ASBESTOS
Why is Asbestos dangerous?
According to the Health and Safety Executive* around 5,000 workers each year are still being killed by Asbestos. Around 20 tradesmen die each week as a result of past exposure.
Asbestos is not a problem of the past! It can be present today in any building built or refurbished before the year 2000.
When materials that contain Asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases. These diseases will not affect you immediately; they often take a long time to develop, but once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything. Therefore, it is important that you protect yourself now.
Asbestos can cause the following fatal and serious diseases:
Mesothelioma
Asbestos-related Lung Cancer
Asbestosis
Pleural Thickening
Asbestos – Where can you find Asbestos?
Asbestos can potentially be found today in any industrial or residential building built or refurbished before the year 2000. It is in many of the common materials used in the building trade.
Some examples within Industrial buildings [Inside]:
Sprayed coatings on ceilings, calls, beams and columns
Asbestos cement water tank
Asbestos loose fill insulation
Asbestos Insulating Board ceiling tiles
Asbestos rope seals, gaskets and paper
Vinyl floor titles
Lagging on boilers and pipes
Asbestos Insulating Board Partition walls
Asbestos Insulating Board around boilers
Textiles e.g. fire blankets
Toilet seat and cistern
Asbestos Insulating Board panels in fire doors
Some examples within Industrial buildings [Outside]:
Asbestos cement roof
Asbestos cement gutters and downpipes
Asbestos cement panels
Soffits – Asbestos Insulating Board or Asbestos cement
Asbestos cement flue
Some examples within Residential properties [Inside]:
Asbestos cement water tank
Textured decorative coating e.g. artex
Asbestos Insulating Board behind fire
Asbestos Insulating Board partition wall
Vinyl floor tiles
Pipe lagging
Asbestos Insulating Board ceiling tiles
Asbestos Insulating Board behind fuse box
Asbestos Insulating Board interior window panel
Toilet seat and cistern
Loose Fill insulation
Asbestos Insulating Board bath panel
Asbestos Insulating Board airing cupboard and boiler insulation
Asbestos Insulating Board around boiler
Some examples within Residential properties [Outside]:
Gutters and Asbestos cement downpipes
Asbestos cement roof
Soffits – Asbestos Insulating Board or Asbestos cement
Asbestos cement panels
Asbestos Insulating Board exterior window panel
Roofing felt
*This page contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive and licensed under the Open Government Licence.
Additional information and guidance can be found on the Health and Safety Executive’s website – www.hse.gov.uk