ASBESTOS AWARENESS TRAINING

Although asbestos is not an instant killer, many industrial and construction workers find that previous close proximity with asbestos has later lead to diseases/illness, often fatal. When fibres are dispersed into the air by disrupting Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs) and those fibres are inhaled, the asbestos can eventually cause irreparable damage to any person/people breathing it in. It is of the utmost importance that industrial and/or construction workers (anyone from Painters & Decorators to Roofing Contractors) should engage in Asbestos Awareness Training. This would grant valuable training to those who are exposed to asbestos the most, offering people the knowledge necessary to not only successfully identify ACMs but also the knowledge of how to best protects oneself from ACMs and potential airborne fibres.

It would be foolish to consider a face mask to be sufficient protective-wear against asbestos. Those who are exposed to ACMs the most, in their place of work, should wear all mandatory protective-wear, including:

• Full asbestos-grade coveralls
• Protective nitrile gloves
• Protective overboots
• Well-fitted goggles

Asbestos Awareness Training (Categories A, B and C) is available for anybody who wishes to improve their level of knowledge on the topic. That being said, it is more important for those who need to comply with the “Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002” (COSHH) regulations, which states that those in control over their own (and/or their team’s) level of exposure to asbestos are also responsible for reducing that level of exposure to as little as possible, whilst still successfully completing their work. If exposure to asbestos is a possibility, those who have successfully completed Asbestos Awareness Training should/will be able to identify all concerns and procedures, including the following:

• The potential harm of the hazardous substance
• The potential illnesses and diseases that are directly linked with exposure to asbestos
• The procedures necessary to reducing the risk of asbestos exposure
• To identify and initiate theirs and their team’s wearing of the correct protective gear, used in order to reduce the level of exposure to asbestos / ACMs

Asbestos Awareness Training (category A) is provided in short courses, of which the duration often spans from 1 hour to 7 hours, depending on the training provider. The course duration of Asbestos Awareness Training (categories B or C) will also depend upon the training provider. These further courses are especially relevant to those who specifically work with the disruption of ACMs.

Knowledge is key in this subject. These courses provide potentially life-saving information.