The Occupational Health Role in Tackling Asbestos In Schools

A safe and supportive environment is essential for better learning, physical and mental health for students and staff. It is really important to carefully manage the school building to learn or work in a safe and healthy environment to prevent injuries and health issues.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which was a common construction material as it is very cheap and easy to use. It contains very minute fiber particles can spread in to air from damaged and broken asbestos.

There are many asbestos-related diseases which can cause from the exposure of these fibers into the air. It is very easy to inhale these fibers by human beings, as the fibers in the asbestos are very small in nature. The main diseases from asbestos exposure are lung cancer, mesothelioma (which is cancer found in the lining of the lung) and asbestosis, a long-term lung condition makes difficult to breath.

Tracking and removing in the school building

A year there is around 2,000 lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure from the ruined school building contains asbestos or school buildings built in 70’s and 80’s. High levels of exposure to asbestos can cause during the renovating and demolishing the school buildings contain asbestos. Exposure to the dust puts teachers and students at increased risk for asbestos- related diseases.Always remember to take proper precautions and asbestos awareness training before carrying all these tasks and make sure that all the staff and students in that building are safe. However, by 1980s most of this kind of work was stopped in Britain and the figures from lung cancer are slowly decreasing.

The Education Department has reviewed its policy on asbestos management in schools and its environments. Effective management of asbestos in the schools can have many barriers as the asbestos fiber are invisible and difficult to identify easily. One of the most visually identifiable and visible asbestos products is corrugated cement roofing sheets. If cement-based products are presumed to be present, then samples will need to be taken to positively identify asbestos fibers.

Steps to identify if you school building contains asbestos.

1. Check the manufacturer and product name on the insulation label2) Do a web search to find out if it contains asbestos.3) Look at joints.4) Analyze surface patterns. 5) Inspect exterior building materials. 6) Investigate interior panels. 7) Check appliances and finishing materials.8) Assess the location.

Identifying the asbestos content in the school and surroundings will help to reduce asbestos-related diseases up to a certain limit. Remove the asbestos from your area by taking proper precautions or by appointing a certified asbestos removal contractor for safe removal without the exposure.

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