Tag: Asbestos Awareness

Week Commencing 31/01/2022 – In The News

Leamington Spa cedar tree to be felled on safety grounds A “much-loved” giant cedar tree in a Warwickshire park is to be felled amid reports last summer’s heatwave accelerated the spread of disease. Warwick District Council said the tree in Jephson Gardens, Leamington Spa, would be removed with “great sadness”. The tree was suffering from […]

Week Commencing 24/05/2021 – In The News

An excavator on site.

Construction Firm Fined After Workers Exposed to Asbestos A construction company has been fined after workers were exposed to asbestos whilst refurbishing a flat in St John’s Wood, Westminster. Between 14 May and 31 August 2018, ASAI Construction Ltd, the Principal Contractor for the project, failed to obtain a Refurbishment and Demolition asbestos survey prior […]

Safety Spotlight – Asbestos Awareness and COSHH

Glass tubes containing different coloured chemicals.

For the month of April, we are putting in the spotlight two key areas relating to our Hazard of the Month, Asbestos. These key areas are Asbestos Awareness and Control of Hazardous Substances. Asbestos Awareness Despite an outright ban on the use of Asbestos being implemented in the UK in 1999, there is still a chance […]

The Controversial Past of Asbestos

‘A lethal substance which can cause crippling illness and bring upon fatal respiratory issues’… sound familiar? While I may not be referencing the Coronavirus, which has swept the globe with devastating effects in the last year, a substance that has been in existence for a much longer period of time, Asbestos, fits the former description […]

Asbestos – Don’t Forget the Dangers

An old, derelict house.

Is Asbestos Really Still a Risk? Asbestos is still an ever-present danger but for many, they do not believe they will be affected by it and, therefore, do not take the necessary precautions when working in any industrial or residential building built or refurbished before the year 2000 (which is where Asbestos can be found).  […]

Asbestos In The Workplace Toolbox Talk

Why is Asbestos a Problem? Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals. It can come in several types; however, the following are the most common types used within the industry: Chrysotile (White) Crocidolite (Blue) Amosite (Brown) Asbestos has been widely used in the UK from the 1950s through to […]

Week Commencing 29/03/2021 – In The News

A crane among scaffolding.

Secret Filming Exposes Contamination Risk at Covid Test Results Lab Evidence of potential contamination, discarded tests and pressure to hit targets has been revealed at one of the biggest UK Covid testing labs after secret filming by a BBC reporter working as a lab technician was released. The reporter filmed staff cutting corners and processing […]

Week Commencing 05/10/2020 – In The News

A man completing work in a factory with protective gloves on.

Asbestos Training in the Construction Industry Sinks to 5 Year Low The coronavirus pandemic has seen the numbers of workers undertaking asbestos training drop by over 66%. Despite the re-opening of construction sites in May, the number of workers undertaking asbestos training courses continues to remain well below average and are at their lowest level […]

Week Commencing 14/10/2019 – In The News

Cutting wood with a saw.

Company Fined After Worker Impaled Whilst Using Rip Saw A worker suffered a severe injury when using a rip saw to cut a length of hardwood. As he was feeding it through, an offcut was ejected backwards and embedded itself in his upper leg and groin. The HSE found that no risk assessment for the machine had […]

Week Commencing 10th December 2018 – In the News

Rolled-up pieces of fabric in different shades of red.

Fine for company after safety breaches resulted in fatality A Leicestershire-based plastics processing firm has been fined in excess of £290,000 after a HSE investigation uncovered that an employee fatality was due to safety breeches. The victim sustained severe injuries when a casting rod was ejected from a casting machine at 81mph. The investigation suggested […]