In the past we’ve written about the importance of health and safety in the drainage industry. We've advised of ways in which we implement measures and procedures to keep both our customers, the general public, and our engineers safe and free from harm whilst on the job. It has been, is, and will always be our highest priority.
One topic that we didn’t cover in our H&S article however, is asbestos awareness in the drainage industry. You may have heard the word used before, but what actually is asbestos?
According to the British Lung Foundation (the only UK charity “looking after the nation’s lungs”), asbestos is a term used for a group of minerals made up of microscopic fibres. If these fibres are disturbed from the asbestos material they become airborne, which is when they become dangerous. Rather sinisterly, if you breathe in these fibres, they can seriously damage your lungs, and have been known to be a leading cause of 4 main diseases:
- Non-malignant pleural disease
- Asbestosis
- Asbestos-related lung cancer
- Mesothelioma
As per The Guardian, The Health and Safety Executive estimates that roughly 5,000 people die each year in the UK from asbestos-related illnesses such as cancer. Roughly 1/5 of these deaths are of tradespeople, with 20 dying each week as a direct result of previous exposure to the material. On a global level, the World Health Organisation estimates that 107,000 people die each year from these illnesses! That means that 1 in every 21 people that die globally each year from asbestos-related cancers is in the UK.
It’s pretty nasty stuff, so we have to ensure we undertake the correct training to enable us to spot the material before disturbing it.
Asbestos can be found in any industrial or residential building built or refurbished before the year 2000, meaning it isn’t uncommon to stumble across it. You’d also be surprised at the sheer amount of places asbestos can be hiding.
All new-starting engineers at Metro Rod Manchester and Macclesfield are required to complete an asbestos awareness course, regardless of previous job roles and certification. Additionally, all engineers are to undertake refresher courses on an annual basis (even though there is no legal requirement to do so according to Health and Safety Executive for the UK).
By doing this, we minimise the risk of potentially life-threatening, asbestos-related incidents whilst we’re at work.
You can read about some of our health and safety procedures and accreditations here.
At Metro Rod Manchester and Macclesfield, our commitment to health and safety is paramount to what we do. It’s one of the reasons that we’re one of the UK’s leading drainage contractors. We operate 24/7/365, offering a fast response professional service.
You can keep up to date with all things Metro Rod Manchester and Macclesfield by linking our Facebook page here, and following us on Twitter here. You can also connect with our company page on LinkedIn here.
Phone: 01625 879035
Freephone: 0800 66 88 00
Email: manchester@metrorod.co.uk
“We guarantee our clients a safe, professional and honest service day and night.”
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We are always happy to arrange a free site assessment and no obligation quotations for any work you might need. Alternatively, you can call our emergency hotline number on 0800 66 88 00
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