Research Plus

Asbestos awareness

A UK baseline survey was undertaken to determine plumbers’ awareness to working with asbestos containing materials (ACMs); the results were compared with data from passive samplers and activity logs. Plumbers greatly underestimated their contact with ACMs: only 20% claimed that they were aware of work with asbestos, yet 60% of the passive samples revealed exposure. More than half the plumbers thought that they disturb asbestos only once a year – far lower than indicated by the passive sampling data. Awareness of exposure control methods was also poor.

Annals of Occupational Hygiene 2007 51: 113–119.

Tags asbestos evidence based practice hazardous substances

Occupational Health at Work June/July 2007 (vol. 04/1) pp38