01279 213 600
01279 213 600
Mesothelioma Awareness Day, observed on 26 September, is a time to remember people affected by the disease and to draw attention to the continuing risk of asbestos exposure. For anyone responsible for an older building, it is also a reminder to check that asbestos information is accurate, accessible and used before work begins.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the lining of the body’s organs, most commonly around the lungs. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Symptoms can take many years to appear, so a person diagnosed today may have encountered asbestos decades ago.
Asbestos was used extensively in UK buildings before it was banned. Materials containing it may still be present in roofs, insulation, floor tiles and other parts of older properties. The danger arises when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed and fibres are released into the air, where they can be breathed in. Maintenance and refurbishment work can expose workers if the materials have not been identified in advance.
Symptoms of mesothelioma can include breathlessness, a persistent cough, chest pain and unexplained weight loss. These symptoms can have many other causes, but anyone experiencing them should seek medical advice, particularly if they may have been exposed to asbestos. Tell your GP about any known or suspected exposure, even if it happened many years ago.
For those who own or manage non-domestic premises, asbestos safety requires ongoing attention. The duty to manage asbestos includes identifying materials that may contain it, assessing their condition, keeping an asbestos register and putting an asbestos management plan into action. People who could disturb the materials must be given the information they need before starting work. This is done by an asbestos survey. The right survey depends on what will happen in the building. A management survey helps identify and manage asbestos during normal occupation and routine maintenance. A more intrusive refurbishment or demolition survey is needed before work that could disturb asbestos hidden within the building fabric.
Mesothelioma Awareness Day offers a practical prompt: review your asbestos records, check that planned work is covered by the appropriate survey, and make sure contractors know where asbestos is present or presumed to be present. These steps help protect people working in and around older buildings.
Global Environmental provides asbestos services to help property owners and managers understand and manage asbestos risks. If you are planning maintenance, refurbishment or demolition work, please contact us for advice before work starts.
