Asbestos in plain sight: exposure risks outside traditional industries

The long-standing presumption of asbestos exposure within legacy industries has been challenged. Asbestos is still present in many buildings and products, and unexpected exposure has been identified beyond traditional industries.

A film studio was fined £6,000 after mismanaging minor building works that disturbed asbestos and put staff at risk. Maintenance workers were asked to remove acoustic wall panels and were misinformed that there was no asbestos present. During the process, an employee suspected asbestos insulation and subsequently ceased work. Tests later confirmed the presence of multiple types of asbestos requiring licensed removal. 

The Health and Safety Executive found that the film studio’s asbestos surveys had failed to assess the affected wall areas, leaving the work unplanned and unsafe. They also identified poor training and inadequate emergency procedures. The studio plead guilty to breaching numerous regulations from Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

The scope of this risk is not limited to the UK. A total of 69 Australian Capital Territory schools have also been identified as stocking coloured play sand within which asbestos was detected. The government confirmed that this sand was found to contain traces of chrysotile asbestos, known as ‘white asbestos’. The product has been recalled based on preliminary results and comprehensive scientific testing is now under way.

Acknowledgment is essential to asbestos exposure which is not confined to legacy industries as exposure may continue to arise from unorthodox sources.