Asbestos is a fibrous material that was once used for insulation and fireproofing, but is increasingly uncommon due to the discovery that inhalation of microscopic airborne asbestos fibres can cause ill health. The use of asbestos is now banned in the EU, but the material can still be found in older buildings.
Exposure Prevention
There are some employees who are at an increased risk of exposure to asbestos such as fire fighters, construction workers and asbestos remediation workers. When an employee comes into contact with asbestos there are several steps an employer can take to minimise exposure through the release of fibres into the air.
Steps should be taken to isolate asbestos from an employee’s home environment through careful cleaning of clothes and skin. Additionally, employers should not allow family members or any non-essential personnel to visit an asbestos-containing workplace and should provide education to employees regarding safe working practices.
Health and safety practices need to be stringent and workers exposed to the material should change clothes at work and keep their post-work clothes in a clean, separated area. Work clothes should be laundered by the employer and no toxic or potentially contaminated items should be removed from the working environment.
Health Risks
Exposure to asbestos can increase the risk of some cancers as the human body is unable to eliminate inhaled asbestos fibres. Therefore, the fibres remain over the course of a person’s life and can contribute to the development of lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestosis occurs as a result of the fibres causing scarring and inflammation in the lungs, which makes it difficult to breath. The disease can be fatal and may not become apparent until several years after exposure.
Mesothelioma is a form of incurable cancer that affects the pleura (the lining of the lung). Most cases of this disease are a result of exposure to asbestos and the disease has also been found in people who have been in contact with asbestos workers.
Asbestos exposure has been shown to significantly increase the incidence of lung cancer in smokers and lung cancer can develop years after exposure to asbestos. This disease causes a tumour to form and obstruct the air passages in the lung. It is debilitating and can be fatal.
Legal Ramifications
Employers who fail to comply with legislation relating to asbestos exposure and management may be breaking the law and could face investigation by the Health and Safety Executive.
Possible penalties for unsafe removal of asbestos include fines and criminal prosecution. Additionally, as employers have a duty of care to their workers, cases of negligence can lead to a company being sued for damages by their employees.
Resultantly, compensation may have to be paid to a victim or their family member if an employer is found guilty of negligence.
Another possible consequence of not complying with regulations such as the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 involves paying for the decontamination of an area and any related costs such as temporary accommodation or health monitoring.
This guest post has been produced and contributed in collaboration with Hughes Carlisle, asbestos solicitors in Liverpool. If you require advice or information about industry-related diseases and your workplace, write to the following address: 659 – 661 West Derby Road, Liverpool, L13 8AG
The post The Health Role of the Employer: Asbestos Prevention appeared first on Celebrities, Business, Finance, Sports, Life Style, Internet News.