Are You Worried About Asbestos In Your Essex Home?

Although completely banned in the UK since 1999, in Essex and indeed, across the UK, we continue to find asbestos in houses, warehouses and other constructions due to its prior widespread use in the building sector due to its excellent resistance and insulation.

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos boards were made with a mixture of cement and asbestos fibres. It is common to see this material in residential buildings or industrial warehouses, as it was often used in roofs, tiles, and gutters.
Although asbestos must be cautiously approached, it is not always harmful. The hazardous thing about being in contact with asbestos is the shedding of asbestos fibres, which range from two microns to one millimetre in size.

A significant factor to take into account is the useful lifespan of asbestos sheeting, which usually ranges between 30 and 35 years from the time of manufacture. Once this period has passed, the asbestos sheet deteriorates, and the fibres may become loose, which can cause lung or carcinogenic diseases in people who breathe them in.

Although the lifespan of asbestos is generally between 30 and 35 years, we must ensure that it has not deteriorated due to other external causes, such as climatic conditions, as this could shorten its useful life.

Is It Mandatory To Remove Asbestos?

The law prohibits the exploitation, production, marketing, import, export and distribution of any variety of this mineral or derived products in the UK.

The law seeks to preserve the life, health, and environment of workers and all inhabitants against the risks posed by exposure to asbestos for public, collective and individual health in any form or presentation.

If the asbestos is in good condition and there is no risk of fibres coming off, it may not be necessary to remove it, but you should only make this decision with the help of an Essex asbestos surveyor.

They may advise covering it with another material to seal the fibres and avoid risks. On the contrary, if it is in poor condition or its useful life has ended, removing the asbestos from the roof is the only option.

Is It A Good Option To Cover Asbestos With Another Material?

Many people choose to cover asbestos sheets with another type of material, which is known as sealing. This alternative should only be considered when the asbestos is in good condition and adequate supervision is constantly maintained on the condition of the asbestos.

This solution can be very useful in the short term, as it is economical and allows you to seal the asbestos. However, it is not the best long-term solution, since covering the boards will not prevent the asbestos from continuing to deteriorate over time.

Asbestos in the Workplace

Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 mandates the risk from asbestos in all workplaces to be managed. This means the location and condition of any asbestos in the premises must be identified, and the risk of any asbestos present must be managed to prevent risk to anyone working in the building or to occupants.

If you are worried about asbestos in your workplace or the suitability of any control measures, you should talk to your employer. They should be able to prove that all asbestos on the premises has been identified and an asbestos management plan is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains stable and managed so nobody will come to any harm due to its presence. If you are still concerned after speaking to your employer, speak to your company’s health and safety rep, your union rep, or report it to the local council’s health and safety department.