Asbestos can cause fatal diseases

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned businesses that working with asbestos can pose a number of dangers to employees, noting that there is a variety of personal protective equipment available which can ensure they stay safe.

HSE inspector Barry Trudgian, speaking after a number of Devon workmen were exposed to potentially fatal asbestos dust, noted that the dangers of the substance are well-known across the construction industry.

The discovery of any asbestos boards in a property should result in an employer reviewing its safety measures, he explained.

"This should include following a safe decontamination process, which, depending on severity, could include use of a mask, safe disposal of contaminated clothing and taking a shower," added Mr Trudgian.

According to the HSE, asbestos fibres are responsible for some 4,000 deaths a year. Diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis and diffuse pleural thickening are all associated with the dangerous substance.

Posted by Steve Taylor

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