Posted By thomas mark evans Hi everybody Please give me your thoughts, i have staff who fitted plasterboard which it turns out contains asbestos (chrysotile). All staff are to have medicals the BUPA doctor has said they do not require x-rays unless he decides to give them after listening to their chests. My immediate thought was that they would require x-rays as a basis. What is the legal/medical thoughts of everyone ???? Best Regards Mark Evans

Posted By Stuart Nagle Thomas. remember... Doctor knows best. So follow his advice, preferably given in writing if you can get it as evidence of course!! Don't forget though, all records in relation to medicals ect for asbestos MUST be kept for 40 years.... Regards... Stuart

Posted By Allan St.John Holt The advice you have been given here and by BUPA is quite right, though it's sometimes hard to convince people that 'magic science' can't instantly spot an issue that will take years to develop (if it does). The only medical evidence of asbestosis that can be readily detected by X-Ray is the presence of pleural plaques, and they are very hard to spot and need a trained X-Ray reader to identify. They take a long time to appear. No-one should submit to an X-Ray unless there is likely material benefit to be gained, which can be weighed against the real and known risks of X-Ray exposure. These people need to have their potential exposure recorded, and be encouraged to have regular medical checks on lung function, which is non-invasive. NB I am not a doctor, but this is a fairly common issue and the above is standard advice. Allan