News: Asbestos – if in doubt, check it out this autumn
With typical autumn maintenance and upgrade jobs getting underway, tradespeople and building managers are being urged to think about asbestos before organising and starting work.
It’s a popular time of year for boiler services and replacements, new radiators and jobs that keep the draughts and cold out such as new windows and doors. Asbestos can be found in properties built or refurbished before 2000, and it can turn up in places you might not expect.
Due to its fire-retardant properties asbestos was often used in and around fireplaces, flue and heating systems in older properties. You might also find it in or around old circuit boards, pipes, boilers, water tanks, insulation, soffits and eaves.
Left alone and in good condition, the risk it poses is low. But if it’s disturbed, whether through drilling, cutting or removal work, fibres can be released into the air and inhaled. Exposure to asbestos can cause lung disease and cancer, including mesothelioma.
What this means on the job
It means taking a moment before any building or maintenance job starts to consider whether asbestos-containing materials might be present, and knowing what to do if they are.
- was the property built or refurbished before 2000?
- ask if a survey has been done or if there is any known asbestos
- stay aware that hidden asbestos could still be found
- if you suspect asbestos, assume it is present until proven otherwise
- plan the job to avoid disturbing asbestos, if possible.
Remember, all work on asbestos-containing materials requires specific training and controls. It is illegal to carry out work without these and you may need to involve a licensed contractor.
It’s also a legal requirement for anyone carrying out gas work in the UK to be on the Gas Safe Register, and those due for renewal can do so quickly and easily online.
Free support and guidance
To help, the Asbestos & You campaign provides trades with free, practical advice, including an illustrated quick guide showing common examples of asbestos, where it might be found, and what to do if it’s encountered on the job.
> download the visual quick guide for trades
> see asbestos essentials for step-by-step task sheets
> find out what to do if you accidentally disturb asbestos
For those responsible for managing buildings, including landlords and facilities managers, the Asbestos – Your Duty campaign offers templates and guidance to help proactively manage asbestos in line with legal duties, including a quiz to help determine whose responsibility it is.
> download an asbestos register template
> download an asbestos management plan template
> find out more about getting a survey done
Mesothelioma Awareness Day, 26 September
Mesothelioma is a cancer caused almost exclusively by past exposure to asbestos.
As Mesothelioma Awareness Day approaches, the message to everyone working in or managing older properties is clear: don’t take the risk, don’t do things you’ll regret in years to come, and don’t assume it’s someone else’s job.
Check if asbestos is present, especially before any building or maintenance work begins – if in doubt, check it out.