Asbestos

Water Hygiene

Asbestos

Asbestos is a family of naturally occurring minerals. The three most common types are:

• 'blue asbestos' (crocidolite)
• 'brown asbestos' (amosite)
• 'white asbestos' (chrysotile)

Asbestos can be worked to produce insulation materials which have excellent properties in respect of fire resistance etc.. However, when worked into many of these materials, there is the potential to release fibres of a kind which are not normally present in nature.

Asbestos containing materials may have microscopic asbestos fibres that may be released into the air. Once airborne they can become inhaled into the lungs. An asbestos fibre is typically 2000 times thinner than a human hair. These fibres bypass the lungs' defence system and get deep into the lung, where serious damage is done. There is no "safe level" of exposure. All of types are potentially dangerous, but blue and brown asbestos are significantly more hazardous than white. You cannot identify them just by their colour.

The range of products containing asbestos is so wide, it can be found in factories, offices, shops, schools, hospitals, construction sites and houses. Asbestos is sometimes found in products such as insulation boards, fire proofing panels, floor and ceiling tiles, fire blankets, protective clothing, brake and clutch linings, oven gloves, ironing boards, lagging for boilers and pipes, sprayed coatings, joints/packing/gaskets, fillers and reinforcements.

Although it is now illegal to use asbestos in the construction or refurbishment of any premises, many thousands of tonnes of it were used in the past and much of it is still in place. As long as it is in good condition and is not being or going to be disturbed or damaged there is no risk. But if it is disturbed or damaged, it can become a danger to health, because asbestos fibres are released into the air and people can breathe them in.

Asbestos is a risk only if asbestos fibres are released into the air and breathed in. Breathing in air containing asbestos fibres can lead to asbestos-related diseases, mainly cancers of the lungs and chest lining. There is no cure for such diseases.

There is usually a long delay between first exposure to asbestos and the onset of disease. This can vary from 15 - 60 years. Only by preventing or minimising these exposures now will asbestos-related disease eventually be wiped out.

Anyone who uses your premises, who disturbs asbestos that has deteriorated or been damaged and is relesing fibres, can be at risk. In fact, anyone whose work involves drilling, sawing or cutting into the fabric of premises could potentially be at risk. They may all breathe in asbestos fibres during their day to day work. It is now thought possible that repeated low exposures, such as those which would occur during routine repair work, may also lead to cancers.

The scientific evidence on exactly what exposures cause disease is unclear. But we do know the more asbestos fibres breathed in, the greater the risk to health. That's why it is important that asbestos-containing materials are identified and that everyone who works with them should take appropriate precautions.

Workers at risk from exposure to asbestos are - construction workers, engineers, car production workers, boiler maintenance workers, joiners, plumbers, electricians, roofers, painters, railway workers etc.

Certain types of asbestos containing materials can be maintained in place by treating the material with purpose made asbestos encapsulated coating, similar to a latex paint, which is effective for approximately five years if undamaged, after which a further coating may be applied. Note that asbestos containing materials in this state should be inspected at regular intervals for damage in accordance with current Health and Safety Regulations.

• If it is one of the types which poses a serious health hazard and
• It has the potential to be disturbed such that fibres are released
• Is in a poor condition which cannot be sealed
• When refurbishment or demolition works are to be carried out

If you are an employer, you already have a legal duty to prevent the exposure of your employees to asbestos, or if this is not possible to reduce it to the lowest possible level. Employers and persons responsible for facilities management also have a duty of ensuring the health and safety of all visitors to their premises. If you have any doubts about any of the material in your premises, you presume it contains asbestos and you should commission a survey without hesitation.

Any asbestos remediation works should be carried out by a Health and Safety Executive Licensed Contractor. ARCA is a source of appropriate contractors.

The asbestos removal contractor will explain this to you. Full precautions will be taken to ensure that no asbestos fibres are released during the remediation. For example this may include the temporary construction of a special sealed enclosure around the affected area. The contractor will normally be able to work with you to ensure that your normal business operation suffers minimal disruption.

Once removed the asbestos waste is double bagged in bags of an appropriate standard and transported to a registered site. Full records are maintained by the asbestos removal contractor. Registration and controls are closely monitored by the Health and Safety Executive.

Water Hygiene

Legionnaires’ Disease (LD) or Legionellosis is a life-threatening for of pneumonia that can affect anyone by attacking the lungs, but which principally targets those most susceptible (see later). The species responsible for LD is Legionella Pneumophila (“lung-loving”) and is one of a number of different legionella bacteria – there are 57 in total! It is cigar-shaped and approximately 200th of one millimeter in size

Note - Though caused by the same bacteria, the symptoms of Pontiac Fever are much milder and are not life-threatening. Lochgoilhead fever is another associated illness with similar mild symptoms but caused by a different legionella species, L. micdadei.

The only way of catching the disease is by inhaling contaminated water droplets or aerosols. The number of bacteria contained within the droplets and the degree of exposure will each influence the risk of contracting the disease. Typical systems that generate aerosols and thus automatically make them potential sources include:-

• Cooling Towers , Hot and Cold Water Services including showers , Air Conditioning Systems , Spa Baths , Fountains , Jacuzzis, Humidifiers, Dental drills, Car or lorry washes

The incubation period for the bacteria is between three and ten days. Within this time, early symptoms will develop the most common being a fever. Though likely, one is not automatically assured of developing coughing symptoms. As the disease matures, the patient will possibly develop abdominal pains, vomiting if not a coma. If not treated in time, possible death can result.

Once confirmed as having at least one of the symptoms described, you need to visit your GP. If satisfied that the illness is maintaining intensity two to three days after the onset, that individual should refer you to A&E to have blood tests. These will provide sufficient evidence as to the onset of the disease and initiate a course of antibiotics.