EntrySign and UKNAR Collaborate to Mitigate Asbestos Risks
Global visitor and contractor management specialists, EntrySign, have teamed up with the UK National Asbestos Register (UKNAR). This new social enterprise focuses on improving awareness of asbestos management. Together, they aim to reduce the risks of accidental asbestos exposures in UK schools, hospitals, public buildings, and businesses. By doing so, they achieve this by ensuring contractors can access vital asbestos information during the sign-in process.
When asbestos is disturbed or damaged, it poses significant health risks, including serious illnesses like asbestosis, pleural thickening, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. As a result, enhancing the availability of asbestos information, EntrySign and UKNAR are helping protect people from these dangers.
Asbestos in UK Schools: The Need for Action
A 2019 Department for Education report revealed that 80.9% of state-funded schools and academies in England contain asbestos. This highlights the urgent need for schools to alert contractors and staff to the presence of asbestos-containing materials. Without this awareness, accidental exposure remains a significant risk.
Since 2001, more than 200 teachers have died from mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure in schools, according to the National Education Union (NEU). Schools must take proactive steps to protect their communities from these preventable tragedies.
Asbestos SMART: Sharing Vital Information
UKNAR’s Asbestos SMART system gives schools and organisations a simple way to share asbestos information. It uses a unique QR code, which can be scanned with a smartphone. This provides contractors and staff with instant access to a concise, up-to-date UKNAR asbestos register for the building.
EntrySign enhances this process by displaying the SMART QR code and an asbestos management notice during contractor sign-in. Contractors must view and accept the asbestos register before starting any work.
Streamlined Safety and Compliance with EntrySign
EntrySign ensures contractors can read and accept health and safety policies and confirm their relevant training. The system records this information, making it easy to generate reports for audits and inspections.
EntrySign also tracks documentation linked to contractors, such as permits to work and risk assessments. This simplifies the process of keeping safety information accurate and up-to-date, ensuring compliance and reducing risk.
“As Head of Development at EntrySign, I am always looking to develop and integrate new solutions to help our customers with their on-site security and safety requirements. In addition to our existing sign-in and contractor management solutions, our UKNAR Asbestos SMART collaboration will enable us to provide an even safer contractor sign-in process.
With our collaboration, EntrySign can contribute towards a safer and healthier working environment. This is by enforcing the review of asbestos registers and policies during sign-in and recording vital information. I am pleased to be working with UKNAR and supporting our customers with their safety and regulatory responsibilities”.
“Having spent over twenty years in the asbestos industry and operated as a fully qualified asbestos consultant for over 15 years, I am acutely aware of the varied challenges that so many responsible persons face trying to manage asbestos safely within their organisations.
That is why I am delighted to be one of the co-founders of UKNAR CIC as we try to make it easier for people to manage asbestos safely with the aid of today’s SMART technology. We are particularly keen to help schools given that over 75% still contain asbestos and the more vulnerable nature of their occupants: which include pupils and teachers as well as estates teams, caretakers, and contractors.
EntrySign is a great product, and we believe this collaboration will enable more building occupants, visitors, and contractors to access vital asbestos information and remain safe whilst in buildings protected by the EntrySign and Asbestos SMART systems.”
