Asbestos in UK construction- The Silent Killer
Posted on 17th March 2025 at 11:24
The UK construction industry faces an ongoing battle with one of its deadliest occupational hazards - asbestos. Despite being banned in 1999, this lethal material continues to pose severe risks, with an estimated 1.5 million UK buildings still containing this cancer-causing substance.
The Scale of the Problem
Asbestos remains the UK's biggest workplace-related killer, claiming over 5,000 lives annually. Most alarmingly, it was responsible for more than 2,500 construction worker deaths in a single year, accounting for over two-thirds of cancer deaths in the industry.
Where Asbestos Lurks
The material can be found in numerous building components constructed before 2000, including:
• Ceiling tiles and pipe insulation
• Boilers and sprayed coatings
• Fireproof panels and structural steelwork
• Cavity walls and roofing materials
The Hidden Nature of the Threat
What makes asbestos particularly dangerous is its stealth characteristics:
• Fibres are invisible, odourless, and impossible to detect without testing
• Symptoms may take 15-60 years to develop
• Even small, regular jobs can lead to dangerous exposure
Health Implications
Exposure to asbestos fibres leads to several devastating conditions:
Mesothelioma
This aggressive cancer of the lung lining is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and is invariably fatal.
Lung Cancer and Asbestosis
These conditions severely impact quality of life, with asbestosis causing permanent scarring of the lungs.
Current Challenges
The situation is particularly concerning because:
• One in ten construction workers remains unaware of asbestos and its fatal consequences.
• The drive toward net-zero and increased retrofitting is likely to increase exposure risks.
• Poor practices continue, with reports of workers mishandling asbestos-containing materials
Legal Requirements
Regulation 5 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 requires the identification of the presence of asbestos and states that an employer must not undertake work in demolition, maintenance or any other work which exposes or is liable to expose employees of that employer to asbestos in respect of any premises unless either:
(a)that employer has carried out a suitable and sufficient assessment as to whether asbestos, what type of asbestos, contained in what material and in what condition is present or is liable to be present in those premises; or
(b)if there is doubt as to whether asbestos is present in those premises, that employer:
(i)assumes that asbestos is present, and that it is not chrysotile alone, and
(ii)observes the applicable provisions of these Regulations.
The message is clear: asbestos remains a critical threat to UK construction workers. Only through rigorous adherence to safety protocols, proper training, and increased awareness can we protect our workforce from this invisible killer.
The cost of negligence isn't measured in pounds and pence; it's measured in human lives.
Professional Training Solutions
A vital step in combating asbestos-related risks is proper training. The Asbestos Awareness (Category A) Online Course, available from The Roofbase Training Academy, is designed to help workers understand and avoid the serious health risks associated with asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
Although the course makes reference to UK regulations, the information provided would be useful to anyone aiming to improve their knowledge of asbestos and its associated risks.
Conclusion
The devastating impact of asbestos in UK construction cannot be understated. With thousands of lives lost annually and millions of buildings still harbouring this deadly material, the need for vigilance has never been greater.
Through a combination of training, strict adherence to safety protocols, and increased awareness, we can work towards minimising exposure risks. Remember, when it comes to asbestos, prevention isn't just better than cure. It's the only option. The investment in proper training and safety measures today will save lives tomorrow.
Roofbase Online Training and Virtual Courses
You can see full details of our online training and virtual courses here or email Lesley Hughes, Roofbase Training Manager, for more information.
Tagged as: Online Training Courses
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