Introduction

In recent years the effects of failing to manage the handling of asbestos in a secure and safe manner has risen dramatically on the health and safety agenda.

Workers who over many years worked in confined spaces where asbestos fibres were present, or in the manufacture of materials or items which included asbestos as a key component have faced serious health issues. It is now widely recognised that the largest single work related cause of death is asbestos. It is for this reason, that health and safety information highlighting the dangers of incorrect handling and the need for safe management and disposal of asbestos contaminated materials is high profile.

What is asbestos?

There are generally three forms of asbestos known as brown, blue and more common white asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibre and is mined in various Countries but particularly in Russia, the largest producer, Canada and South Africa. Because of its unique resistance qualities, such as being resistant to heat, electricity and noise, it can be employed in several ways for industrial use or in building construction and also a key component for items such as brake linings and insulation.

Asbestos became widely used in the building industry in the late 19th Century. Hospitals, factories, schools and farm houses were all built with asbestos containing materials. Its qualities of being resistant to heat, flame retardant and a good insulator meant that it was widely recognised as very good construction material. Although asbestos today is rarely used in building development, many old buildings including long established hospitals, schools, farm barns and houses still contain asbestos in ceilings and walls. It was also widely used as a lagging material to wrap around steam pipes and boilers. Some household products such as early electric ovens also contained asbestos material, due to its excellent heat resistant qualities. Indeed I seem to recall the use of it in a very early electric oven at my grand parent’s house in the mid-late 1960’s. Just think of all those Shepherd Pies she used to make.

Nowadays to discover that asbestos is still present within a building, is likely to cause alarm amongst those people working in it. People living close by are also likely to be concerned and very quickly an entire local community will becomeconcerned over the dangers of having asbestos close by.

However, as long as the asbestos is well maintained and is not releasing any dust, there is no danger to health. Asbestos becomes a health hazard and is most dangerous when it is moved and if you breathe in asbestos fibres, it is this which creates the health hazard.

Asbestos is toxic and it is the dust being breathed in which can lead to serious illness such as breathing difficulties and in some cases forms of cancer, including lung cancer. From the mid-1980’s, countries within the European Union and some of the world’s other most developed countries have banned asbestos due to its high health risk concerns.A simple task such as laying roof insulation, should always be undertaken whilst wearing a protective face mask to avoid inhalation of asbestos dust and particles.Large scale projects utlising controlled non-explosive demolition require careful planning and specialist advice.

Why is Asbestos Dangerous?

The inhaling of asbestos fibres is the cause of debilitating disease. So, if you work in an environment where many thousands of asbestos-related particles exist in the air, unless you wear the appropriate face mask protection, you are putting your health at risk.

Of course, many years ago the dangers were unrecognised and whilst asbestos related disease does not affect you immediately, in later life the effects will become more apparent. Currently asbestos is responsible for approximately 4000 deaths per year and every week, it contributes to the deaths of almost 40 tradesmen, including plumbers, electricians, carpenters and joiners. These trades are particularly at risk because the tradesmen will have been employed in environments where asbestos will have been present. The updating of plumbing work in factories, hospitals, schools, houses and factories will have been a common requirement in recent years. Equally, electricians, carpenters and joiners will have been exposed to similar work in their professional fields. My father was an electrician before retiring ten years ago and over a thirty year period, rewired many factory premises, most likely working in asbestos contaminated areas

I used to work for a compressed air equipment manufacturer. The company’s main manufacturing site also included the offices, the manufacturing and assembly plant, the foundry and workshops. The whole site was constructed in the early 1900s and inevitably had used asbestos products within its construction. In the 1990s with much of the manufacturing moved overseas, it was decided to sell the site for redevelopment and the site has now been entirely demolished, ready for reconstruction. But just think how much of the construction material would have contained asbestos.

Before major demolition works could commence, a full site survey including an asbestos survey would have been required to identify and assess how to manage the removal of the asbestos material across the site. Each specific area would have required the advice of an approved asbestos management contractor and assurances of how the asbestos materials would be safely removed and disposed of. Due to the size of the site, this would have been a major task and also a costly one, but an essential requirement to ensure that all regulations relating to the management of asbestos material were adhered to.

Where is Asbestos Found?

If you visit an old building built around the 1950s, it is worth taking a look around to see where asbestos has been used and the types of products which might contain asbestos.

Asbestos cement products, such as large sheets of a corrugated material are likely to be asbestos cement sheets. It is distinguishable as a hard grey coloured material in which asbestos has been mixed with cement. It is likely that if the sheets have been used on the roof, that similar flat sheets will have been used for wall cladding.

If a wall has been given a textured coating, then many old wall coating materials contained an asbestos mix to create the texture. On the floor, floor tiles made from asbestos may also be in place. Recognised for its fire retardant qualities, an asbestos spray may also have been used to coat wooden roof beams. Asbestos sprayed on walls and ceilings will have a high content of asbestos and is known to be easily disturbed just by movement and will give off fibres. Then there will be asbestos used as a lagging material on pipes and plumbing equipment. So be vigilant when in old buildings, it is likely that asbestos will be present in some formEven at home, it is essential to employ a licensed and experienced asbestos removal contractor, to safely handle the task.

Managing and Disposing of Asbestos

Since the avoidance of using asbestos took effect, the most common method by which asbestos is now disposed is through the use of landfill sites. There are however very stringent guidelines on how asbestos should be managed and disposed of.

First you must decide how big a task the job is. If you have asbestos removal to undertake in the home then the best advice to remove asbestos safely is to employ a fully licensed asbestos removal specialist. The basic requirements for protection, including the wearing of a dust mask and a disposable overall, are not suggested as the limit of safety precautions and you will be will be much safer trusting this work to a specialist contractor. If you are removing sheets of asbestos for example from an old garage or shed, simply breaking one sheet up will release potentially harmful asbestos dust and fibres. Provided that there are no electrical cables and connections nearby, the asbestos removal specialist may treat the asbestos to be handled with water spray before commencing the removal of the material, but this kind of thing is not for the novice DIY enthusiast and should be left to an experienced specialist contractor at all times. Removed asbestos cannot simply be placed within your domestic waste for collection, it must be treated separately and either bagged or placed in a dedicated skip for safe disposal by specialists.

When the requirement for asbestos removal is much larger, the work should always be undertaken by a licensed commercial asbestos removal specialist. These specialists have received specific training and certification and will have the correct equipment to manage the task effectively, safely and in accordance with the correct regulations. Older buildings may require a dismantling process to carefully remove any asbestos and this work is likely to involve the use of scaffolding or cranes to be able to undertake this work safely. The most important point to remember is that as the customer, asbestos is on your premises. You are responsible for the removal, handling and safe disposal of the asbestos so ensure that you appoint an approved contractor.

To ensure that dedicated skips are used in the disposal of asbestos some waste management contractors operate skips of a dedicated colour and ensure that these are used only for asbestos disposal. I know of one leading UK waste management company who have a two tone yellow and red painted skip used solely for the safe transportation and disposal of asbestos. As asbestos is classed as a hazardous waste material, only landfill sites licensed to take asbestos are permitted to accept asbestos into the site.

I recall a large automotive company going into administration and thousands of brake lining pads had to be removed as part of a major site clearance project. Although they were all boxed, the fact that asbestos had been used in their manufacture meant that a specialist contractor was brought in to manage the removal and disposal of the stock.In today’s environment where recycling is a buzz word, it is very difficult and costly to recycle asbestos. A high temperature process can transform asbestos fibers into a harmless silicate glass or an industrial microwave thermal treatment process can transform asbestos waste into ceramic bricks or tiles. There is a big difference between the various dismantling and demolition techniques. Be sure that you know the difference.

Health and Safety Issues when Working with Asbestos

Before commencing any work, if it is considered that asbestos may be present, the project manager must undertake a complete project plan. No employee should be placed at risk, in an environment where asbestos is potentially located.

Through a complete site survey, it must be established if materials containing asbestos are present and the work must be planned to either avoid disturbance or the need to dismantle and remove these materials.

If the asbestos materials are to be removed, it is essential that the work should be undertaken by an [approved|licensed} asbestos contractor, who has completed the appropriate asbestos awareness and training courses and is certificated.

It is also important to note, whether the premises will need to be vacated whilst the work is to be undertaken. If people remain in or near the area where asbestos is to be removed, disturbance of the material will place anyone in the close vicinity of the project in danger. Other considerations and decisions will need to be taken as well, particularly if there is a need to work at height and identify precisely what equipment is to be required to complete the task safely.

All major projects, should be supervised throughout and inspected at various stages to ensure that the work complies with regulation and at the end of the task, and that it is safe for employees to reoccupy the premises.

Of course, throughout the project, the contract manager must ensure that arrangements have been made for the safe disposal of all asbestos waste. For those undertaking the job, vigilance will be required throughout the project to protect their own health. Face masks will be worn, as will appropriate clothing such as a disposable all in one overall. Clean as you go is a strategy employed by asbestos removal specialists as they work through the project to limit the amount of asbestos fibres spreading to other parts of the building.

Conclusion

The strict regulations which now surround the handling and management of asbestos will in nearly all cases require that any project involving the removal of asbestos materials is managed by a specialist asbestos removal contractor.

Without specialist knowledge, awareness and the correct equipment, any project involving asbestos removal brings potential health risks. Not just health concerns, but for the company and contractor, the need to ensure that the rules and regulations which govern the management of projects where asbestos is present are complied with. Also any company engaging a contractor who does not comply with the correct legislation will be responsible themselves, not the contractor.

Often referred to as the hidden killer, improved knowledge and awareness of the devastating effects that asbestos can have upon one’s health is now well documented. It is hoped that in the coming years we will begin to see a decline in asbestos related disease or illness. Unfortunately until the mid-1980s, for those who had worked in or around environments where asbestos was present, the worry of asbestos related death remains.

Whichever way you look at it, asbestos brings cause for concern if it is present in your premises, so seek the advice of a specialist asbestos removal contractor to ensure the effective and compliant management of your particular project.