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Asbestos Use in the United Kingdom

Asbestos was widely used in the United Kingdom for many decades. Lauded as an excellent insulator, the mineral found its way into shipyards, factories, chemical plants, power plants, refineries, commercial buildings and even homes and schools in the U.K. Little thought was given to the potential dangers of the mineral, even though scientific findings from as early as the 1920s and 1930s suggested that the material was causing serious respiratory illnesses in individuals exposed to airborne asbestos fibers.

In the 1970s, it became quite apparent that cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases were on the rise in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Legislators recognized that it was necessary to take action to control and possibly ban the use of this toxic material.

Asbestos Products in the UK

In the United Kingdom, a few dozen producers of asbestos products may be responsible for the exposure of thousands of individuals to asbestos fibers. These companies employed tens of thousands of individuals who might have been exposed to the material on the job.

Companies such as Turner and Newall – based in Manchester – produced asbestos cloth, asbestos cement sheets and a variety of other products that had a negative effect on the health of workers. Johns-Manville was yet another manufacturer which made myriad asbestos building products.

As a result of the presence of companies such as Turner and Newall and Johns-Manville, many buildings in the U.K. were constructed using asbestos insulation, cement, shingles, siding, wallboard and tiles. Many structures are still contaminated with asbestos and continue to present a danger for individuals performing renovations or demolition on older structures.

In addition, several thousand household and automotive products used by U.K.  residents often contained asbestos. These products may have included:

• Ovens
• Hair dryers
• Irons and ironing board covers
• Toasters
• Stove-top pads
• Brake pads and linings
• Clutch facings

Asbestos in the Armed Forces

Shipbuilders also used asbestos to provide insulation and resistance to fire on ships, especially those vessels used in the British Armed Forces. The material was considered ideal for use aboard ships until the 1980s. Asbestos could be found in the engine and boiler rooms, as well as in the walls, floors and ceilings of rooms such as the sleeping quarters and the galley. Both shipbuilders and those who served on military vessels could have inhaled airborne asbestos fibers while working on the ships.

Asbestos Laws in the UK

Asbestos prohibition laws in the United Kingdom were first introduced in the mid-1980s. In 1985, the U.K.  banned the import and use of both blue (crocidolite) and brown (amosite) asbestos. This rule was replaced in 1992 with a law that also banned some uses of white (chrysotile) asbestos, traditionally considered less lethal than the other forms of the mineral. In 1999, the government decided, with no exceptions, to ban the use and import of chrysotile asbestos.

Other asbestos-related laws passed during the 1990s stipulated that work on any asbestos insulation products (removal, etc.) may only be carried out by a licensed asbestos professional. Asbestos-at-work regulations have set maximum exposure limits and require that all asbestos be identified and managed properly. Regulations also require that employees at risk for asbestos exposure be trained in asbestos safety precautions.

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