Written By: admin on May 17, 2010123 CommentsThe Health and Safety Executive has found that compliance with the ‘duty to manage’ asbestos regulations is particularly low in the retail industry. It has teamed up with BHF-BSSA, an independent retail trade body, to launch an awareness raising campaign. The main feature of this campaign is the issuing of a quick reference factsheet, to help retailers understand their legal responsibilities in relation to asbestos. It is hoped that this will reduce the incidence of workers, customers and contractors being exposed to asbestos fibres. Pursuant to Article 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, anyone responsible for the maintenance of a non-domestic property will almost certainly also be responsible for managing any asbestos present on that property. The factsheet will explain this duty and the essential steps that should be taken in complying with it, including advice on having an asbestos survey carried out. Asbestos is an extremely dangerous industrial material, that is likely to be present in many buildings completed before 2000 (the total ban on all types of asbestos came into force in the UK in 1999). Every year it kills an estimated 4000 people, and it is anticipated that this number will continue to rise for the foreseeable future. Any steps that can be taken in the meantime to try and reduce the incidence of exposure to airborne asbestos fibres can only be welcomed. If you are concerned about the impact that the inhalation of asbestos fibres has had on your health, you should consult your doctor without delay. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos industrial disease such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural thickening or asbestos-related lung cancer, you should also be aware that it is usually possible to obtain financial compensation for your condition. If you would like to find out more about this, please either take a look around the rest of this website or click here to get in touch with us today.
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