UKATA ASBESTOS AWARENESS TRAINING

ASBESTOS TRAINING

If you, or your staff work in public buildings and are likely to disturb the fabric of those buildings, you need Asbestos Awareness Training. Read on to find out why and click on the links for more information on health & safety, asbestos removal contractors and training providers.

The Health and Safety Executive has passed responsibility for managing the list of training providers for licensed asbestos work to the United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association (UKATA).
UKATA will set standards, audit and manage the list of asbestos training providers in the future. If training has not been provided by a UKATA member, enforcing officers may ask licensed asbestos operators to demonstrate how Chapter 4 of the Licensed Contractors’ Guide has been complied with. Asbestos Awareness Training is now becoming increasingly requested by main contractors and local authorities.

Following a successful audit by UKATA, one of the country's leading safety training providers Boss Training Ltd has been awarded membership. They are now able to deliver asbestos awareness training courses throughout the UK. Other asbestos awareness training providers are available on the UKATA website.

Asbestos is widely accepted as one of the biggest killers in the UK. It is now recognised that as many as 18 million UK workers are at risk of contact with asbestos fibres.

Asbestos fibres are present in the environment throughout the United Kingdom. Everyone is exposed to very low levels but the main factor in the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease is the total number of fibres breathed in. Working near damaged asbestos-containing materials, or breathing in high levels of asbestos fibres could increase your chances of getting an asbestos-related disease. If asbestos fibres are inhaled they can lead to the four main asbestos related diseases which account for around 4000 deaths per year. More information on these diseases and their effects can be found on the HSE website. What you must be aware of is that these diseases will not be detected immediately so you must protect yourself now to prevent an asbestos-related disease in the future. Asbestos Awareness Training is the first step. An asbestos awareness training certificate is usually valid for one year.

The HSE has warned businesses to ensure they keep accurate details of asbestos in their buildings before any construction work takes place. Managers of non-domestic premises must also ensure they act upon any information about asbestos, which they may hold. Any worker disturbing the fabric of a building is potentially at risk and must have Asbestos Awareness Training.

CASE STUDY:

The warning from HSE follows a serious incident in which at least 15 tradesmen were exposed to airborne asbestos fibres for almost 2 months during a major refurbishment of a former nightclub in Scotland. The firm involved was fined £28,000 and a director £7,000. This was a major refurbishment which involved a number of differenet trades. Work continued on the project despite concerns being raised by the tradesmen about the possible presence of asbestos within the building. Work was stopped by HSE after they were contacted directly by one of the site workers.

HSE Principal inspector Jim Skilling commented after the case:

"This was a very serious incident which allowed a significant number of tradesmen to be exposed to airborne asbestos fibres over an extended period."

A recent HSE campaign "Asbestos – the hidden killer" has highlighted the fact that 20 tradesmen are dying every week from asbestos related illnesses. The purpose of the campaign was to further raise awareness amongst tradesmen, like those involved in this incident , of the risks from exposure to asbestos. More information on this case can be found on the HSE website. Remember, UKATA set the standards for asbestos awareness training.