Building owners need to consider asbestos risk

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned building owners that they need to be aware of dangers that asbestos can pose.

Anyone in the property sector who has taken control of an old building should have it professionally assessed to determine whether or not asbestos is present.

This can reduce the risk of the asbestos being disturbed should renovation work be carried out on the property at a later date.

HSE inspector Lee Schilling said that it was important for building owners to take "simple, practical steps to protect maintenance workers and others from the risk of exposure to asbestos".

Asbestos fibre exposure is linked to a number of serious diseases, including cancer and scarring of the lungs, so it is imperative that any worker who is charged with removing asbestos has been issued with appropriate respiratory protection.

Untrained workers should not attempt to deal with asbestos, but should report its discovery. 

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