Posted By The toecap Am i right to insist that operatives who will be working on asbestos (as per asbestos essentials) after receiveing training, shouls be non smokers. My reasons are that, you are 50 times more likely to develop asbestos related diseases if you smoke compared to a non smoker. Am i being fair?

Posted By The toecap Why not?

Posted By Ron Hunter Please refer to posting "Smoking discrimination" further down this page for Brussels opinion! What is so wrong with trying to protect people who may be placed at increased risk? This is about more than statistics, the action of drawing smoke into the airways causes a temporary paralysis of the cilliary escalator, therefore seriously impairing the body's ability to defend itself from other contaminants - in this case asbestos fibres.

Posted By Ron Hunter Please refer to posting "Smoking discrimination" further down this page for Brussels opinion! What is so wrong with trying to protect people who may be placed at increased risk? This is about more than statistics, the action of drawing smoke into the airways causes a temporary paralysis of the cilliary escalator, therefore seriously impairing the body's ability to defend itself from other contaminants - in this case asbestos fibres.

Posted By The toecap Okay. So what a bout me trying to reduce the risk of exposure to danger to a level that is SFARP.

Posted By Gilles27 Provided they are wearing properly fitting FFP3 (plus all other controls appropriate to the job)and are properly trained there should be no problem. I smoke and work with asy on occasion and know I am not at risk, because I know I am doing it right. They are only going to be at risk if they can breathe respirable fibres. I would say its okay, but of course re-inforce the risk to staff in the preamble. [as a smile, I always thought the facemasks with valves on the front were so you can have a fag as you go along???!!!]