Health, Safety & Quality Consultancy
1. Asbestos is the biggest cause of deaths currently occurring as a result of work
2. Asbestos related diseases kill an average of 20 tradespeople every week
3. It was widely used as a building material until 1999 when it was banned
4. It may still be found in any house or building built before 2000
5. It can be anywhere between 15-60 years for symptoms of an asbestos related disease to develop
6. It can be in many commonly found materials and may be in places that you might not expect
7. You cannot see or smell asbestos fibres
8. Asbestos is only a danger when fibres are released, made airborne and breathed in
9. As long as the asbestos is in good condition, is located somewhere it can’t be easily damaged and is not disturbed, then it shouldn’t be a risk to you
10. The majority of HSE’s asbestos publications on asbestos are free to download at http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/information.htm