RJS Waste Management has an expert team dedicated to asbestos surveys and asbestos removal. This last year has been difficult for many but it’s not stopped the necessity for important works such as this and asbestos removal in Oxford has been one of our most popular essential services.

But why is safe asbestos removal so important? We’re going to let the Health and Safety Executive’s latest stats on work-related health and safety do the talking!

The importance of safe asbestos removal

At the end of 2020, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published the annual stats on work-related health and safety in Great Britain. The main takeaways from these stats relating to asbestos exposures and work-related illnesses are: 

• 6 million – Working people suffering from a work-related illness
• 2,446 – Mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures (2018)
• 8 million – Working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury
• £16.2 billion – Estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions (2018/19)

Other interesting observations include the fact that, the rate of self-reported

work-related ill health and working day lost due to self-reported work-related illness has increased.

These are the key figures but it’s worth having a look at the specifics of occupational lung disease (often caused by asbestos exposure) and the true cost of work-related ill health. This is of course not restricted to the construction industry and the economy but includes the loss of many lives. This demonstrates the important for asbestos awareness and safe asbestos removal in Oxford and throughout the UK.

Occupational lung disease 

Here are the key figures relating to occupational lung disease for Great Britain (2019/20): 

• 12,000 – Lung disease deaths each year estimated to be linked to past exposures at work
• 2,446 – Mesothelioma deaths in 2018, with a similar number of lung cancer deaths linked with past exposures to asbestos
• 17,000 – Estimated new cases of breathing or lung problems caused or made worse by work each year on average over the last three years

What’s more, occupational lung diseases account for over 90% (12,000 of 13,000) of the total annual deaths estimated as linked to past exposures at work.

These work-related lung diseases include:

• Mesothelioma – A type of cancer that develops in the lining that covers the outer surface of some of the body’s organs. It’s usually linked to asbestos exposure (NHS).
• Asbestos-related lung cancer – This includes lung cancer, laryngeal cancer and ovarian cancer as well as mesothelioma.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – The name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties, including emphysema (damage to the air sacs in the lungs) and chronic bronchitis (long-term inflammation of the airways) (NHS).

While COPD isn’t directly caused by asbestos exposure, inhalation of asbestos fibres can up a person’s chances of developing the condition. In turn, COPD often weakens the lungs and increases susceptibility to other asbestos-related diseases. As we can see, asbestos is linked with a worryingly high percentage of occupational lung disease deaths.

To find out the story behind the key figures, visit Occupational Lung Disease statistics in Great Britain, 2020.

The costs of work-related ill health 

Here are the figures relating to the costs of work-related ill health for Great Britain (2019/20):

• £16.2 billion – Annual costs of work-related injury and ill health in 2018/19, excluding long-latency illness such as cancer
• £10.6 billion – Annual costs of new cases of work-related ill health in 2018/19, excluding long-latency illness such as cancer
• £5.6 billion – Annual costs of workplace injury in 2018/19

Why we provide safe asbestos removal in Oxford

RJS Waste Management’s health and safety expert Samantha James comments:

“We know how important it is to take care around Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) in order to maintain health and safety in the workplace. These latest figures from the HSE highlight the prevalence of diseases like mesothelioma and how important it is to keep health and safety practices in place at all stages of construction – from build to refurbishment to demolition.

“What’s key is that homeowners, developers and landlords employ the services of BOHS P402 qualified asbestos surveyors and experienced asbestos removal operatives working with a fully insured company for ultimate safety and peace of mind”.

But RJS Waste Management aren’t just equipped to deal with asbestos removal in Oxford and beyond. They offer asbestos awareness training to arm those working in the construction industry with the knowledge they need for potential asbestos exposure. Sam continues:

“Our asbestos awareness training, which runs from our offices in Oxford or Chichester, has received high praise from industry professionals. It’s designed to provide a good solid general awareness of the legal requirements and safe practices that apply when managing and controlling asbestos and for those working in environments where asbestos could be present. Not only do attendees learn about the hazards and risks associated with asbestos but also about the effects on health. This knowledge is invaluable and could help save lives”. 

Get a quotation for asbestos removal in Oxford 

When it comes to asbestos removal in Oxford, we work with homeowners as well as the commercial market. One day we might carry out an asbestos survey at a Cotswolds estate the next we might be removing ACMs from a Didcot office. We provide regular asbestos removal services for construction companies and chartered surveyors who work with clients across Oxfordshire.

The HSE stats show how important it is to be asbestos aware and engage the services of a professional waste management company that offers asbestos services and is committed to the health and safety of all involved. Get in touch to arrange a quotation for your Oxford asbestos removal project today.