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Asbestos is a term for a group of naturally occurring minerals, which all share the same fibrous structure.
Asbestos was used extensively as a building material in the 20th century, and was found in a range of other products such as machinery and vehicle brakes, but it wasn’t until 1999 that all forms of asbestos were banned in the UK, due to some of the diseases associated with it.
It is likely that a building constructed or refurbished before 1999 could contain asbestos, which is not actually dangerous unless broken into fibres that can be breathed in. In many old buildings, Asbestos has already been identified and warning notices put in place, sometimes with a permit to work system.
Due to the Heat insulation and fire resistant properties , Asbestos is sometimes found in old switch rooms and cable ducts, but many disused buildings, which frequently get used as sets and locations, have been found to have ceiling tiles and wall coverings made from Asbestos.
Should you ever have any concerns over Asbestos in a location you are working in, such as cracked boards, contact the production Health & Safety Manager who can arrange suitable testing and implement safe working procedures.
Many years ago, BECTU set up a register so members who may have had exposure to Asbestos which could, much later in life, develop into serious health issues including Cancer & respiratory problems. This service has since merged with the Prospect register but still pursues compensation claims for asbestos-related illness, and with exposure to asbestos causing over 5,000 deaths in the UK a year, it is the biggest cause of workplace death.
If you and your colleagues suspect you have been exposed to asbestos, you are urged to log that information with the Production Company and then join the Asbestos register.
The information may be vital in a few years time, not just for you, but also colleagues who work alongside you as well.
More details at the link below:
What it is, where it is found, correct management and the Prospect Asbestos Register
Note - The registration form at the link above is held on the Prospect Document Library, which is not currently accessible using a Bectu Login. Until that is rectified, use THIS FORM, under the understanding that you may be asked by Head Office to fill out an updated form.
Further Reading
PDF Printout to take on Recces, or just to access as required
The top half of the list gives a few pointers of what to look for, the bottom half is the actions that Production need to take in order to make it a safe working environment
This systematic guide takes duty holders through the process of understanding their duties as defined in Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Asbestos can be found in any building built before the year 2000 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc) and causes around 5000 deaths every year.
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