Manufacture and manipulation of asbestos

Rule 114(1) item 17 · Schedule XVII

Medical surveillance (statutory)

Sch XVII para 18: employed only if examined by the Medical Inspector / Certifying Surgeon, declared fit and granted a certificate of fitness in Form 23; existing workers radiologically examined within three months; thereafter at intervals of twelve months (X-ray when directed); record in Form 7. Para 19(4): health records retained at least 40 years from start of employment or 15 years after cessation, whichever is later.

Hazard & health effects

Agent: Asbestos fibre (all forms)

Health effects: Asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, pleural plaques/effusion (long latency).

Controls & PPE

Engineering controls: Enclosure and LEV; wet methods; prohibition/substitution where feasible; air monitoring; chest X-ray + lung-function programme; controlled waste disposal; 40/15-year record retention.

PPE: Respiratory protection (appropriate FFP/PAPR); disposable coveralls; gloves; decontamination facilities.

Statutory vs annotation: only the operation name, schedule number and medical-examination clause are statutory. The hazard, health-effects, controls and PPE notes are occupational-hygiene context.

Reference information for occupational-health professionals — not medical advice, and not a substitute for examination by a qualified physician.

Other dangerous operations

All 25 dangerous operations — s.87 / Rule 114

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