Asbestos info

[kaharrison9]

Evening All
Just been looking through the Professional Builder magazine and there's a piece saying asbestos is the single biggest cause of work related deaths in the UK with 4,000 deaths a year and the Health and Safety Executive expect it to keep rising.
They mention that any house constructed or refurbished before 2000 could contain asbestos.
Could anyone with experience or knowledge of asbestos when ripping out,prepping,drilling,floors,walls,products,any scenario of possibly coming in contact,etc or identifying any risks please pass on as would be very interested.
cheers
Kev

 

[Alan.P]

Any works carried out on a commercial or industrial site should have been checked and an asbestos register should be at hand on site. This will identify all and any areas affected, isolation and removal works if applicable ( from memory )

If your on a domestic job and you suspect a material as having asbestos then there are numbers you can ring, local council would be the first, you can NOT tell by sight if a material contains asbestos, asbestos in a material is not a danger unless disturbed, broken, drilled or other.

If in doubt ASK, better safe than sorry.

 

[kaharrison9]

Thanks Alan
Can you give any examples of where it may be contained.
Like is it in certain plasters or insulation?
If it cannot be seen to be identified what would arise your suspicions
Cheers

 

[Alan.P]

To be honest, I'm no expert, I'm only going by what I remember from my asbestos awareness 'course' I do know / remember that it is to be found in many building materials, as well as insulations, floor tiles etc. Was there something specific that's bothering you ?

 

[kaharrison9]

Nothing in particular more general
Like if it's in floor tiles,is it safe to rip them up creating the dust and cracking the tiles.
Trying to build a sensible picture of the possible dangers when day to day tiling.
Cheers again

 

[Alan.P]

Nothing in particular more general
Like if it's in floor tiles,is it safe to rip them up creating the dust and cracking the tiles.
Trying to build a sensible picture of the possible dangers when day to day tiling.
Cheers again

Absolutely not, if asbestos is suspected then you must inform the local authorities they will then have to do tests and all work must cease untill the outcome is known.

 

[kaharrison9]

Have just been looking at the goverment HSE web page on asbestos.
Don't know how to put a link on this thread but well worth a look.
It mentions vinyl tiles,artex,boiler casing and some other areas to bear in mind when tiling.
I can imaging not everybody is aware of it presence

 

[Alan.P]

Have just been looking at the goverment HSE web page on asbestos.
Don't know how to put a link on this thread but well worth a look.
It mentions vinyl tiles,artex,boiler casing and some other areas to bear in mind when tiling.
I can imaging not everybody is aware of it presence

Here's the link


Don't forget, it's only dangerous if disturbed, left alone it is no threat, and yes, it is, was found in all sorts, night storage heaters, boiler seals, gaskets, all manner of things.

If in doubt, call, there's a national helpline, for advice HERE

 

[kaharrison9]

Thanks for posting the link

 

[Alan.P]

Your welcome.