Asbestos
Medicals
All employers have a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) to establish whether there is a risk to employees from asbestos and employers must ensure that they comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012, failure to do so may result in fines or imprisonment.
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Depending upon your risk assessment and method statement (RAMS), you should ensure that staff have been provided with appropriate information, training, and instruction to manage the workplace risks associated with any potential asbestos exposure and that you undertake the required health surveillance as below.
Asbestos was widely used in the past because of its heat and chemical resistance used extensively in a wide variety of industries including construction and heavy industry, however asbestos was banned from use in the UK in 1999 due to the harmful impact of exposure to respiratory health and it remains the UK’s biggest cause of work-related deaths. It may lead to several serious lung conditions including:
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Mesothelioma – a cancer affecting the lining of the lungs
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Asbestos related lung cancer
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Asbestosis – scarring of lung tissues
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Pleural thickening – a condition affecting the outer lining of the lungs
If your staff undertake any of the following roles, then they have the potential to be exposed to asbestos within the workplace:
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General maintenance workers
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Electricians, plumbers, and joiners
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Plasterers, painters, and decorators
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Construction workers and roofers
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Shop fitters
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Gas fitters and heating and ventilation engineers
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Demolition workers
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Telecommunication engineers
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Fire/intruder alarm installers
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Computer and data installers
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Architects and building surveyors
Licensed Asbestos Medical
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All workers undertaking licensed Health and Safety Executive (HSE) asbestos work should undergo a medical consultation with an approved Health and Safety Executive (HSE) occupational health physician (doctor) every 2 years.
This will ensure that any potential respiratory condition associated with working with asbestos is identified as soon as reasonably practicable and that where necessary the employer is advised of any additional control measures which can be put in place to reduce harm, which may include restricting them from working with asbestos if required.
The Appointed Doctor will ensure that the necessary legal forms are completed.
Further guidance on what work will require a licensed medical see - Licensable work with asbestos (hse.gov.uk)
Non-Licensed Medical
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Workers undertaking non-licensed Health and Safety Executive (HSE) asbestos work are also advised to undergo a medical consultation with a occupational health physician (doctor) every 3 years.
This will ensure that any potential respiratory condition associated with working with asbestos is identified as soon as reasonably practicable and that where necessary the employer is advised of any additional control measures which can be put in place to reduce harm, which may include restricting them from working with asbestos if required.
Further guidance on what work will require a non-licensed medical see - Non-licensed work with asbestos (hse.gov.uk)
Additional information about the management of asbestos risks in the workplace can be found on the HSE website - Asbestos information, instruction and training (hse.gov.uk)