Asbestos - Mineral and Fibres
Asbestos is a family of naturally occurring minerals. The three most
common types are:
Asbestos can be worked to produce insulation materials which have excellent properties in respect of fire resistance etc.. However, when worked into many of these materials, there is the potential to release fibres of a kind which are not normally present in nature.
Asbestos containing materials may have microscopic asbestos fibres that may be released into the air. Once airborne they can become inhaled into the lungs. An asbestos fibre is typically 2000 times thinner than a human hair. These fibres bypass the lungs' defence system and get deep into the lung, where serious damage is done. There is no "safe level" of exposure. All of types are potentially dangerous, but blue and brown asbestos are significantly more hazardous than white. You cannot identify them just by their colour.
The range of products containing asbestos is so wide, it can be found in
factories, offices, shops, schools, hospitals, construction sites and houses.
Asbestos is sometimes found in products such as insulation boards, fire
proofing panels, floor and ceiling tiles, fire blankets, protective clothing,
brake and clutch linings, oven gloves, ironing boards, lagging for boilers
and pipes, sprayed coatings, joints/packing/gaskets, fillers and
reinforcements.
Although it is now illegal to use asbestos in the construction or refurbishment of any premises, many thousands of tonnes of it were used in the past and much of it is still in place. As long as it is in good condition and is not being or going to be disturbed or damaged there is no risk. But if it is disturbed or damaged, it can become a danger to health, because asbestos fibres are released into the air and people can breathe them in.
Asbestos is a risk only if asbestos fibres are released into the air and
breathed in. Breathing in air containing asbestos fibres can lead to
asbestos-related diseases, mainly cancers of the lungs and chest lining.
There is no cure for such diseases.
There is usually a long delay between first exposure to asbestos and the
onset of disease. This can vary from 15 - 60 years. Only by preventing or
minimising these exposures now will asbestos-related disease eventually be
wiped out.
Anyone who uses your premises, who disturbs asbestos that has deteriorated
or been damaged and is relesing fibres, can be at risk. In fact, anyone whose
work involves drilling, sawing or cutting into the fabric of premises could
potentially be at risk. They may all breathe in asbestos fibres during their
day to day work. It is now thought possible that repeated low exposures, such
as those which would occur during routine repair work, may also lead to
cancers.
The scientific evidence on exactly what exposures cause disease is unclear.
But we do know the more asbestos fibres breathed in, the greater the risk to
health. That's why it is important that asbestos-containing materials are
identified and that everyone who works with them should take appropriate
precautions.
Workers at risk from exposure to asbestos are - construction workers, engineers, car production workers, boiler maintenance workers, joiners, plumbers, electricians, roofers, painters, railway workers etc.
Certain types of asbestos containing materials can be maintained in place by treating the material with purpose made asbestos encapsulated coating, similar to a latex paint, which is effective for approximately five years if undamaged, after which a further coating may be applied. Note that asbestos containing materials in this state should be inspected at regular intervals for damage in accordance with current Health and Safety Regulations.
If you are an employer, you already have a legal duty to prevent the
exposure of your employees to asbestos, or if this is not possible to reduce
it to the lowest possible level.
Employers and persons responsible for facilities management also have a duty
of ensuring the health and safety of all visitors to their premises.
If you have any doubts about any of the material in your premises, you
presume it contains asbestos and you should commission a survey without
hesitation.
Any asbestos remediation works should be carried out by a Health and Safety Executive Licensed Contractor. ARCA is a source of appropriate contractors.
The asbestos removal contractor will explain this to you. Full precautions will be taken to ensure that no asbestos fibres are released during the remediation. For example this may include the temporary construction of a special sealed enclosure around the affected area. The contractor will normally be able to work with you to ensure that your normal business operation suffers minimal disruption.
Once removed the asbestos waste is double bagged in bags of an appropriate standard and transported to a registered site. Full records are maintained by the asbestos removal contractor. Registration and controls are closely monitored by the Health and Safety Executive.
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