Asbestos is a word that most people will have heard – but just how much do you know about it?
Many of us have an idea of what asbestos is, and the harrowing long-term health risks it poses, but few of us realise just how dangerous the silent killer can be.
NATAS is a national asbestos awareness training accreditation scheme, specialising in a wide range of courses and topics, including asbestos awareness training online, duty to manage asbestos online, consultancy, BOHS courses, CITB courses, project management, health and safety e-learning, face to face and virtual learning.
Choosing NATAS for your training and qualification needs ensures efficient and effective learning for your business and workforce. With a portfolio of high–quality online and classroom health and safety courses, NATAS is committed to helping companies to gain compliance.
Now in its 25th year, NATAS is the first independent asbestos training provider in the UK, and the team pride themselves on educating workplaces to ensure the safety and long-term health and wellbeing of all workforces.
An introduction to asbestos
While you’ve likely heard of the threats asbestos can have to your health, do you know how to identify the material? Are you confident you could describe what asbestos is? When you’re managing and developing a property, you must thoroughly understand the hazards you could face. If you demolish or disrupt walls and ceilings that contain asbestos, you’ll send dangerous fibres airborne without realising.
If you’re responsible for handling or installing building materials, it is non-negotiable that you know how to spot asbestos. You should undergo online asbestos awareness training courses to ensure you’ll act responsibly when dealing with such a dangerous substance.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibre that was widely used in construction and other industries until approximately 1974, when its use was banned in construction of new buildings in the UK, followed by the banning of sprayed asbestos for the same use in 1986.
There are many different types of asbestos which you can learn about in more detail here. The three most common types were chrysotile, commonly known as white asbestos, crocidolite, commonly known as blue asbestos and amosite, commonly known as brown asbestos. Each were used in different ways, but all pose significant risks to a person’s health if disturbed.
It’s widely believed that asbestos only impacts the person who breathes it in – but this isn’t strictly true. Unfortunately, even second secondary exposure to asbestos fibres can pose a risk to individuals, making it all the more crucial to safely manage it.
Those who are in refurbishment, construction and maintenance works are considered to be at the highest risk of asbestos exposure.
Their work potentially requires them to routinely disturb or completely remove asbestos from a building structure. These employees must be given adequate training to provide them with the knowledge and skills to protect their own health while at work and with others around them.
Here is a list of trades that are at risk from asbestos:
- Heating and ventilation engineers
- Demolition workers
- Carpenters and joiners
- Plumbers
- Roofing contractors
- Painters and decorators
- Plasterers
- Construction workers
- Fire and burglar alarm installers
- Shopfitters
- Gas fitters
- Computer and data installers
- General maintenance staff eg caretakers
- Telecommunications engineers
- Architects, building surveyors, and other such professionals
- Cable layers
- Electricians
How to keep yourself safe
A great way to make yourself aware of the dangers that come with asbestos is to take part in a NATAS classroom course for asbestos awareness. Throughout the asbestos awareness course range provided, candidates will be made aware of the properties of asbestos, where it has been used in buildings, and when it may present a risk to you. This will help candidates to protect themselves from the risk of exposure to airborne asbestos fibres, and show the delegates how to comply with the health and safety rules of the asbestos legislation.
Conclusion
Asbestos is a dangerous material if it is disturbed, and can pose long-term health risks to an individual that inhales the fibres. It is vital to know how to spot asbestos, how to work around it in order to not disturb it, and in some cases, how to safely remove it.
For further insight and high-quality training for your workforce, take a look at the NATAS asbestos awareness course. Courses are delivered by experienced professionals, and are an excellent tool to creating a safer and much more knowledgeable workplace.
To see all of the asbestos-related courses available, as well as other training, take a look at the NATAS website here.
