7 Common Asbestos Question’s Answered –

7 Common Asbestos Questions Answered

1. Why is Asbestos Harmful to Health?

Asbestos becomes harmful to health when asbestos fibres enter the lungs or digestive system (most commonly by breathing them in). These tiny micro fibres become stuck inside the body and can subsequently cause a number of serious health issues.

The body simply can’t break down and remove these tiny micro fibres due to the extreme durability and inherent structure of asbestos. This can lead to diseases such as lung cancer and Mesothelioma.

The length of exposure and the type of contact someone has with asbestos will influence the likelihood of suffering from a potential asbestos related illness. The most serious health issues tend to stem from long-term exposure to asbestos.

2. Is Asbestos OK if undisturbed?

According to the Health and Safety Executive if asbestos is left undisturbed it is not considered dangerous to human health. If a material containing asbestos gets damaged however this can cause  asbestos fibres to become airborne and respirable and this then becomes dangerous to health.

This means having knowledge of asbestos and asbestos management is important for anyone looking to do any refurbishment or demolition work to a building as this could indirectly cause previously undisturbed materials to become hazardous.

If asbestos containing material does get damaged it is important to prevent exposure to personnel in the area and to isolate the area immediately. An asbestos expert should be contacted as soon as possible to ensure the area is isolated and made safe prior to evaluating the extent of the damage and what remedial works is required to return the area to a safe and habitable condition.  The commissioning of an asbestos survey by an accredited organisation would be the first step in getting the situation under control.

3. Can I Remove Asbestos Myself?

Asbestos is the most highly regulated industry in the UK which is only superseded by the Nuclear industry and explosive manufacturing. In the UK, there are dedicated laws and regulations surrounding asbestos usage and removal. These regulations have been put in place due to the hazardous nature of the material and the fact that up to 5000 people die annually in the UK. from historical exposure to asbestos .

The Health and Safety Executive give a lot of advice on their website relating to asbestos removal and the required steps that need to be taken to remain compliant with the law.

Depending on the type of asbestos present it may only be removed by contractors licensed to do so by the HSE. In some instances however certain types of asbestos which are less hazardous due to their nature and manner in which they have been manufactured may be removed by a non licenced contractor. Employees of companies undertaking this work however have to have received suitable training and be in possession of suitable respiratory and personal protective equipment which has been tested.

The best course of action is to contact a company like Rightway Environmental and have a survey to understand the extent of the asbestos. Untrained removal could be very dangerous, so it simply isn’t worth the risk (nor the legal ramifications if the work is not undertaken in compliance with legislation).

4. How Long Does Asbestos Removal Take?

Each asbestos removal job will vary from case to case. This can range from a few days to several  months if it is a particularly big job. Rightway will provide clients with timescales and a detailed programme of works to manage the whole process in a safe and efficient manner. Clients then fully understand when they have to vacate an area and when it can be safely reoccupied.

Asbestos removal for private homeowners is also likely to vary from that of public or large industrial buildings. For businesses, there might need to be strategic forward planning to ensure the business can operate in another location during any removal. All these various scenarios can be discussed during the planning phase of the works.

All Asbestos Removal Contractors are legally obliged to provide The Health and Safety Executive with 14 days notice prior to undertaking the removal of licensed asbestos materials such as insulation, asbestos insulating board and sprayed coatings.

5. How Much Does Asbestos Removal Cost?

The cost of asbestos removal will vary considerably depending on the nature and extent of the asbestos containing material involved. Small amounts that are easy to access could be removed quickly and at lower costs.  Projects that involve large scale removal and materials that are difficult to remove would be likely to cost a lot more.

Some projects may only require two operatives while others could require a whole team of asbestos removal operatives.

For quotes and a guide on asbestos cost simply get in touch with us here at Rightway Environmental and we will provide you with a competitive quotation.

6. Where is Asbestos Found?

Asbestos may be found in a wide range of materials and products within a building. Some common areas include; ceiling and floor tiles, insulation, textured coatings such as Artex, boxing, partition walls, textiles such as fire blankets, garage walls and roofs, gutters, roofing felt and external structures.

The above list is not exhaustive as asbestos was used so extensively in the past.

7. Is Asbestos Banned in UK?

Asbestos was banned from use in 1999 in the UK. Initially, blue and brown asbestos were banned in 1985, but 1999 saw white asbestos added to the list.

This means no buildings constructed after 1999 should have asbestos in them but also highlights the fact that any building constructed before this time could very well contain asbestos in some form.