What you should know about Asbestos in Ireland

19 Sep 2016

Asbestos is found in many buildings in Ireland, and it poses a serious health risk. However, many ship builders in Ireland were exposed to asbestos for many years. There was a lot of exposure during World War Two. Workers were exposed to asbestos from boilers, steam pipes, insulation, pipe coverings, pumps, cement, and turbines. Years later, when the ships needed to be repaired, workers were exposed to asbestos dust.

Nearly every ship that was built between 1930 and 1970 contained asbestos. Ships had more than 300 different materials that contained asbestos.  

Longshoremen were also frequently exposed to asbestos. In the process of loading and unloading ships, they were exposed to asbestos insulation and raw asbestos fibres.

The consequences of asbestos was not apparent until many years after the initial exposure. An alarming statistic shows just how dangerous asbestos really is. A study followed workers who had worked in shipyards for twenty years or more. 86% of them developed asbestos related lung cancer. Approximately 30% of asbestos related diseases stem from exposure on ships.

The process of identifying and removing asbestos is also very dangerous. Asbestos doesn’t pose a health risk until it is damaged or disturbed. It will then release dangerous fibres into the air. These fibres get into a person’s lungs, and eventually cause lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. OHSS Safety Consultants have the experience to safely identify asbestos. We will do a full inspection, and decide whether to manage or remove the asbestos.

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