According to the Health and Safety Executive, asbestos-related disease claims the lives of 4,000 people a year. Statistics also say that every week, six electricians lose their battles with serious diseases caused by asbestos exposure.
Many health experts report that the U.K. is actually in the midst of an asbestos-related disease epidemic, and that asbestos is the single greatest occupational killer in the U.K. The risk of asbestos exposure is a concern for electricians and all tradesmen, who are among the most likely to come into contact with asbestos-containing materials.
While asbestos has been banned in the U.K., houses and commercial buildings built before 2000 most likely still contain asbestos. Electricians may be called on to be present during renovations and maintenance of electrical systems in these older properties.
Some places where asbestos is found include:
Pipe insulation
Sprayed on coating
Floor tiles
Textured decorative coating
Cement roof sheeting
Insulating board
Your employer, owner or manager of the building or home has a duty to inform you of all locations of asbestos-containing materials before any work begins.
Dangers of Asbestos Exposure
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed during routine maintenance or direct handling, they can release fibres that are invisible to the naked eye. If inhaled or ingested, these fibres irritate tissues in body and can cause inflammation and damage.
Some primary diseases caused by asbestos include:
Mesothelioma cancer: a cancer that affects the lining of the abdomen, heart and lungs
Asbestosis: scarring of the lungs that causes difficulty breathing
Asbestos-caused lung cancer
Pleural thickening: the lining of the lungs is swollen and thickened causing difficulty breathing
Symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may only begin to surface after 10 years, and sometimes it takes as many as 50 years. Asbestosis develops sooner than cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer. Although it is crucial to detect mesothelioma sooner than later in order to have a better prognosis.
It generally takes many years of asbestos exposure to place a person at risk of developing a related disease. Electricians working in the trade for decades have a higher risk of asbestos exposure than those who only worked in the trade for a few years.
When working with asbestos, you can decrease exposure by:
Using hand tools instead of power tools
Keeping asbestos-containing materials damp
Removing coveralls before removing your mask
Wearing shoe covers
Not smoking, eating or drinking in the work area
Taking asbestos training courses to stay up-to-date
Always make sure you have the proper personal protective equipment before beginning work. This should include coveralls, a respirator, shoe covers and head cover. If you suspect a material contains asbestos, do not disturb it and speak with your employer or manager.