The key responsibilities associated with reducing asbestos risk in healthcare buildings explained by an expert in the field.
Adam Penny, public sector specialist for asbestos management company and IHEEM Company Affiliate member, Lucion Environmental, examines the responsibilities associated with reducing asbestos risk in the healthcare sector.
Arecent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) safety campaign highlighted the very serious risks to tradespeople posed by asbestos exposure. As part of the campaign, the HSE said that, on average, every week 20 tradespeople die from asbestos-related diseases, and, in the electrical sector, it is estimated that electricians and electrical fitters could come into contact with asbestos more than 70 times a year.
Even though asbestos has been banned in building materials since late 1999, and a huge amount of it has been removed from buildings over the years, there are still many situations where the decision has been made to leave it in situ and manage its presence. The decision to ‘manage’ is not necessarily a bad one, as asbestos in good condition can be safe as long as its presence is known about, and the material is maintained.
Log in or register FREE to read the rest
This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text.
If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.
