About Asbestos
Asbestos is a highly heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, building material for fire-resistant, insulating and strengthening purpose. It was widely used in construction industry up until it was banned due to being carcinogenic and cause of other asbestos related diseases.
“Asbestos can be found in any building built before the year 2000 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc.) & causes around 5000 deaths every year”, Health Safety Executive 2015
Due to cost, availability and its “brilliant” properties, Asbestos was widely used or mixed with many different products for construction and other purpose, throughout the 20th century.
Remember !
- You can’t see or smell asbestos in the air!
- Asbestos is only a danger when fibres are made airborne and breathed in.
- The effects of being exposed to asbestos take many years to show up – avoid breathing it in now.
- Not knowing your building has asbestos increases the risk of accidental damage, leading to exposure to asbestos fires.
- All duty holders must comply with regulation 4 of CAR 2012.
- Arrange an Asbestos Survey for your piece of mind!
Where Asbestos Containing Material can be found.
This is not an exhaustive list of areas in residential or commercial buildings where asbestos containing material may be found. Our competent surveyors will inspect all areas as far as reasonable practicable to do so.
Who’s at risk & When they’re at risk.
Private individuals, tradesmen and many professions occasionally come across asbestos containing materials knowingly or unknowingly.
- Heating and ventilation engineers
- Demolition & refurbishment workers
- Carpenters, joiners, roofing contractors
- Plumbers, gas fitters
- Plasterers, painters and decorators
- Construction workers
- Fire and burglar alarm installers, shop fitters
- Computer and data installers, telecommunications engineers
- General maintenance staff, caretakers
- Architects, building surveyors
This list is not exhaustive.
- The building you are working was built pre2000
- Working on an unfamiliar site
- Asbestos materials were not identified before the job was started
- ACMs identified but information not passed on to the people doing the work
- You haven’t done a risk assessment
- You don’t know how to recognise and work safely with asbestos
- You have not had appropriate information, instruction and training
- You know how to work safely with asbestos, but you choose to ignore the risk