.
High risk areas may be cleared of asbestos by licensed contractors, but some less hazardous materials such as ceiling tiles may be sealed to prevent the release of fibres. Warnings should be posted in these areas so that anyone working there knows not to disturb them. The aim must be to ensure that anyone who works in areas that contain asbestos, knows about its presence and precautions to take.
Asbestos is a serious risk to health. That seriousness can be made many times worse by ignorance of the problem. The good news is that it is something that can be managed in ways that do not always cost a great deal of money.
A common-sense approach, as in almost all of health and safety, is the way forward.
The IHS has a half-day asbestos awareness course due to run shortly. Anyone interested should call 2131 1966 or e-mail info@ihs.com.mt for more details.
Mr Hudson is director of training and consultancy at the Institute of Health and Safety.