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What Can Go Wrong?

• Asbestos in various forms has been used very widely in many building products, as a reinforcing fibre in many plastics and as an engineering product in applications such as brake linings. Corrugated cement sheets are a very common application. Its wide use stems from it being chemically inert, light and strong, and because it is very stable when exposed to heat.
• Asbestos, inhaled as dust, can cause Lung Disease (Asbestosis), Lung Cancer, and Mesothelioma (a cancer associated only with exposure to Asbestos). People who smoke are at greatly increased risk.
• When asbestos is incorporated into a solid material (concrete, bitumen, plastic) it poses very little risk unless that material suffers mechanical damage (being, cut, broken, drilled, sanded, exposed to extreme heat or explosion).
• Teams may be exposed if setting up or working on location disturbs asbestos fibres that can be inhaled. Be particularly vigilant when working near derelict buildings, buildings that are being demolished or which are on fire and old asbestos mine workings.

Legal/³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Requirements

• In the UK the manager of a building must have a record of asbestos in that building – an asbestos register – and a plan for managing it.
• You must not work on Asbestos Containing Material. 
• You must not work in any area where fibres are present above the clearance level. - This requires specialist air samples and analysis by competent analyst – contact the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Workplace Service Centre if this is required.
• Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

Control Measures 

General Controls

• Assume any building pre 1980 has asbestos content. The general condition of the building would be a guide to the risk.
• Get permission and briefing session from the site manager / owner occupier with special emphasis on any asbestos containing materials on site.
• Ask for Information about asbestos from the person in charge of the site especially when planning work at a location that involves pulling cables through roof voids / ceilings / walls, accessing boiler or plant rooms or drilling into walls:
• If you know it is likely that you may be working in an area where asbestos is present as fibres then a separate risk assessment is required. Contact the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Workplace Service Centre (Interserve FM) for support and advice.
• Avoid disturbing (kicking, picking up or turning over), drilling into or leaning against any materials that may release fibres.
• Be ready to identify and respect any asbestos labels.
• Call ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Safety / ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Occupational Health if you are concerned you may have been exposed to asbestos (see our Contacts page in the top banner). See also our Safety Short "Health Information - Inadvertent Exposure to Asbestos" in Useful Documents.

If you are working near a fire or demolition site:

• Position away and upwind from source of smoke or dust.
• Avoid breathing smoke and dust.
• Use FFP3 mask to get out of area (if breathing in smoke). This is not to enable longer stays in smoky area, only to escape. FFP3 masks can be obtained via the Safety Equipment Stores. See Related Topics.
• If a small amount of dust / debris is present on clothing (e.g. dust on sleeve, shoe etc) – remove with a wet wipe.
• If a large amount of contamination is present on clothing. Wear FFP3 mask (if available), wipe down with damp rags / wet wipes, undress and shower. Place clothes into a plastic bag and seal.
• All contaminated clothing should be either disposed of as asbestos waste or sent to specialist laundry. Phone the Asbestos Management Team for advice.
• Decontaminate broadcast equipment and kit with wet wipes.
• Contaminated wet wipes should be placed in a plastic bag and disposed of as asbestos waste.  

Emergency Arrangements

If you know or suspect that asbestos containing material has been disturbed:

• Move other people away from the vicinity.
• Close doors if possible as you leave the area yourself.
• Tell your manager.
• Report the incident on myRisks.
• Contact ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Workplace Service Centre (Interserve FM): Internal 0490, External 0808 1688 962 (24/7/365)
• Email: bbcworkplace.servicecentre@interservefm.com

Division Specific Issues 

• Incorporating Radio OB MS G002-09 Asbestos.

FAQs/Did You Know?

• The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Workplace Service Centre has 24/7/365 access to Asbestos Environmental Consultants to undertake the necessary services relating to asbestos in order to aid the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ in their management of asbestos.
• 'Clearance levels' can only be determined by specific air sampling and interpretation of the count by a skilled analyst and this service is available through asbestos management team.