Company Exposes 13 Employees and Contractors to Asbestos

We've been reminded of the value of a detailed risk assessment this week after it was revealed SSE Hornsea Ltd allowed 13 employees and contractors to be exposed to asbestos fibres.

Hornsea runs a natural gas storage facility on the East Yorkshire coast and tasked a team of maintenance staff with removing a non-return valve from a compressed air distribution system. In order to remove the sealing gasket material, they fitted a wire brush to an electric drill. That worked, but filled the workshop with dust.

It turns out the dust contained chrysotile (white) asbestos, which 13 people had then come into contact with over the course of two days before the danger was revealed and the workshop closed.

The Health and Safety Executive decided to prosecute SSE Hornsea. Not only had the risk assessment failed to identify the asbestos risk, but the records held regarding the non-return valve were inadequate. Also, the maintenance team leader had not undergone asbestos awareness training.

As well as the potential impact this dust could have on the future health of the 13 exposed people, Hornsea now has to pay a £300,000 fine and £12,670.72 in costs. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2 (1) and 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc, Act 1974.

It should go without saying: train your staff! We carry out a range of training courses including asbestos awareness. Please get in touch if you would like to learn more or book places.

Source: HSE

Ridiculous Decision: White asbestos not added to hazardous substances list

I think everyone visiting this website realizes just how dangerous asbestos in any form can be. So you'll be as surprised as we were to learn that white asbestos (Chrysotile) is not being added to the Rotterdam Convention's list of hazardous substances.

In order for a substance to be added to the list, a unanimous decision is required by all countries involved. At a recent meeting in Geneva that unanimity was not reached with Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Zimbabwe, India, and Syria all choosing to vote against adding it. That's despite the recommendation of the scientific community all countries are meant to listen to.

Arthur Frank, a public health scientist at Drexel University in the USA said,

"It is absolutely disgusting that a small number of countries that pedal death and disease to the rest of the world can block over 190 countries wanting to – not ban a product – but label it for what it is: an extremely toxic and dangerous, cancer-causing agent. This is the tyranny of the minority."

Chrysotile was first recommended for the hazardous substances list back in 2006. The fact it still hasn't been added, combined with the decision taken by those countries mentioned above to block it, calls into question the credibility of the Rotterdam Convention for some.

No next meeting of the Rotterdam Convention signatories does not happen until 2019.

Source: SHP

No More Asbestos?

Is it possible to remove all Asbestos from all the buildings in the UK by 2035, in 20 years’ time?

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health seem to think so. They are calling for a staged process of removal based around a timetable which identifies, prioritises and ultimately removes the substance from all structures in the UK by this date.

Key points:

- All commercial, public, and rented domestic premises should have to conduct, and register with the HSE, a survey done by a registered consultant which indicates whether asbestos containing material is present, and, if so, where it is and in what condition, to be completed no later than 2022.

- Where asbestos is identified in any premises, all refurbishment, repair or remedial work done in the vicinity of the asbestos containing material should include the removal of the asbestos. Where no such work takes place, or is planned within the foreseeable future, the duty holder must develop and implement a plan for the removal of all asbestos which ensures that removal is completed as soon as is reasonably practical but certainly no later than 2035. In the case of public buildings and educational establishments, such as schools, this should be done by 2028.

- The HSE, local authorities and other enforcing agencies must develop a programme of workplace inspections to verify that all asbestos containing material identified is properly marked and managed, and that asbestos eradication plans are in place and include, as part of the plan, an acceptable timeframe for the eradication.

- Before any house sale is completed, a survey should be done which includes a survey of the presence of asbestos. Any asbestos containing material should be labeled. Information on the presence of asbestos should be given to any contractor working on the house.

An ambitious timetable maybe, but surely one worth sticking to.

Free asbestos training confirmed for early next year!

As you may have seen in the article on our Demolition Training site yesterday, C&D has announced a number of free asbestos training courses that have the backing of the NDTG.

The courses are being held across January and February next year in Wolverhampton, with the specific dates being:

• Tuesday, January 26th
• Thursday, January 28th
• Monday, February 1st
• Tuesday, February 2nd
• Thursday, February 4th
• Wednesday, February 10th
• Tuesday, February 23rd

For full details, including a link to the flyer to download, please visit our Demolition Training site.

Watch Safedem strip a block of Red Road flats

Red Road is seen as Safedem's most challenging project to date. This is due in no small part to the steel frame construction they used combined with their height and scale. On top of that they contained a large amount of asbestos.

It was a massive job, and one that required working closely with the HSE to ensure complete safety throughout. But they succeeded, and this video is testament to how well they performed.

You can read more about the demolition on Safedem's website.

DDS Demolition start work on Dover eyesore

Burlington House in Dover is seen by just about everyone as an eyesore that takes away from the beautiful view of the nearby castle. However, the amount of asbestos it contains as well as its location has meant a blowdown isn't possible. So DDS Demolition has been tasked with carrying out a top-down, floor-by-floor demolition.

The job has been referred to as an X-Files like location, with sections cordoned off by plastic tunnels to ensure no contamination with the always dangerous asbestos as it is removed. DDS also came up with an ingenious use for the lift shafts, allowing for controlled decent of rubble from each floor.

The ITV News video about Burlington House's demolition is well worth a watch.

Watch AW Demolition hard at work on site and online

Austin Wilkinson of AW Demolition is well known in social media circles for his lack of company mugs and his love of Nando's, but he can also do demolition as this recent timelapse above shows.

He's one of the most active demolition men on Facebook, while C&D Consultancy’s John Woodward is among the most-followed on Twitter. So when Wilkinson required training for his entire workforce, it seemed appropriate that he should engage his social media opposite number.

Wilkinson is part of a new breed of demolition men. Young, enthusiastic and social media savvy, he has grown quickly from one-man-band fledgling to fully-fledged demolition company in just a few short years. Along the way, he has expanded his team, extended his equipment fleet and worked for some of the biggest names in the business. And he has shared the entire journey via his active and very popular Facebook page which charts his latest contracts and equipment purchases, his latest visit to Nando's, and his recent engagement and stag weekend.

But for all his youthful vigour and social media savvy, the values he sets for his company are very much from the old school. “We want to do things properly; to do things right first time,” he says. “Those are the values that we most admire in other, larger demolition companies. And those are the values that will help us build our reputation in the business.”

That commitment to doing things properly extends to the company’s attitude to training. “A few of our team required demolition and asbestos awareness training but I decided to put the entire company through the course, even the office-based staff that never set foot on site,” Wilkinson explains. “I want everyone to understand the challenges we face and to be able to communicate with clients and their co-workers from an informed and knowledgeable position.”

Austin Wilkinson’s choice of training provider is equally telling. He selected C&D Consultancy’s Training Division. “C&D have a great reputation and they provide training when & where I need it,” Wilkinson insists. “Employing the best trainers is just another part of our commitment to doing things properly. As a young and very busy demolition company, we really appreciate C&D’s willingness to work around our schedule.”

Having benefited from the demolition and asbestos awareness training delivered by C&D’s Mike Kehoe, Wilkinson is already looking ahead to further courses. “I have already spoken to John and Mike about PASMA, abrasive wheel and hot works training refresher courses for the future,” he concludes. “When it happens you can read all about it on my Facebook page.”

Asbestos All Around Us

It seems that, at long last, the dangers arising from asbestos in the world outside of demolition and construction is being more appreciated.

A recent story on the BBC website followed by coverage on BBC News sites, highlight the cases of two teachers who say they have become victims of mesothelioma, having worked in schools for many years. According to the NUT teaching union that commissioned the report that led to the story, 86% of schools in the UK had buildings that contained asbestos. This could be in ceiling tiles, wall boards, or many of the pieces of equipment used in science laboratories. It’s good then that the problem is being recognised, but what’s been done about it?

Well, in an interesting end to the piece on the BBC, they quote a professor from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine who said "Because the levels of asbestos are [often] so low in schools, actually ripping it out could be more dangerous. It's a very nasty problem to get sorted. And for young people, the risk of dying of mesothelioma is more like 1 in 10,000, as there's a disconnect between those being diagnosed now and the exposure to the children of today."

He added that, were it possible, removing all asbestos from the environment would prevent "at most 25 deaths a year so trying to remove it from all schools could actually increase the number of deaths."

So the moral of the story is that we know asbestos is dangerous and in lots of places, but we are best leaving it there for someone else to clear up. And who do you suppose that will be!

DIY asbestos sample testing kits now available

Bradley Environmental has announced that it is now offering DIY asbestos sample test kits, which it advertises as "The fastest and most cost effective way for anyone to test for the presence of asbestos within any material."

Each DIY testing kit comes complete with everything you need to protect yourself for safely taking samples of suspected asbestos materials including full step by step instructions and all the packaging needed for you to send your samples for testing to our own in-house UKAS accredited laboratory.

Each Asbestos Sample Testing Kit Includes:

- Step by step instructions
- Disposable FFP3 fold flat face mask
- Disposable coveralls
- Pair of disposable gloves
- Cleaning wipes to ensure tools are clean after sampling
- Labelled grip lock polythene sample bags
- Packaging to return samples for analysis
- Sample submission form
- All UKAS laboratory fees are included in the test kit price

UKAS laboratory results are available in just 24 Hours.

For more information please visit the Bradley Environmental website.

Please fill out a short survey and help the HSE

The HSE have been running a campaign about asbestos safety targeted at tradespeople and have asked for your feedback. We would be grateful if you could spare no more than 15 minutes to complete a simple on-line survey.

Your feedback will help HSE understand how effective the campaign has been and how they might make changes to their communications in the future. To complete the survey, just click on the link:

http://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix/p1840409069.aspx?horgan=4

Your feedback will be completely anonymous. Please also forward to other tradespeople, who may have seen the campaign materials, to complete the survey. Responses are requested by 21st May. Thank you.

The cost of not checking how good your contractor is

A recent court case highlights many of the issues raised with the recent revision of the CDM Regulations that came into force on April 6th.

One of the UK’s largest toy manufacturer and importer needed some gutters clearing on their 3,344 square metre asbestos cement roof. As a result of a recommendation by one of their employees, the company appointed the employee's father, an unemployed builder, and his mate to do the work. Unfortunately the mate fell nine metres through a plastic skylight and suffered fatal injuries.

Both the company and the builder were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive. The company was fined £200,000 and the builder was given a six-month jail sentence suspended for a year by Preston Crown Court. The company admitted a single breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 by failing to ensure the workers safety and was also ordered to pay £10,483 towards prosecution costs.

Basically, the company did no checks at all on the competency of the builder they employed. They did not ask for, or see risk assessments, method statements, or any other paperwork and as a result they had no idea as to how the work was to be carried out. Bear in mind this is a multi-national company with bases in the UK, Hong Kong, and Germany and with a multi-million pound turnover. At the time of the incident the company had no full time health and safety manager, they do now!

Under the new CDM regulations the Client has much more responsibility and a situation like this should never arise, however, if a company of this size does no checks, what about all those thousands of smaller companies around the country?

On April 1st, ADAO Asbestos Week begins

Next week sees the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) kick off its Asbestos: Hear Asbestos. Think Prevention. campaign to coincide with global asbestos awareness week.

Every day from April 1-7 ADAO will posting information on a different subject related to asbestos. By sharing, we spread awareness after all. This is a subject we know all about, and do everything we can to make people aware of the dangers of working around asbestos. This is why we offer extensive training courses, in particular the Asbestos Awareness course.

If you'd like to know more about our asbestos expertise and training, please get in touch.

Course reminders: Demolition and Asbestos Safety Awareness

There are three courses with places still available happening over the course of the next week or so. They are as follows:

Demolition and Asbestos Safety Awareness
Halesowen, Birmingham Saturday 21st March

Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment
26th March

Demolition and Asbestos Safety Awareness
Birkenhead, Saturday 28th March

For further details please email Stuart at stuart@demolishdismantle.co.uk

Important Date for Asbestos Workers and Managers Diaries

With the New Year well and truly in progress, we are rapidly approaching an important date that all managers and workers dealing with asbestos should be aware of. As part of the updates to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, and following on from the requirement to briefly document each job with records of workers involved and levels of likely exposure, there are new medical conditions to consider.

By April 2015, all workers/self-employed workers undertaking notifiable non-licensed work with asbestos must be under health surveillance by a doctor. Workers who are already under health surveillance for licensed work need not have another medical examination for non-licensed work. BUT medicals for notifiable non-licensed work are not acceptable for those doing licensed work.

This is the last of the updates to the original regulations to come into effect, but it will require comprehensive record keeping to ensure compliance. The remainder of the regulations remain broadly the same, emphasising the need for training of operatives and the importance of correctly face fitted respiratory protection and other PPE as well correct cleaning and disposal methods.

C&D Training Division are fully equipped to provide training on all these subjects, further details can be had by emailing us or by calling 01902 686363.

Stuart Pearce believes he may get lung cancer because of asbestos exposure

Stuart Pearce is well known to most Brits as a former member of the England football team, but before turning professional he was in fact an electrician. He spent 4 years in the trade working for Brent council in London, but those four years have since filled him with great concern.

At the time, he was not told of the dangers of asbestos to his long term health, and he knows that his chance of exposure to asbestos at work and without safety equipment is very high while he was an apprentice. Understandably, he's a supporter of the HSE campaign to ensure everyone is aware of the substance's dangers.

Book an asbestos awareness course now as awareness training could save your life.

Source: Mirror and Austin Osuide for the image.

Contractor chosen for Reading Civic Centre demolition

Reading Borough Council have privately selected a contractor who will now be tasked with demolishing the old Civic Centre, but only after asbestos had been removed from the site. The council believe this could take some time, suggesting there's quite a lot of it used within the building.

The land the Civic Centre is constructed on is owned by the council, but they want a developer to come in and redevelop the land. Until that can be sorted out an urban park will be created for local residence to take advantage of.

Source: Getreading and image by Stephen Richards.

NDTG Demolition & Asbestos Awareness training at the weekends in 2015

Following an unprecedented demand for training courses at weekends we have launched a monthly NDTG Demolition & Asbestos Awareness course in Chiswick in London. Courses will run on Saturdays and Sundays each month throughout 2015.

A full list of dates are available on our Demolition Training website.

Is work starting to pick up in the North West?

Normally the first sign of a downturn in workloads in demolition is the fact that training courses end up cancelled for lack of interest. So are we about to see an upturn in work in the North West?

Our NDTG approved Demolition & Asbestos Awareness course in Birkenhead on Saturday, 31st January is now FULLY BOOKED and we have to add a further date on Friday, 30th January to meet demand.

Normally we only expect sell outs inside one day when Queen and Adam Lambert announce tour dates, so it was a surprise to find out that all places sold out inside 24 hours. If you are in the North West and need a place on the course to obtain or renew your CCDO card, book now by emailing margaret@demolishdismantle.co.uk as we fully expect this course to also sell out quickly.

It Won’t Happen To Me

Unfortunately, all too often, this is the rationale behind many a tradesman’s thinking when it comes to asbestos and its lethal effects.

We should all learn then from a very tragic case that came to light in Ireland recently where three members of the same family died as a result of exposure to asbestos. To make matters worse the three that died were two brothers and their sister.

The one brother was involved in cutting asbestos sheets for the building trade in the 1960’s, the other brother was a pipefitter in Australia in the 6o’s and 70’s and their sister was exposed to it when she washed her builder husbands overalls after he had been working with asbestos.

Three people, all suffering the same fate, all exposed in different places at different times, but all three dying from a mesothelioma, a tumour around the lungs which has a more than 90% association with asbestos exposure.

So please don’t think “it won’t happen to me” think carefully about what you do and think about booking onto one of C&D’s Asbestos Awareness courses.

Here's a link to HSE’s Mesothelioma campaign video:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/campaign/video.htm

Asbestos and Demolition training course end of November

Following demand for more courses on Saturdays in the Liverpool area C&D are running more weekend courses. The first of the new Saturday courses to be added to the calendar is an NDTG Asbestos Awareness and Demolition Awareness course on November 29th.

For details on the course and how to book your place, please visit our sister site Demolition Training.