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Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral of which there are three main types of fibres; chrysotile (white), amosite (brown) and crocidolite (blue).

 

Asbestos products are only dangerous when damaged or worn because they can release dust into the air. Asbestos dust is made up of tiny fibres which, if breathed in, are harmful and can cause eventual damage to the lungs even many years after the first exposure. Therefore it is important that you do not saw, drill, break, scrape or brush any asbestos products and no attempt should be made to dismantle gas or electrical appliances.

 

The level of exposure at which asbestos fibres cause ill health is not known, what is known is that the more asbestos dust a person is exposed to the greater the risk. It is therefore essential to keep the release of asbestos dust to a minimum. Remember the dust is harmful so asbestos products should always be handled carefully.

 

Asbestos is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK and is responsible for around 4000 deaths a year. There are four main diseases caused by asbestos: mesothelioma (which is always fatal), lung cancer (almost always fatal), asbestosis (not always fatal, but it can be very debilitating) and diffuse pleural thickening (not fatal).

 

Advice for Businesses

Electricians, plumbers, building maintenance workers, and shop fitters are particularly at risk and it is essential that precautionary measures are taken by both contractors and building owners to identify whether a material or structure contains asbestos before work commences. If asbestos is present or likely to be present suitable precautionary measures must be in place including in many situations the need for licensed asbestos contractors to safely remove asbestos before work commences.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 places an important legal duty on the owner/occupier of non-domestic premises to develop an asbestos management plan.

 

Detailed information on asbestos, health effects and advice about the legislation concerning asbestos in the workplace can be found on the Health and Safety Executive Website.

 

Advice for Householders

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used in a range of building materials to make them more rigid and fire resistant. It has also been used in household products like ironing boards and oven gloves.

Asbestos was used extensively as a building material in Great Britain from the 1950s through to the mid 1980s.

Some areas in your home where you may find asbestos include:

Asbestos containing materials are safe and will not harm you as long as they are intact and have not been damaged or tampered with in any way. If the asbestos has been damaged or work has been carried out on it, then asbestos dust fibres may have been released. Exposure to asbestos dust can cause lung diseases. Asbestos dust can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma and certain types of cancer for which there is no known cure.

Identification

Identification of asbestos containing products is very difficult as you can't always tell by the texture/colour of a product whether it contains asbestos. The only guaranteed method of identifying if something contains asbestos is to have it tested by a UKAS approved laboratory.   

 

Removal and disposal of asbestos

Asbestos materials must be removed and disposed of in the correct manner. Certain types of asbestos such as coatings should only be removed by a licensed contractor. However certain types of asbestos can be removed yourself such as asbestos cement sheeting often found on garage roof's. Prior to commencement of any work please contact us or follow the links below.

 

Further information

• Visit the Health and Safety Executive website for advice on Asbestos

• Visit Directgov website for further advice.

• Visit the Asbestos Information Centre website for further advice. 

Scarborough Borough Council,Town Hall, St Nicholas Street, Scarborough, North Yorkshire. YO11 2HG