Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
23 January 2009
10:1113572#1
DDC Release **************
KENT LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND HSE LAUNCH ASBESTOS INSPECTION CAMPAIGN
Local Authorities across Kent, including Dover District Council, are joining forces with the Health and Safety Executive to carry out targeted inspections in February to raise awareness and make sure companies are not exposing workers to potentially harmful asbestos fibres.
The county-wide campaign will run throughout February, and letters have been sent to premises across Kent, including 80 in Dover District, to remind businesses of their responsibilities under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, and to pre-warn them of the inspection visits.
Asbestos related diseases are still the largest occupational killers in the UK, with around 4,000 deaths per year. These figures are continuing to rise and about 25% of those dying from asbestos related disease have worked in the building, maintenance and repair trades at some time during their working lives.
For more information on health and safety issues, please see the DDC website at
www.dover.gov.uk or call the Environmental Health team at DDC on (01304) 872216 or for more information about asbestos, see the HSE website at
www.hse.gov.uk/asbestosGuest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
23 January 2009
10:4513578#2
As you know i have spend most of my working life on big building sites all over but most in London,and I can tell you that awareness, safety,and health is the main thing I even think some times over the top but that is just me, but inspections are done now evey few days and it is not just about Asbestos even with dust you must use the right mask gloves Glassis hearing etc hard hats boots etc and if you are seen not to use all this you will be send off site for good, some times on the very small sites they do bend the rules but even then still alot better than years ago,when you get on a building site foe the first time now you must have a meeting where you will be told all about safety and what you can do and not do on that site then you sign the paper that you have been told this.
Vic MATCHAM
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
23 January 2009
14:0113599#3
Having worked as a facilities manager in an office with lots of asbestos which I had to check regularly to make sure it was sealed or arrange for its removal under the correct procedures, I can only say that although these procedures seem over the top asbestos can be deadly. One place I also worked was a medical centre dealing with asbestosis victims. I've seen first hand what it can do and was shown several human lungs from their museum - it's truly horrific.
Speaking of asbestosis I was shocked to have been sent this today: An investigation has been launched after building waste containing asbestos was dumped at three cemeteries in south London.
The waste was allegedly buried by a disposal company at the Camberwell Old, Camberwell New and Nunhead cemeteries with the help of a former Southwark council manager to avoid landfill charges.
The council has called in the Environment Agency and has begun legal action against its former employee and the disposal company.
It said no graves had been contaminated, although some land would now be unsuitable for burial plots. Annie Shepperd, chief executive of Southwark council, said: "As soon as the council was aware of the nature of the activity taking place we notified the appropriate regulatory body, the Environment Agency, which is now carrying out a criminal investigation.
"We are co-operating fully with their investigation. We are determined that those responsible are dealt with. On Monday of this week we started civil proceedings in the High Court against a south London tipping company, its owner and a former manager at Southwark council."
A specialist removal company has been employed to remove the waste.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
23 January 2009
16:2413610#4
I was only working in a very big building in chatham a few weeks ago and we was working in one part of the building and they were looking for Asbestos in the other part of it,we was in a void area that means you have to put a tag on the wall telling eveyone you are inside and when you come out you take the tag off the wall that tells them you are not still in that void area, well they found Asbestos and that stop the job reight away and clear the building so they were looking to find where all the workers were, and they found our tags hanging up so they found us at one and we left that is how good most sites are today and it has to be like that,when in my other posting i said over the top i did not mean about Asbestos that is deadly, it was about some of things you have to wear at times .
I remain yours faithfully Vic Matcham
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
27 January 2009
17:0314009#5
The asbestos problem is one that just wont go away. I think it was in the 1970's that it was realised the substance had a direct link to cancer, but still the problem lingers on.
Only today the BBC carried a story that was directly related to all of us here in Kent. The BBC found, following a major survey and investigation, that 90% of the state schools here in Kent have asbestos. The BBC Southeast featured a teacher who has recently died as a direct result of asbestos laden walls in her classroom. She developed cancer due to the simple action of sticking pins in the walls over the years putting up notices, kids homework etc etc. This had the effect of putting spores/ fibres into the air which she directly breathed in...the result...death. The stuff is lethal..yet remains here in Kent . In Europe, the programme stated, all asbestos has been removed completly and totally. There is a further programme tonight I beleive.
There are approximately 600 state schools in Kent, 554 of these have asbestos.
H&E say asbestos is safe as long as you dont interfere with it....ie dont drill into it etc. Thats their view, but many have doubts.
No doubt therefore there is asbestos in our schools in Dover.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
27 January 2009
18:4714026#6
until this latest thing i thought that all asbestos had been removed at least 20 years ago.
the comment from hse goes against their usual pedantic stance.
is there a wall anywhere that has not been drilled or has pins stuck in it?
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
27 January 2009
18:5114028#7
It is major scaremongering though the devestating results are obvious. I am sure that most buildings from the 50-70s probably have some asbestos on somewhere, but doesn't meant it is necessarily in a danger area.
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
27 January 2009
19:2314029#8
Asbestos in any area is a danger sooner or later
in a building or ship or anything it is time to outlaw it.
Vic M
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
27 January 2009
21:2514040#9
I agree it is still to be found in many buildings as it's safer to leave it where it is rather than risk removing it, but on the other hand if it's sealed now it could become chipped or damaged at any time which is why regular checks need to be carried out.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
28 January 2009
17:0614157#10
Jeane you are right about that regular check are needed both on buildings and ships aswell.
Vic M
Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
29 January 2009
02:0014209#11
When I was at sea we used to carry cargoes of raw asbestos in bales from Quebec, Canada to Manchester. If I remember rightly it was bound for Turner, Newalls factory in Rochdale which employed thousands of people. They made many products containing asbestos.
After the dockers had got their hooks in the bales when discharging it we had to sweep up the waste ready for dumping, there was asbestos dust everywhere. I am going back 50 years ago now and there was no Health & Safety then as there is these days and no one knew how dangerous it was going to turn out to be. We were given no masks or overalls etc.
In 1993 when I was working at the Tunnel I had a slight accident and was taken to Buckland for treatment. I had X rays taken of my lungs and shadows were found on them. The doctors at the hospital asked me where I had worked but wouldn't tell much about it and left it to my G.P. He told me that I had fibrous tissue on my lungs and it was nothing to worry about. I never even thought about the asbestos that I had been exposed to all those years all those years previously.
A couple of months ago I had the flu and with it a persistent cough which I had for about six weeks, my wife persuaded me to go to my G.P. in the end and he put me on a course of antibiotics and sent me for an X ray. The flu cleared up but the cough persisted and the X rays came back and they were no different from the ones of 15 years ago so the shadows haven't increased for which I am grateful. I still have the cough but not as heavy. I was a heavy smoker until I was 30 years of age and packed it in because of the cough, I am now 74 so haven't had a fag for 44 years.
I don't know if my cough is down to asbestos or not. I am just hoping that it gets no worse. Sorry to have rambled on.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
29 January 2009
08:3914212#12
No not a ramble at all Alec but very interesting post indeed. It is extraordinary looking back how asbestos was considered no problem at all at one time, and many came in everyday contact with it. Much the way of cigarettes in fact. Its fascinating looking at those old (particularly British) films and the amount of smoking in each shot is extraordinary. You just had to have a fag in your hand...and so it was in real life. But we have learned about these dangers over the years.
It looks like your lungs are holding up which is the main thing right now. The doctor was probably right when he told you all those years ago that there was nothing to worry about.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
29 January 2009
08:4814213#13
It Is Important to keep an eye on this killer.
Not scaremongering, it is very serious, ad im pleased KCC are taking it seriously.
Some years ago i came in contact with it, and had to have the specialists from Bristol down, all the building sealed off, special equipment used, and clothing
thankfully having had medical no traces found(some years later)
maybe i was the lucky one
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
29 January 2009
09:4614231#14
I have two letters on my medical records stating that I have been in contact with asbestos on two different occasions and thank God all is fine. Alec you sound like a very lucky man and good for you packing in the cigarettes, well done and you are doing the right thing having regular medical checks. Keith, hopefully you and I are lucky ones too.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
29 January 2009
10:2614237#15
Alec you done right by telling us more that is know about asbestos, the more sighs E.T.C about it is a help so if any of you have like Alec, Keith, and Jeane have storys to tell about this killer please post them.
Thank you
VIc Matcham
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
29 January 2009
12:5614248#16
Thats a very interesting post you have made there Alec, I didn't realise that dockers and ships crew were that exposed to asbestos dust, you're a lucky man not to have suffered further. Ramble on, you! never. Hope to see you soon.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
29 January 2009
14:2714253#17
Yes I have been exposed to Asbestos when working on ships.
Vic m