Got Questions About Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. It was widely used in the UK between the 1950s and mid-1980s for its excellent insulation, fire resistance, and durability properties. It's categorized into three main types: Chrysotile (white asbestos), Amosite (brown asbestos), and Crocidolite (blue asbestos). Asbestos becomes a health risk when its fibres are released into the air and breathed in.

Read more in our Article: What is Asbestos, what are the main types and where does it come from?

Asbestos fibres are extremely tiny and can easily be inhaled into the lungs when disturbed. Over time, these fibres can cause inflammation and scarring, leading to serious diseases like asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer that primarily affects the lining of the lungs). These diseases often develop many years after exposure to asbestos.

Read more in our article: Uncovering the Hidden Dangers: The Devastating Asbestos Health Effects You Need to Know

Asbestos was used extensively in building materials, so it can be found in numerous places. Common locations include cement roof sheets and panels, insulation for boilers and pipes, sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls and beams, floor tiles, textured decorative coatings like Artex, guttering, and downpipes. It's generally safe unless it is disturbed or in poor condition, which might release fibres into the air.

Read more in our article: The Hidden Danger: Where Can Asbestos be Found in Buildings?

Asbestos can't be identified by sight alone. If you suspect that a material contains asbestos, the safest approach is to treat it as though it does until confirmed otherwise by a professional. You should never attempt to sample suspected asbestos-containing materials yourself. Instead, hire a professional asbestos consultant such as Consulo Compliance who can take samples in a safe manner and send them to an accredited lab for testing.

Read m ore in our article: What Does Asbestos Look Like? A Comprehensive Guide to Identifying This Dangerous Material

Exposure to asbestos fibres can cause several serious and often fatal diseases. These include:

• Asbestosis: A chronic lung disease that causes scarring of lung tissue, leading to long-term breathing complications.
• Mesothelioma: A rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract.
• Asbestos-related lung cancer: Similar to lung cancer caused by smoking and other causes.
• Pleural plaques and Pleural thickening: Thickening and swelling of the lung lining.

Asbestos-related diseases usually don't show symptoms until several years, or even decades after exposure.

Read more in our article: Unveiling the Mystery: What Is Asbestos and How Can It Affect Your Health?

The risk of asbestos exposure is higher for people who disturb the fabric of buildings during their work, especially in structures built before 2000. This includes professions like construction workers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators, and heating engineers. 

However, anyone who lives or works in a building containing asbestos and where it's in a deteriorated condition, or disturbed, can be at risk.

When asbestos fibres are inhaled, they can penetrate the outer lining of the lung and chest wall, the pleura. These fibres can irritate the cells in the pleura and eventually cause genetic mutations that lead to the development of mesothelioma, a form of cancer. The process between initial exposure to asbestos and the onset of mesothelioma is slow, often taking several decades.

In the UK, the use of asbestos is now banned, but it is still present in many older buildings. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 is the key piece of legislation related to asbestos management. It requires duty holders (those responsible for maintaining the fabric of a building) to identify and manage any asbestos in buildings. If asbestos might be present, a risk assessment should be conducted before any work is done. Asbestos must be managed and removed by qualified professionals such as Consulo Compliance.

Check our our  Ultimate Guide to Complying with The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012

Alternatively we have sector specific guides for the following:

Listed Buildings

Gym Owners

Healthcare

Publicans

Hotelliers & Bed & Breakfast Owners

Garden Centres

Farming & Agriculture

Nurseries

Dental Practices

Veterinary Practices

Schools & Educational Establishments

Garages

Shops & Retail

Restaurants

Offices

Landlords

Domestic Homes

If you suspect there's asbestos in your home, avoid disturbing it. Don't drill, saw, scrub, or sand anything you think may contain asbestos. If it's in good condition, it's often safer to leave it where it is. But, if it's deteriorating or you're planning renovations, you should hire a professional consultancy such as Consulo Compliance for guidance. Only contractors licensed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can work on high-risk materials like sprayed coatings, insulation, or asbestos lagging.

Safe removal of asbestos should always be conducted by trained and licensed professionals. They'll seal off the affected area to prevent cross-contamination, use specific tools to minimise dust, and wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Waste should be double-bagged and sealed, then taken to a licensed disposal site. DIY removal isn't recommended due to the serious health risks if it's not handled correctly.

Asbestos is hazardous and has the potential to cause harm whenever it's inhaled. While the UK government has set a permissible exposure limit of 0.1 fibres per cubic centimetre of air, this shouldn't be interpreted as a safe level. 

Any exposure to asbestos carries a risk of causing diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. The risk is dose-dependent, meaning it increases with the amount and duration of exposure, however for mesothelioma, it isn't dose related meaning even a small one off exposure could result in developing the disease.

Yes, there are many professionals in the UK trained and licensed for asbestos removal. These professionals are regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which ensures they meet stringent requirements for safety and competence. It's always recommended to use a licensed contractor for asbestos removal to ensure the job is done safely and legally.

Although the 'professionals' are licensed, as with most things, there are different levels of competence and professionalism. At Consulo Compliance, we regularly audit our licensed contractors to ensure they meet our high expectations and keep our clients safe.

Yes, a license from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is required to work with high-risk asbestos-containing materials in the UK. This includes work on asbestos insulation, asbestos coating, and asbestos insulating boards. 

However, some lower-risk work, such as removing cement sheets, can be performed by trained non-licensed workers, but it's still essential to follow safety guidelines.

At Consulo Compliance, we always reccoment the use of licensed contractors for any asbestos removal regardless of the percieved risk because we know the control measures employed to protect both the workers involved and our clients will be effective.

Asbestos should only be handled by professionals. They should wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including a mask that filters out asbestos fibres, gloves, and disposable overalls. Work areas should be fully sealed off to prevent the spread of dust and fibres, and high-efficiency vacuum cleaners should be used for clean-up. Waste containing asbestos MUST be properly sealed, transported and disposed of at licensed facilities.

An asbestos survey is an inspection conducted in a building to identify and assess the presence and condition of any asbestos-containing materials. It's typically required when a building is being sold, renovated, or demolished. The survey helps in the creation of an asbestos management plan by outlining the location, type, and condition of asbestos in the property. It's essential for ensuring that asbestos is managed correctly and that anyone working on the building is made aware of its presence.

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 in the UK, the duty holder, who is often the landlord or property manager, is responsible for managing asbestos in non-domestic properties. For domestic properties, the landlord is usually responsible for common areas like entrance halls. Landlords must maintain an up-to-date record of the location and condition of asbestos materials or presumed asbestos materials, conduct risk assessments, and create a management plan.

Asbestos is classified as hazardous waste and cannot be disposed of in your regularwaste bin or at the local tip. It must be disposed of at a licensed waste disposal site. 

Some local councils provide special facilities where homeowners can dispose of small quantities of asbestos waste, but it must be double-bagged and sealed. Always contact your local council or waste facility to check their policy.

There are six types of asbestos minerals, grouped into two main categories: Serpentine and Amphibole. Chrysotile, or white asbestos, is the only type in the Serpentine group and was the most commonly used. The Amphibole group includes Amosite (brown asbestos), Crocidolite (blue asbestos), and the less commonly used Actinolite, Tremolite, and Anthophyllite. Each type has different properties, but all are hazardous to health.

Diseases caused by asbestos exposure, such as asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma, typically have a long latency period. Symptoms may not appear until 10 to 50 years, or even longer, after exposure. This is why many cases are being diagnosed now, even though the peak use of asbestos in the UK was in the mid-20th century.

Yes, you can sell a property that contains asbestos. However, you must disclose the presence of asbestos to potential buyers. Asbestos doesn't necessarily devalue a property, but it can deter some buyers due to the potential costs and risks of removal. It's often advisable to commission an asbestos survey prior to selling so you can provide potential buyers with accurate information.

No, it's not legal or safe to reuse or recycle asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos waste is considered hazardous and should be handled with extreme care to prevent the release of harmful fibres. Disposal should only be done at licensed waste disposal sites, and transportation of asbestos waste should follow strict regulations to avoid contamination.

The cost of asbestos removal in the UK can vary widely, depending on factors like the type of asbestos, the size of the area, and the complexity of the work. As a rough estimate, a homeowner could expect to pay between £50 and £100 per square metre or linear metre for professional asbestos removal. Larger or more complicated jobs could cost more. This does not include the cost of an asbestos survey or air monitoring, which are often required.

An Asbestos Management Plan is a legal requirement for all non-domestic properties in the UK built before 2000, where asbestos is present. It sets out how risks from asbestos will be managed and includes information about the location, condition, and management of asbestos-containing materials. The plan should be continually updated and available to anyone who is likely to work on or disturb the asbestos.

Asbestos abatement refers to the procedures used to control fibre release from asbestos-containing materials in a building or soil in a remediation project. This could involve removal, encapsulation, repair, enclosure, encasement, and maintenance of asbestos-containing materials. Abatement work must be performed by licensed professionals and must follow specific safety procedures to protect workers and the public.

Employers have legal obligations to protect employees from exposure to asbestos. They must conduct risk assessments where asbestos could be present, provide information and training to workers, and ensure work is carried out in a safe manner. They must also provide personal protective equipment, conduct health surveillance where there is a significant risk to health, and have plans in place in case asbestos is accidentally disturbed.

If you accidentally disturb asbestos, stop work immediately and leave the area without causing further disturbance. Avoid breathing in dust and don't try to clean up without appropriate equipment. Restrict access to the area and contact a professional such as Consulo Comliance to properly assess the situation. They can test the material and air quality and advise on the appropriate steps for clean-up and remediation.

Asbestos was banned in the UK because of its link to a range of serious health conditions, including lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, tiny fibres can be released into the air. If these fibres are inhaled, they can damage the lungs and lead to disease. The health risks associated with asbestos are significant and were deemed unacceptable, leading to its ban.

Licensed work with asbestos is work that must be done by a contractor licensed by HSE because of the high level of risk. It typically involves high-risk materials like sprayed coatings, lagging, and asbestos insulation. Notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW) is work that needs to be notified to relevant authorities, must have medical surveillance but doesn't require a license. Non-licensed work is low risk, typically involving materials in good condition, and doesn't need to be notified. However, workers must still be trained, and precautions must still be taken.

It is not possible to tell if a material contains asbestos just by looking at it. Asbestos was mixed into a variety of products, and it does not have identifiable characteristics visible to the naked eye. If you suspect that a material contains asbestos, it should be treated as though it does until it is tested by a professional consultant such as Consulo Compliance. Sampling should only be done by trained professionals to prevent the release of asbestos fibres.

During asbestos removal, the area is typically sealed off to prevent the spread of fibres. Licensed professionals wearing appropriate protective equipment will wet the asbestos-containing materials to minimise dust, then carefully remove it without breaking it apart. The material is then placed in sealed, labelled containers for disposal. After removal, the area is thoroughly cleaned, often including air filtration, and clearance testing is done to ensure all asbestos has been removed.