Asbestos Awareness Training Bristol

Asbestos Awareness Training in Bristol by Acorn Health and Safety

Worried about the risks of asbestos? Are you tradesmen working on older premises? Perhaps you are a building manager or facilities manager of a building built before 2000? Acorn Health and Safety offers training specifically for you on “Asbestos Awareness”. For more information, please telephone 0117 958 2070.

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is resistant to heat, fire, electricity, and most chemical reactions, and they are microscopic, naturally occurring fibrous minerals.

Asbestos was used for many years in different commercial and industrial environments, as well as in a wide range of consumer products. Its use has significantly diminished over the decades due to its dangers; however, older homes, schools, and public buildings can still contain asbestos and are still commonly found.

What Are the Risks of Asbestos?

Asbestos can cause serious health issues and life-threatening diseases. It is known most for causing mesothelioma, which is a rare and deadly cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart.

Why Is Asbestos So Dangerous?

Asbestos microscopic fibres easily become airborne and are subsequently inhaled. The asbestos particles then cling to tissues in the lungs and other areas of the respiratory system.

Over time, the fibres cause inflammation and can be the cause of very serious health problems and diseases:

• Mesothelioma – The mesothelium protects the vital organs in the chest and abdomen, and this aggressive cancer forms in the thin membrane of the mesothelium. The only medical reason known for the cause of Mesothelioma disease is asbestos exposure.
• Lung Cancer – Lung cancer is known to be exacerbated by exposure to asbestos however is not necessarily the main cause.
• Asbestosis —The formation of scar tissue plaques on the surface of the lung lining (pleura) is the cause of this degenerative respiratory condition. Asbestosis can be the start of the onset of mesothelioma.

Where Is Asbestos Found Most Commonly?

Asbestos can be found in any industrial or residential building built or refurbished before the year 2000. It was heavily used between the 1930s and the 1970s in roofs, floorings, walls, and industrial and commercial buildings. It is still commonly found in older homes, schools, and public buildings, so it is always important to get a qualified asbestos business to come and check an old site, building, office, or home you may be moving into or developing.

Some roofing and siding shingles are made of asbestos cement. Houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos as insulation. At one time it was used so much that it can be present in many of the common materials used in the building trade between these times.

Who Is Most At Risk of Being Exposed to Asbestos?

There were hundreds of occupations affected by asbestos exposure as it was used in thousands of commercial products and industrial settings. If you worked in these industries, then you were potentially exposed to asbestos during that time. No amount of asbestos exposure is safe; however, the longer and more intense the exposure, the more likely an individual is to develop mesothelioma cancer or another asbestos disease.

Exposure to asbestos increases the likelihood of other types of lung cancer. Smoking can also exacerbate asbestos-related diseases.

Industries in which asbestos use was particularly prevalent included shipbuilding, commercial product manufacturing, power plants, and construction before 2000.

How Can You Identify If There Is Asbestos?

• Identify when the building was constructed – If it was constructed before the 1980s and it hasn’t been refurbished since around 2000, then it is likely to have materials with asbestos in.
• Identify what materials were used in constructing the building— Is the building constructed from timber, brick, steel, cement sheet or another material? If there is cement, there’s a chance it could contain asbestos fibres bonded to cement particles. For example, a roof made from corrugated cement sheeting would probably contain asbestos.

Because of the qualities of asbestos, making it waterproof and hardy, areas of the building prone to wet conditions like bathrooms, toilets and kitchens may have asbestos sheeting or asbestos vinyl tiles in the walls, floors, and ceilings. Pipes throughout the building that carry water and sewage may also contain asbestos.

Understanding the Types of Asbestos and Their Risks

There are three main types of asbestos commonly found in buildings: Chrysotile (white asbestos), Amosite (brown asbestos), and Crocidolite (blue asbestos). These asbestos materials were widely used in construction due to their heat-resistant and insulating properties. While white asbestos was commonly used in roofing, insulation, and cement products, brown and blue asbestos was often found in pipe insulation, ceiling tiles, and sprayed coatings. Each type carries significant health risks, making asbestos awareness training courses essential for those who may come into contact with asbestos in their work.

The Legal Requirement for Asbestos Training

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, employers have a legal requirement to ensure that employees who may come into contact with asbestos receive appropriate asbestos awareness training courses. This training helps workers understand the risks of asbestos, how to identify asbestos materials, and the emergency procedures to follow if asbestos is disturbed. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in serious legal consequences and fines.

What Should You Do If Asbestos Dust Is Released?

The release of asbestos dust poses a major health risk. If asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, microscopic fibres become airborne and can be inhaled, leading to long-term effects on health. If you suspect that asbestos has been disturbed, follow these emergency procedures immediately:

• Stop all work and evacuate the area.
• Prevent further contamination by sealing off the affected space.
• Contact a licensed asbestos professional to assess and safely remove the asbestos materials.
• Update your asbestos registers to ensure all known asbestos locations are recorded and regularly monitored.

Implementing Effective Control Measures for Asbestos

To reduce the risks from asbestos, businesses must implement control measures to manage and monitor any occurrence of asbestos in the workplace. These include conducting regular asbestos registers to identify and record asbestos-containing materials, ensuring all staff complete an asbestos awareness training course, and following strict protocols for safe handling. Proactive control measures can prevent exposure and maintain compliance with health and safety regulations.

What Should You Do if You Suspect You Have Asbestos Present?

Get a specialist and certified asbestos company in to assess. Do a walkthrough inspection with them, as asbestos specialists know exactly what they are looking for. They can advise you on the probability of asbestos being present just by the age of the building and the materials used. They should be Certified and Licensed in Asbestos and Asbestos Removals in accordance with HSE Guidance. A good asbestos specialist will tailor their service to each customer’s requirements and needs and will always use highly skilled staff and surveyors.

Asbestos Management Responsibilities

Tradespersons, developers, owners, managers, and employees of any businesses that might be in contact with, or have a responsibility to manage, asbestos as part of their work or role should go through accredited asbestos awareness training.

It is a shocking statistic, but every week, 20 tradesmen die from asbestos-related disease, demonstrating that training is a must for anyone working on buildings built or refurbished before the year 2000.

So, We Have Explained What Asbestos Is and The Dangers But What Should You Do Now?

Acorn Health & Safety offers Accredited Asbestos Awareness Training – HS11 which is recommended for anyone or any employee that may encounter, or manage a team that may encounter, asbestos at any time.

Participation in our Accredited Asbestos Awareness Training helps your organisation to demonstrate compliance with their statutory duties and provides evidence towards SSIP accreditations. It is currently recommended by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that asbestos awareness training be repeated on an annual basis.

Our courses are delivered by our knowledgeable and enthusiastic consultants and trainers, all of whom hold adult teaching qualifications supported by professional qualifications, as well as considerable hands-on practical experience. All of this is reflected in our grounded, pragmatic training approach, which will leave the delegates knowing all they need to know about specialist subject matters as well as Health & Safety legislation.

About Acorn Health & Safety

Acorn Health and Safety trains around 18,000 delegates a year, offering training to individuals, groups, and entire teams. We are committed to providing excellent training, which is delivered in a relaxed, yet informative style.

Acorn has been providing consultancy and training to wide and varied groups of clients, from international blue-chip companies to local businesses, for over sixteen years.

We understand that health and safety legislation is challenging and confusing for many businesses with varying requirements amongst insurers, regulators, and purchasers, so we offer specialist or consultancy services for individual business topics. Our specialist trainers will come in and learn about your business and create bespoke training on any subjects from fire, construction, noise, manual handling, and legionella to help you and your business understand what is required by law and keep your teams safe.

As well as tailored training courses, we also run a rolling programme of ‘open courses’ that are particularly suited for individuals or organisations that only have a few delegates, as well as for those who are only looking to release small groups of staff at one time so your operation is not impacted. You can see our full list of courses and dates for 2018 here.

How Do We Approach Asbestos Training At Acorn?

Trainers use a wide range of teaching techniques to meet the needs of individual delegates attending courses and the business itself. The course programme, accredited by iatp follows a set syllabus and contains the most up to date information available, including:

• What is asbestos?
• The health effects
• To provide delegates with an awareness of the risks associated with exposure to asbestos and how they should manage this
• Identification of asbestos
• Key legislation of duty to manage client and contractor’s responsibility
• An overview of asbestos surveys and registers
• Procedure to follow discovering asbestos
• Hygiene and PPE
• The course is of 3 hours (half day) duration.

We’ll provide delegates with a variety of printed course materials, including workbooks and handouts, allowing them to refresh themselves whenever they need to. On successful completion of the course, delegates will receive a printed IATP-accredited course certificate.

After the training course, our team of consultants and trainers is available to answer any questions you may have and you will receive an automatic reminder prior to the course expiry.

Our ‘asbestos awareness’ course is just one of over 60 courses we offer. Acorn Health & Safety provides training and consultancy in first aid, fire safety, food safety, manual handling, healthcare training and health and safety.

We can provide a wide variety of accredited or tailor-made courses, and these can be ‘in-house’ or ‘open’ programmes.

Our ‘in-house’ course programmes are the most cost-effective option if you have a few staff requiring training; these can be adapted to include references to your local policies, practices, and documentation. These courses can be delivered at any venue suitable to you, or you can hire our purpose-built training centre in Warmley, Bristol.

Please contact us at 0117 958 2070 to discuss any of your training needs, and we can answer any questions you may have and advise the most suitable and cost-effective training solution for you. For the best asbestos awareness training in Bristol, think Acorn.

Frequently Asked Questions About Asbestos Awareness Training Bristol

1. What is asbestos?
   Answer: Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral resistant to heat, fire, electricity, and most chemical reactions. 
2. Why is asbestos dangerous?
   Answer: Its microscopic fibres can become airborne, be inhaled, and cause serious diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. 
3. Where is asbestos commonly found?
   Answer: In buildings constructed or refurbished before 2000, especially in roofing, flooring, and walls, particularly between the 1930s and 1970s. 
4. Who is most at risk of exposure?
   Answer: Tradespeople, builders, shipbuilding workers, and anyone working in older premises are at higher risk, with no exposure considered completely safe. 
5. What types of asbestos exist?
   Answer: The three most common types are Chrysotile (white), Amosite (brown), and Crocidolite (blue), each associated with significant health risks. 
6. Is asbestos training legally required?
   Answer: Yes, under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, employers must ensure that anyone who may contact asbestos receives appropriate awareness training. 
7. What should you do if asbestos dust is released?
   Answer: Stop work, evacuate your area, seal off the space, contact a licensed professional, and update your asbestos register. 
8. How can businesses control asbestos risk?
   Answer: By keeping an asbestos register, ensuring all staff complete awareness training, and following strict handling regulations. 
9. What if you suspect the presence of asbestos?
   Answer: Hire a certified asbestos specialist to assess your site, review materials, and manage removal in line with HSE guidance. 
10. What does Acorn’s asbestos awareness course offer?
    Answer: Acorn delivers a half-day (3-hour) IATP-accredited course (HS11) that helps demonstrate legal compliance, supports SSIP accreditation, and is best repeated annually.