Refurbishment think first Is Is it asbestos free Since 21 May 2004, The Control of Asbestos Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 Asbestos Exposure (CAWR) have included a duty to If in doubt - don’t rip it out? ! present? manage asbestos in non-domestic Asbestos fibres may be released when:- premises. builders • Drilling holes This important legislation tackles the • Cutting with hand and power tools plumbers biggest occupational health killer in • Breaking up materials electricians the UK - asbestos-related disease. Of the 3,500 people currently dying each • Dismantling/demolition carpenters year from such diseases 25% have and other allied trades once worked in the building and Asbestos was used extensively as a building material in GB maintenance trades and often would from the 1950s through to the mid 1980s. Although some of have worked unknowingly on or near this material has been removed over the years, there are many That means you ! to asbestos containing materials thousands of tonnes of asbestos still present in buildings. It is (ACMs). Whilst virtually all other estimated that over half a million non-domestic premises At least 3500 people activities involving potential exposure currently have some form of asbestos in them. There is in Great Britain die to asbestos have now ceased, this extensive repair and removal work, which will continue for the vulnerable group is still at considerable foreseeable future. each year from mesothelioma and risk from unknowing exposure to For further information please contact your local asbestos. Council’s health and safety team, in confidence on: asbestos related lung cancer as a & D.C: 02476 376138 The duty seeks to prevent further result of past unknowing exposure to asbestos by Stratford District Council: 01789 267375 exposure to asbestos. building and maintenance workers District Council: 0126 456712 with the aim of saving 5,000 lives over North D.C: 01827 715341 Annual numbers of the next 100 years. Rugby Borough Council: 01788 533850 deaths are predicted City Council: 02476 831859 to go on rising into

Designed by Graphics, Taunton Deane Borough Council 7704/KM/10/04 the next decade. Produced by The Printroom, Council, T: 01926 456108. Where is asbestos Duty Requirements R U at found in buildings? You are most likely to come across asbestos in Those in control of premises these materials: • sprayed asbestos and asbestos loose packing - must: RISK??? generally used as fire breaks in ceiling voids • moulded or preformed lagging - generally used Provide information on the location ¬ in thermal insulation of pipes and boilers Analyses of mesothelioma and condition of the materials to • sprayed asbestos - generally used as fire anyone who is liable to work on or deaths indicate that many protection in ducts,firebreaks, panels, partitions, disturb them . . . builders, plumbers, deaths are due to heavy soffit boards, ceiling panels and around structural electricians, carpenters and other steel work asbestos exposures in allied trades . . . -> industries like shipbuilding • insulating boards used for fire protection, and railway engineering in thermal insulation, partitioning and ducts That means you ! • some ceiling tiles the past. If current control They must also:- measures are not adhered • millboard, paper and paper products used for • determine location(s) & condition of to, asbestos removal insulation of electrical equipment. Asbestos paper has also been used as a fire-proof facing on wood materials likely to contain asbestos, (ACMs - workers are now fibreboard Asbestos Containing Materials) potentially at the highest • asbestos cement products, which can be fully or • presume materials contain asbestos unless risk, as are workers semi-compressed into flat or corrugated sheets. there is strong evidence that they do not involved in the Corrugated sheets are largely used as roofing and wall cladding. Other asbestos cement products refurbishment, repair or • make and keep an up to date record of include gutters, rainwater pipes and water tanks maintenance of buildings - actual and suspect ACM location and • certain textured coatings condition such as • bitumen roofing material and • assess the risk of anyone being exposed to plumbers, • vinyl or thermoplastic floor tiles. fibres from these materials Although these are the most likely uses and places • prepare a plan showing how risks from carpenters and where asbestos will be found, asbestos was used in many other materials. If you are in doubt, it is materials are to be managed and put it into electricians. safer to presume that a material contains action. asbestos, unless there is strong evidence that it does not.