Asbestos

Did you know that over 4000 people a year die from asbestos related diseases?

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Did you know that every week, 20 tradesmen die from asbestos related diseases? Scary isn’t it? This is why it is so important that you know what you are working with at all times. Here are some key points you may find useful:

• Most buildings pre 2000 are likely to contain some form of asbestos

What is asbestos and what does it look like?

Asbestos is the collective name given to a group of fibrous minerals which are flexible , mechanically strong, and resistant to stretching , heat and chemicals.

There are 3 main types of asbestos:

0. White (chrysotile)
0. Brown (amosite)
0. Blue (crocidolite)

 

Though they cannot reliably be identified by their colour alone; blue and brown asbestos are recognised as being the most hazardous types. The UK stopped importing blue asbestos in 1972 and brown asbestos in 1980. In exceptional specialist industries white asbestos is now the only type of asbestos that can be supplied and used within the countries of the European Union and its use in most products and processes is banned.

It is found in many products;

• Sprayed Coating– Found as a fire protection on structural supports such as beams / joists and columns. It generates very high fibre levels if disturbed.

• Pipe Insulations– Asbestos thermal pipe lagging is a high hazard asbestos product.

• Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB) Ceiling and Door Panels– AIB generates extremely high fibre levels if cut or drilled.
• AIB Window Panels- AIB generates extremely high fibre levels if cut or drilled; if it is in good condition, leave it well alone!
• Floor Tiles– Vinyl (PVC) or thermoplastic tiles contain asbestos.

• Asbestos Cement Roof Sheeting– Found on industrial building roofs and walls.

 

• Textured Decorative Coating (Artex)– These only contain small amounts of asbestos and the fibres are usually well bonded and so not easily released, however, you still need to work safely with this product.

Where can I find asbestos fibres?

• Loft water tanks– usually made from asbestos cement and can be found in older houses (pre 1980)
• House Insulation– Loose asbestos can be found in wall, floor and loft cavities as a form of insulation
• Roof gutters and rain water down pipes- Can be made from asbestos cement
• Toilet Cisterns– Can contain asbestos-reinforced resin composite materials
• Heater cupboard– Surrounding domestic boilers can contain asbestos insulating board
• Floor Tiles– Vinyl and thermoplastic floor tiles can contain asbestos and the backing can contain asbestos paper
• Fuse Boxes– Each fuse wire has an individual asbestos flash guard, the panel behind the fuse box can be asbestos
• Artex– Used for ceilings and sometimes walls can contain asbestos fibres
• External/Internal wall cladding– asbestos can be found in this cladding particularly around windows

Sprayed coatings, lagging and insulating board are more likely to contain blue or brown asbestos. Asbestos insulation and lagging can contain up to 85% asbestos and is the material most likely to give off dust, though careless work with asbestos insulating board can result in equally high fibre release. On the other hand asbestos cement contains only 10%-15% asbestos. The asbestos is tightly bound into the cement and the material will only give off dust if it is damaged or broken. Asbestos can kill. Below are the 4 main diseases that asbestos fibres can cause:

0. Mesothelioma– A cancer affecting the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the surrounding lining of the lower digestive tract (peritoneum). By the time this is diagnosed it is nearly always fatal.
0. Asbestos Related Lung Caner– This is the same and looks the same as lung cancer caused from smoking and other causes. The estimation is that for every Mesothelioma there is around one lung cancer.
0. Asbestosis– A scarring condition of the lung, normally occurring after heavy exposure to asbestos over a number of years. Making it difficult to absorb Oxygen, it can cause unpleasant shortness of breath and in severe cases it can be fatal.
0. Pleural thickening– Generally a condition that occurs after heavy exposure to asbestos, causing the lining of the lung (pleura) to thicken and swell. Sometimes resulting in the lung being squeezed, causing shortness of breath and discomfort to the chest.

• Are fully trained to work with asbestos and that you have the right equipment.
• Are sure what is and is not asbestos, STOP and seek advice if you aren't.
• Minimise dust while you work and use hand tools instead of power tools.
• Keep materials damp, but not too wet.
• Wear a properly fitted, suitable respirator (eg FFP3 type).
• Don't smoke, eat or drink in the work area.
• Clean up as you go using a special vacuum cleaner (class H), not a brush.
• Double bag and label asbestos then dispose of it at an appropriate waste site.
• Don't carry asbestos into your car or home. Wear suitable disposable overalls (Type 5) and boots without laces.
• Don't take overalls home to wash; they should be disposable and bagged in special asbestos waste bags after use.
• Decontaminate yourself after finishing work, wipe down your overalls with a damp rag and remove them before removing your mask.

Records of asbestos found

As part of the system for managing asbestos materials in buildings, records of any asbestos materials found should be kept. This should be in the form of a register.

Heads of Service should ensure that records of asbestos found in their Council owned and occupied buildings are maintained. These records should include the following information:

0. The location of asbestos
0. The form of asbestos (lagging, ceiling tiles etc)
0. Where possible, the type of asbestos (blue, brown, white)
0. Date it was last examined/surveyed
0. The condition of the asbestos

The HSE are currently running a high profile campaign on asbestos as it is an epidemic in this country at the moment, if you require more information about asbestos, please visit the HSE’s website at;

http://hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/resources.htm