What is Asbestos?
A naturally occurring fibre, asbestos was widely used in a variety of industries for many years. Asbestos comes in three common varieties:
- Crocidolite (blue)
- Amosite (brown)
- Chrysotile (white)
Crocidolite and Amosite are classed as Amphibole asbestos. Lesser-known types of Amphibole asbestos are Anthophyllite, Tremolite and Actinolite. Chrysotile is Serpentine Asbestos.
Chrysotile or Serpentine asbestos is the most common form and when observed under a microscope appears curly. Amphibole asbestos fibres are more brittle and usually exhibit a straighter, more needle-like appearance.
Any item containing asbestos is known within the industry as an Asbestos Containing Material (ACM). When intact, asbestos poses very little threat to the health of those in your building, but if damaged in any way, asbestos releases microscopic fibres that can be inhaled into your lungs. Inhaling asbestos fibres can severely damage the lungs over years, causing a variety of diseases varying from asbestosis (scarring of the lungs) to asbestos-related lung cancer (mesothelioma). Asbestos can also cause skin issues by becoming caught under the skin. The bodies’ reaction to this is to produce warts in the location of the asbestos intrusion.
As a result of the negative effects of asbestos, the government and HSE have produced many documents about the hazards and working with asbestos, the most recent and overarching of which is the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR2012). This document is made up of 35 regulations describing safe practices and guidance for the asbestos industry and all those who could come into contact with the material. Anyone who is responsible for the safe running of a commercial building or anyone who invites contractors into their property is required to by law, to be compliant with CAR2012, and one of the first steps to being compliant is to establish where asbestos is in their building. You can do this by commissioning an asbestos survey.
Importance of Asbestos Surveys & Removal Services
If you suspect asbestos may be present in your building you can commission an asbestos survey to determine if and where it may be. Following the survey, a report will be compiled detailing the type of asbestos present, its location, extent and condition. The report will also give recommendations for dealing with each incidence such as repair, encapsulation or removal. The report can subsequently be used for compiling an Asbestos Management Plan enabling duty holders to comply with their obligations under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (Reg 4 , Duty to Manage)
Here at Rightway Environmental, we specialise in asbestos removal and consultancy. We are licensed by the Health and Safety Executive to carry out the safe removal of asbestos materials and our highly trained, customer focus team work in close cooperation with clients to ensure each project is delivered on time. Contact a member of our friendly team today for more information.