What is Asbestos? Everything You Need to Know About Asbestos
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous material that has been used for thousands of years. Asbestos mining is known to have existed more than 4,000 years ago when ancient Egyptians used asbestos based cloth to wrap the bodies of the Pharoahs. Romans are known to have used asbestos tablecloths which would be cleaned by throwing them into the fire. In Finland, clay pots which date back to 2500BC have been discovered containing asbestos fibres believed to have been used to strengthen the pots and make them flame resistant.
However, it was not until the late 19th century that large-scale mining of asbestos began, primarily for use in building works.
Asbestos itself is divided into two mineral groups: Serpentine and Amphibole. The Serpentine group have a sheet type or layered structure of curly fibres and contain just the one type of asbestos, Chrysotile. Amphiboles on the other hand have a chain like structure of needle like fibres and are found in all of the other asbestos types, Crocidolite, Amosite Tremolite , Actinolite and Anthophyllite. Chrysolite and amosite are the most common types of asbestos that were used.
Microscopic in nature but extremely durable and resistant to both fire and most other chemical reactions and breakdowns, asbestos was used in products such as ceiling materials, roofing tiles, floor tiles, cement compounds, textile products and automotive parts.
Banned in the United Kingdom in 1999 due to an increased incidence of lung related diseases amongst people who had worked with the substance, it is still very much present in more than 50% of buildings erected prior to the year 2000.
Dangers of Asbestos
The minute fibres that constitute asbestos can neither be seen, smelled or tasted. These fibres are released into the air when materials containing asbestos are disturbed or damaged. As exposure to asbestos causes no immediate symptoms it is extremely difficult to ascertain whether a person has been exposed. It is usually many years later that asbestos related diseases develop.
Due to the size of the fibres the bodies natural defence system is unable to rid itself of the fibres and after a period of time they cause inflammation, scarring and eventual irreversible genetic damage to the body’s tissues and cells.
Mesothelioma, Asbestosis, Pleural Thickening and asbestos related lung cancer are four of the most prevalent, serious and often fatal diseases that develop as a direct result of exposure to asbestos.
Due to the extensive use of asbestos over many decades in the industrial, commercial and domestic sectors hundreds of thousands of people, not just trades people , have been exposed to its hazards in some shape or form. In the United Kingdom alone, around 5,000 people per year die because of historical exposure to asbestos.
There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. Thankfully asbestos is now strictly regulated but the devastating consequences of past exposure are still being felt by many thousands of people.
Asbestos Removal
Most work involving the removal or remediation of asbestos can only be undertaken by a Company that has been licenced by the Health and Safety Executive. Certain other less hazardous asbestos types can be worked upon by non licensed Companies provided their operatives have been suitably trained and have the correct equipment.
Asbestos and how it is dealt with is covered by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 . This and other legislation make the asbestos industry one of the most regulated in the country.
Because of the potential hazards that can occur in not identifying and removing asbestos correctly it is advised and recommended by the Health and Safety Executive that only UKAS accredited companies are used for surveying and only licenced companies used for removal works.
Learn More with Rightway Environmental
With asbestos presenting such a minefield of issues and with its prevalence in so many buildings constructed prior to 1999, if you are in the building, construction or electrical industry, you are highly likely to come across it in one form or another during your working life.
Here at Rightway Environmental, we are able to offer a comprehensive service in all matters relating to asbestos including Surveying, Consultancy, Removal, Analysis and Training . With a combined management team experience of over 50 years in the industry Clients can have confidence that their asbestos issues will be dealt with professionally and in compliance with all current legislation.
Please visit our website to see what our clients say about the service they received from Rightway.
For an informal discussion on your requirements, please contact us today.