Here is the first reply from my old employers, Resolution, their reply text is in italics:
Thanks for the prompt reply - I'll reply to your points individually:
1) They consider the risks to be minimal given the period of exposure but not negligible.
I'm told by a close friend (Dr. Onn Min Kon, MBBS MRCP MD - St. Mary's leading respiratory consultant - Google him to see his published record) tells me that it takes only one fibre to cause mesothelioma twenty years down the line.
2) They have asked me to confirm if any of our staff were involved in drilling into the fabric of the building as it is asbestos in its disturbed state, dust, that is of greater concern. Phil, can you answer this for when you were there.
Although we didn't do any drilling ourselves pulling bundles of cables through voids and holes kicks up an awful lot of dust
3) Did our guys do any work in the basement? If so can you give me an idea of the period/level of exposure you feel they were subjected.
We ran many cables through the basement over a period of several days.
4) When you say "register" what do you mean? Peninsular were not aware of any requirement to register anywhere you will need to explain further.
I know when I was at the Beeb they discovered asbestos at BBC Glasgow and all staff who'd worked there went on an HSE register so that in twenty years when they might need to seek compensation their potential exposure had been documented.
5) I will be speaking to Endemol about this generally and see what service they are prepared to offer, the only one Peninsular could come up with was an xray. I am not currently aware of them offering any scheme. I will however keep you informed.
Here are some links furnished to me by Mr. Tsuyoshi Kihara at the IIE (link in the right-hand bar):
What are asbestos-related diseases?
HSE's circular on the subject
1 comment:
This is some advice I received from the Health and Safety ExecutiveThe upshot of which is that it is wise to get your GP to check you over and record in your NHS medical record that you have a concern:
Thank you for your enquiry regarding asbestos.
The following information has been taken from OC 265/48, Health effects of inadvertent exposure to asbestos: guidance for fod staff when responding to enquiries. Part 1 states the following:
INADVERTENT EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS: ADVICE FOR EMPLOYERS
This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. Following the guidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action. But if you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law.
Health and safety inspectors seek to secure compliance with the law and may refer to this guidance as illustrating good practice.
Breathing in asbestos fibres can eventually lead to a number of diseases,
including:
(1) asbestosis or fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs,
(2) lung cancer; and
(3) mesothelioma, a cancer of the inner lining of the chest wall or abdominal cavity.
It is possible that repeated low-level exposures may lead to asbestos-related diseases, although high exposure for long periods is linked more clearly to these diseases. There is usually a long delay between first exposure to asbestos and the first symptoms of disease; this can vary between 15 and 60 years.
It is unfortunately not uncommon for people to be inadvertently exposed to asbestos fibres, usually in small quantities, during building operations, maintenance work or following damage to asbestos-containing materials.
(Many of those suffering today from asbestos related diseases worked in the building trades and were exposed to asbestos in their day-to-day work with asbestos materials or because work with asbestos was carried out near
them.)
Such incidents understandably cause anxiety about the possible effects, both short and long term, of the exposure. In many circumstances exposure will have been minimal, with little likelihood of any long term effects.
Unfortunately, although the type of asbestos involved may be known there is often little, if any, reliable information concerning the amount of asbestos which may have been inhaled.
It is important to ascertain as far as possible the type of asbestos, the duration of exposure and the likely exposure levels. You may need to seek advice from occupational hygienists or occupational health specialists. The local office of the HSE may be able to give general advice and provide information on the availability of local specialist services.
You should keep accurate and detailed records concerning the incident and those persons involved. The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations require records to be kept for 40 years. Although these Regulations may not apply, you may wish to follow their requirements.
If exposure is unlikely to have exceeded the action level it will usually have been insufficient to pose a significant long-term risk to health.
Where you are able to estimate the extent of exposure the advice that those who have been exposed can be given should reflect the risk as far as possible.
Exposed individuals should be informed that if they wish to consult their GP they should ask for a note to be made in their personal medical record of the possible exposure including date(s), duration, type of fibre and likely exposure levels (if known). (Their GP may refer them to a specialist in respiratory medicine but this is not normally considered necessary by
HSE.) Each case should be considered on its merits, but HSE does not normally advocate routine X-rays for persons exposed to asbestos in these circumstances.
Alternatively, or in addition, you may choose to refer employees for counselling. You may wish to select an occupational health service for this purpose. The local office of HSE's Employment Medical Advisory Service may be able to provide information on services in the area.
You should, in addition, consider carefully what went wrong in causing your employees to be exposed to asbestos on this occasion, and how you will prevent this happening again in future.
Part 2 states the following:
INADVERTENT EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS: ADVICE FOR EMPLOYEES
This document contains advice following inadvertent exposure or possible inadvertent exposure to asbestos. People who may have been exposed to asbestos are understandably anxious and concerned about possible effects on their health.
Breathing in asbestos fibres can eventually lead to a number of diseases,
including:
(1) asbestosis or fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs;
(2) lung cancer; and
(3) mesothelioma, a cancer of the inner lining of the chest wall or abdominal cavity.
It is possible that repeated low-level exposures may lead to asbestos-related diseases, although high exposure for long periods is linked more clearly to these diseases. There is usually a long delay between first exposure to asbestos and the first symptoms of disease; this can vary between 15 and 60 years.
It is unfortunately not uncommon for people to be accidentally exposed to asbestos fibres, usually in small quantities, during building operations, maintenance work or following damage to asbestos-containing materials.
(Many of those suffering today from asbestos related diseases worked in the building trades and were exposed to asbestos in their day-to-day work with asbestos materials or because work with asbestos was carried out near them).
Asbestos exposure incidents understandably cause anxiety about the possible effects, both short- and long-term, of the exposure. In many cases exposure will have been low, with little likelihood of any long-term side effects.
Unfortunately, although the type of asbestos involved may be known there is often little, if any, reliable information concerning the amount of asbestos which may have been inhaled, so it is often difficult to be certain exactly how much long-term risk to health may have been caused.
Your employer should try to find out as much as possible about the type of asbestos, the duration of exposure and the likely exposure levels and should keep accurate and detailed records concerning the incident and those people involved. You may wish to request a copy of your record, or to ask your employer to send a copy to your GP.
Your employer may arrange for you to have an opportunity to see an occupational health doctor for further advice, or may suggest that you consult your GP. Your GP should be given details about the possible exposure including date(s), duration, type of asbestos and likely exposure levels (if known) and you should ask for a note of these details to be made in your personal medical record. Your GP will decide whether you should be referred to a chest specialist (although this is not usually necessary) or whether you should undergo any tests such as a chest X-ray. Again this is not usually necessary or helpful, particularly because in the short-term a chest X-ray would not show anything wrong, even after heavy exposure to asbestos. In particular a chest X-ray cannot show whether or not asbestos fibres have been inhaled.
Your employer should also consider carefully what went wrong to cause you to be exposed to asbestos on this occasion, and how this can be prevented from happening again.
For those working in building maintenance, repair and refurbishment HSE publish the following information booklets:
(1) Managing asbestos in workplace buildings (INDG223); and
(2) Working with asbestos in buildings (INDG289); and a pocket card:
(3) Asbestos alert: workers' card for building maintenance, repair and refurbishment workers (INDG188P).
These are designed to help make workers aware of asbestos hazards in building work and to help them avoid accidental asbestos exposure. Single copies of these are available free of charge.
An entire copy of the Operational Circular can be accessed at:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/fod/oc/200-299/265_48.pdf
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