lps organisations demonstrate compliance with health and safety legislation and ensures employees can work safely in environments where asbestos may be present.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used in building materials throughout the twentieth century due to its strength, durability and resistance to heat and fire.
Common asbestos-containing materials found in buildings include:
• pipe insulation and lagging
• ceiling tiles and panels
• asbestos cement roofing sheets
• textured coatings and decorative finishes
• floor tiles and adhesives
• fire protection boards
• insulation materials
Although asbestos-containing materials may not present a risk when they are intact, they can release dangerous fibres if they are damaged or disturbed.
Asbestos awareness training helps workers recognise these materials and understand how to avoid disturbing them.
Health Effects of Asbestos Exposure
When asbestos fibres are inhaled they can become lodged in the lungs and cause long-term health problems.
Diseases caused by asbestos exposure include:
• Mesothelioma – an aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs
• Asbestos-related lung cancer
• Asbestosis – scarring of lung tissue caused by asbestos fibres
• Pleural thickening
These conditions often develop many years after exposure, sometimes decades later. Because of this long latency period, preventing exposure to asbestos fibres is extremely important.
Providing asbestos awareness training helps ensure workers understand these risks and the importance of avoiding exposure.
Who Should Attend Asbestos Awareness Training?
This course is suitable for anyone who may encounter asbestos-containing materials during their work activities.
Typical delegates include:
• electricians
• plumbers
• joiners and carpenters
• construction workers
• maintenance engineers
• heating and ventilation engineers
• telecommunications engineers
• cable installers
• facilities maintenance staff
• demolition workers
Workers who carry out installation, repair or refurbishment work in buildings constructed before 2000 are particularly likely to encounter asbestos-containing materials and should receive asbestos awareness training.
What Does the Asbestos Awareness Training Course Cover?
The training course provides participants with a clear understanding of asbestos hazards and safe working practices.
Typical course content includes:
• what asbestos is and why it was used in building materials
• the different types of asbestos
• the health effects of asbestos exposure
• common locations of asbestos-containing materials in buildings
• legislation relating to asbestos management
• asbestos surveys and air monitoring
• how to avoid disturbing asbestos-containing materials
• emergency procedures if asbestos is accidentally disturbed
• the use of personal protective equipment and respiratory protective equipment
• correct waste disposal procedures
The course ensures employees understand their responsibilities when working in environments where asbestos may be present.
Asbestos Surveys and Management
Many buildings still contain asbestos materials that must be carefully managed to prevent exposure.
Asbestos surveys help identify materials that may contain asbestos so that appropriate control measures can be implemented.
Employees who receive asbestos awareness training will understand how asbestos surveys work and why it is important to follow site procedures when asbestos-containing materials are present.
Understanding these procedures helps ensure employees do not accidentally disturb asbestos during maintenance or construction activities.
Why Asbestos Awareness Training Is Important
Asbestos remains one of the leading causes of work-related deaths in the UK.
Workers involved in maintenance and construction activities are among those most at risk of encountering asbestos-containing materials.
Providing asbestos awareness training helps organisations ensure employees:
• recognise materials that may contain asbestos
• understand the health risks associated with asbestos exposure
• avoid disturbing asbestos-containing materials
• follow correct procedures if asbestos is encountered
• work safely in buildings where asbestos may be present
Training plays an essential role in protecting workers and preventing exposure to asbestos fibres.
In-House Asbestos Awareness Training
Training Solutions NI provides bespoke asbestos awareness training tailored to your organisation.
Training can be delivered either:
• at your workplace
• at the Training Solutions NI training centre in Antrim
Delivering the course in-house allows the training to be tailored to the work activities carried out by your employees and the environments in which they operate.
Training Solutions NI delivers asbestos awareness training for organisations across Northern Ireland including Belfast, Lisburn, Ballymena, Newtownabbey, Craigavon and Derry/Londonderry.
Why Choose Training Solutions NI?
Training Solutions NI has been delivering professional workplace training for more than 20 years and is one of Northern Ireland’s leading providers of health and safety training.
Organisations choose Training Solutions NI because of:
• experienced and qualified instructors
• high-quality practical training
• flexible in-house training delivery
• excellent training facilities in Antrim
• trusted by many of Northern Ireland’s leading companies
Training Solutions NI delivers a wide range of accredited training programmes including NEBOSH health and safety qualifications, IOSH courses, COSHH training, manual handling instructor courses and construction safety training.
Book Asbestos Awareness Training
If your organisation requires Asbestos Awareness Training, Training Solutions NI can deliver training tailored to your workplace and employees.
Phone: 028 9448 8100
Email: info@trainingsolutionsni.co.uk
Training Solutions (NI) Limited
New Horizons
4A Steeple Road
Antrim
Co. Antrim
BT41 1AF
Frequently Asked Questions
Is asbestos awareness training a legal requirement?
Yes. Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 employers must ensure employees who may encounter asbestos receive appropriate training.
How long does asbestos awareness training last?
Many organisations refresh asbestos awareness training every 12 months to ensure employees remain aware of the risks and procedures for working safely.
Does asbestos awareness training allow you to remove asbestos?
No. Asbestos awareness training only provides information about recognising asbestos and avoiding exposure. It does not allow workers to carry out asbestos removal.
Who needs asbestos awareness training?
Workers such as electricians, plumbers, joiners, maintenance workers and construction workers who may encounter asbestos-containing materials should receive asbestos awareness training.