We often get asked how many different kinds of asbestos there are and if they are all dangerous. The short answer is that they all have the potential to be dangerous i.e. hazardous to human health. Some are more hazardous than others, but all should be taken seriously as health and safety risks.
So, we put together a brief guide to the different types of asbestos.
With two Health and Safety qualified consultants who have overseen major safety-critical projects, including asbestos removal, building refurbishment, and demolition, Environmental Inspection is widening its project management service.
Having managed projects on a scale of up to the late hundreds of thousands of pounds, Environmental Inspection is well placed to oversee projects that comprise both scale and complexity.
Tradespeople are on the front line when it comes to managing the asbestos risk. Asbestos in all its forms can be hazardous to human health. It can cause a very unpleasant illness and lead to early death.
In our experience, alert tradespeople are often the last line of defence – calling us in at the last moment to avert the catastrophe of damaging asbestos during building work.
Any business that owns or manages property built before 1999 will have some asbestos responsibilities. These will vary depending on what is known about the building and the circumstances. For example, if any refurbishment or demolition is planned, there are some immediate responsibilities.
Of course, if there is known asbestos then this has to be managed, but not knowing about it is no excuse. The responsibility to prevent people from exposure to it is paramount.
We are often asked which aspects of Legionella risk management are best practice for businesses and landlords and what is required by legislation.
There is an ever-present risk of Legionella in any water system. But, it can be managed with sensible Health & Safety measures and by following the available guidance.
Something that our customers occasionally mention to us is the idea that they could take their own asbestos samples using test kits that you can buy online.
We wrote this blog to share our experience and advice on whether or not this is a good idea.
There are a number of different ways to remove asbestos. If you have been told that your property contains asbestos, this can be a stressful time. Let us guide you through the decisions that you should be making.
There is very little that we haven’t seen when it comes to asbestos. So, firstly, we would suggest speaking to a competent professional (we can be your starting point) and being open about the issues. If you require a more in-depth asbestos survey to make sure there are no other hidden asbestos materials and the extent of asbestos material has been identified, then now is the time to talk about it.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 is the legislation that sets out what kind of asbestos survey you need in particular circumstances. It is important that if you ever need an asbestos survey, you get the right one. Having the wrong kind of asbestos survey can be as bad as not having one at all from a legal, compliance, and risk point of view. But, this does not have to be a challenge, since a conversation with a qualified, competent professional can set you on the right path.
Anybody who owns or manages properties that might contain asbestos (i.e. any that were built before 1999) has duties under the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR), 2012. These responsibilities include the protection of tenants, contractors, employees, and the public.
This is a question that we are regularly asked by confused property developers, builders, tradespeople, and new business owners: ‘Am I exempt from asbestos regulations because … I am developing / renovating a property (built pre-1999) for sale or rent? Or when opening a business in an existing property? Or working in someone’s home?’
Well, the answer is a straightforward one.