Pollution control - asbestos

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate that was used as a building material during the 60s, 70s and 80s because of its chemical and heat resistant properties. Its use since the mid 90s has decreased dramatically as the dangers associated with asbestos became known and its use was restricted.

What types of asbestos are there?

There are three types of asbestos:

White Asbestos (chrysotile) – used most commonly in domestic appliances and buildings
Brown Asbestos (amosite) – used most commonly in thermal insulation, sprayed applications, and insulation boards
Blue Asbestos (crocidolite) – used most commonly for insulation laggings and sprayed coatings

You may not be able to identify which type of asbestos it is by colour as it is often incorporated into another product.

What are the health risks associated with asbestos?

The risks associated with the use of asbestos are concentrated around the respiratory system. This is because the greatest risk comes from the inhalation of asbestos fibres.

There are three main health conditions associated with asbestos fibre inhalation, asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Asbestosis – This is the permanent scarring of lung tissue, and is usually associated with frequent exposure to high levels of asbestos dust over a period of up to 10 years.

Lung Cancer – Some people who get asbestosis may also develop lung cancer, but there are other factors which will also increase this risk, such as smoking.

Mesothelioma – This is a type of cancer that is most commonly the result of exposure to blue asbestos, and takes 15 to 60 years to develop to a point where diagnosis is possible.

It is important to remember that because of the prolonged exposure period, illness as a result of asbestos may not develop until decades after the initial exposure.

Where is asbestos found?

Asbestos can be found in many forms and in many places. Below are some common examples:

Roof and wall claddings
Roof slates, linings, tiles and felts
Flue-pipes, gutters, rainwater, downpipes, airbricks
Pipe lagging
Thermoplastics and vinyl floor tiles
Textured paints and spray coatings
Storage and catalytic heaters
Insulation of heating systems
Internal partitions, wall boards, airing-cupboard linings and shelving, and ducts

Asbestos is only identifiable by those who know what they are looking for, as it looks like any other building material or substance.

What if I find asbestos in the home?

If you suspect that you have asbestos in your home, then you may need to have it assessed as to whether or not it is asbestos, and to see what condition it is in.

If it is intact, in good condition, and not damaged or likely to be disturbed, then it is best left alone. Do not drill, saw, scrub it or disturb it in any way. Check it on a regular basis for signs of damage.

If it is damaged and to be disturbed, then it is best to get rid of it of it (see How can I dispose of asbestos?).

What if I find asbestos in the workplace?

The control of Asbestos in the Workplace Regulations 2002 place duties on places of work to:

Identify asbestos (where it is, how much there is, and what condition it is in)
Assess the risk from the asbestos (what are the risks, and to whom)
Prepare a plan that sets out how the asbestos is going to be managed
Implement the plan
Review and monitor the plan, and the arrangements put in place to implement the plan
Provide information on the location and condition of the asbestos to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb it

For more information, contact the Health and Safety Executive.

How do I dispose of asbestos?

If dealing with large quantities of asbestos, or asbestos which will be difficult to remove, it is best to employ the services of a contractor, as they will have the expertise and the equipment to carry out large scale and difficult jobs. This is important, as the removal of large quantities of asbestos requires additional measures to control the risk.

To dispose of small quantities of asbestos safely, there are measures you can put in place to minimise exposure and reduce the risk.

These are as follows:

Remove everyone from the area who do not need to be there
Wear a respirator and full body protective clothing
Lay down a plastic sheet
Damp down the asbestos product using a water spray
Do not drill, sand or saw the asbestos
Carefully remove the asbestos, put in a heavy duty bag and seal the bag
Put the smaller bag into a larger heavy duty bag and seal the larger bag
Label the outer bag as ‘ASBESTOS’
Hoover the plastic sheet using an industrial vacuum cleaner that complies with BS 5415 (type ‘H’)
Remove clothing and put straight in the wash
Have a bath or shower
Take bag to landfill tip that is licensed to take asbestos

Where you are looking to dispose of small items made from asbestos, there are simpler measures that can be taken to minimise exposure and reduce the risk:

Damp down the item using a water spray
Put the item in a bag, seal the bag and clearly label it ‘ASBESTOS’
Take the bag to Longshot Lane Civic Amenity Site and ask the site foreman where to put asbestos
Do not vacuum any debris, use a damp cloth to wipe it up, put the damp cloth in a bag, seal and label and dispose of this debris with the asbestos