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HSE Reports 4312 Deaths Due To Asbestos Related Diseases
That’s right, the HSE has reported that there were around 4312 deaths due to asbestos related diseases in 2007 (the latest year with published statistics). Do you work in the building trade? Do you wear the correct PPE when dealing with asbestos? or do you think that health and safety is not worth the time of day? If you don’t wear PPE and think that health and safety is not important, then it’s about time that you woke up and learnt about the risks involved when dealing with asbestos, and the affects that it can have on you later in life. It is no joke, asbestos really is a hidden killer, and it will get you when your not expecting it.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is commonly known as the hidden killer, due to the fact that you can’t see it, and because it does not usually cause any symptoms for many years after exposure. Asbestos almost always causes death.
Asbestos is a term used for a wide range of naturally occurring minerals that crystallise to form long thin fibres and fibre bundles. Asbestos fibres have high tensile strength, chemical, electrical and heat resistance. For this reason, asbestos was used in nearly all UK buildings built before the year 2000, and it was and still is used in many other countries around the globe.
Asbestos is a hazardous material, and can pose great risks to health if the fibres are disturbed, let loose in the air, and then inhaled.
History
Asbestos became a popular product to builders and manufacturers in the early 1900’s. Builders and manufacturers used to love using asbestos because of its great durability. Asbestos is fire retardant, and it was commonly used for insulations.
It is estimated that 3,000 different types of products contain asbestos. The use of asbestos ranges from paper products, brake linnings and floor tiles.
Who is at risk of being exposed?
If asbestos is left intact and undisturbed, it does not cause a health risk. Asbestos only causes health risk if it is tampered with, and if the person tampering with it is not wearing a face mask and protective clothing.
Many cases of these diseases occurring now are a result of exposure in industries that used asbestos in the past. A majority of these new cases have mainly affected people working in building and maintenance trades.
People mostly affected with asbestos related diseases include, Carpenters, Plumbers, Electricians, Labourers, Metal Plate Workers, Pipe Fitters, Construction Operatives, Construction Managers and Energy Plant Operatives.
What diseases are caused by asbestos?
- Mesothelioma – Mesothelioma is a cancer exclusively related to asbestos. It is almost always fatal to those who are affected. People who are diagnosed with mesothelioma usually die within 1 or 2 years of diagnoses. It has a long tendency period, and it does not start to affect the body or cause symptoms for typically 30-40 years.
- Lung Cancer – Asbestos related lung cancer typically takes at least 20 years to affect the body. Asbestos related lung cancer affects the tubes carrying the air from the lungs. The tumour grows through surrounding tissue, invading and often obstructing air passages.
- Asbestosis – Asbestosis is a scarring of the lung tissue which has a latency period for 15-30 years.
- Diffuse pleural thickening- This is a non-malignant disease where the lining of the lung becomes scarred. It usually takes 10 years after exposure to affect the body
What can be done to help prevent getting an asbestos related disease, and what can be done to spread awareness?
- Avoid working with asbestos; if you are going to work with asbestos ensure you get correct the correct safety supplies which conform to safety standards.
- Get protective clothing & workwear, and leave the protective clothing at work when you leave the site.
- Wear face masks
- Don’t smoke
- Take lots of vitamins to help boost your immune system
- Remove asbestos from your home
- Educate yourself more about asbestos, and pass on this knowledge to others
- If you do work with asbestos, get some books & posters. If you don’t already have some in your work place they will help to remind you, and others of asbestos risks, and what you should do to help prevent getting an asbestos related disease.
If you need some safety supplies to help protect you, your friends, or your loved ones from asbestos, why not try Safety Savers? Safety savers provide a large range of safety equipment and PPE throughout the UK. They also export their safety products all over the world.
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