2Dec
Do it Yourself Tips for Asbestos
Asbestos and mesothelioma strike fear into the hearts of people. Asbestos is a very emotive subject, the slightest mention of the word sends most householders and building owners into a panic.
If you identify asbestos exposed in a building that has been damaged by fire or flood you may be at risk to criminal prosecution as an employer.
Please refer to our advice on danger and health risks and mesothelioma.
Over the last few years misinformation helped to fuel the hysteria that surrounds the use of asbestos within buildings. You are only at risk for mesothelioma if you breathe in the fibres released from asbestos that is in poor condition.
If you suspect something to be asbestos you must never drill, hammer or remove it any way shape or form. By doing this you will release fibres that you or your family will breathe in.
Home Improvement Advice for Asbestos
Over 3000 products were made which contained asbestos and although it is now illegal to use there are still many thousands of tonnes left in place within houses and commercial buildings throughout the country.
The most common forms of asbestos are Chrysotile (White), Amosite (Brown) and Crocidolite (Blue). As a whole Blue asbestos is known to be the most dangerous of these three, but the confusing part is that although they are commonly known as White, Brown and Blue Asbestos they cannot always be recognised by the colour.
Most householders think of asbestos cement corrugated sheets, used to build garages, when they think of asbestos. But any building constructed before the early 1980′s could quite easily contain asbestos materials.
There is no easy way of identifying asbestos, colour is not a guide, it doesn’t smell and it has no taste. The fibres that cause the varying types of cancer cannot be seen by the naked eye so you do not know if you have been exposed.
Asbestos was initially used as fire protection and was put within buildings where it was thought fire would spread easily. When the ban on asbestos was first talked about the price dropped and asbestos was cheaper than most other building materials. This meant that asbestos was then used in places where its fire protection qualities were not needed.
Many builders, electricians, plumbers and allied trades although familiar with asbestos are not quite sure what to do when they come across it. Recently there has been a rise in the amount of building companies being prosecuted for illegally working on asbestos.
The simple guide if you suspect you may have an asbestos problem is
1. Call a Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor. There are currently around 750 of these in the country. Check your local Yellow Pages!
2. Ask for references, any decent company will provide you with details of works similar to those you require.
3. Never disturb anything yourself, if in doubt check it out
The most frequent quote we hear is “Asbestos, don’t know what all the fuss is about, I’ve been working with the stuff for years and it’s never done me any harm”
This year alone over 4000 people will die from an asbestos related disease that’s more than will die from breast cancer and car crashes combined. It can take between 10 and 30 years before the effects of asbestos inhalation show.
Asbestos related diseases are the biggest industrial killers in the country, don’t take risks get a professional licensed contractor to provide any information you require.
Mesothelioma treatment and information are improving everyday and one day we will conquer this horrible disease.
Hints
If you think that you have found asbestos in your property do not touch it and contact a specialist company immediately.
The most common areas that you will find asbestos would be in an old garage or shed roofs and outside flues, artex – dodgy when damaged, 10 inch vinyl floor tiles, ironing boards, older fire doors and panelling behind radiators.
When a Contractor finds and disposes of asbestos you should receive a certificate to prove it has been disposed of properly.
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