Asbestos

Don't Inhale

Asbestos - new government emphasis

In recent years the government has re-emphasised the dangers of asbestos containing materials to maintenance workers. This is because the death rate from asbestos induced cancer, mesothelioma, is not decreasing as expected following the big
improvements made to reduce asbestos exposure in industry and in dockyards. This has led the government to conclude that there needs to be more protection from asbestos.

Maintenance workers are exposed to asbestos when they disturb materials containing asbestos by drilling, cutting or removal. Also asbestos fibres can be released when a building is damaged by fire or flood.

If we identify a damaged material following a fire or flood that may contain asbestos, we can take samples and have it tested for asbestos by an independent laboratory, or arrange for air-sampling.

To protect our staff and customers from asbestos during our work in damaged buildings we will sometimes have to delay activities while samples are tested for asbestos. Results are usually available by the next working day.

Richfords can safely remove many common types of asbestos containing materials, such as floor tiles, asbestos cement etc. Licensed contractors are required to deal with certain types of
asbestos such as asbestos containing insulation material.

Drink asbestos fibres, but don't inhale them

Touching asbestos is not in itself harmful. Asbestos is only dangerous to our health if it is inhaled. Apparently bottled mineral water contains thousands of asbestos fibres per litre, but is unlikely to cause harm if drunk.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral and we may inhale small quantities of airborne asbestos fibres anywhere.

The hazard from asbestos increases when asbestos fibres are concentrated such as during a fire or when asbestos material is cut or removed.

The special status of Artex

Textured coatings manufactured up to 1999 may contain asbestos - and old stock containing asbestos may have been used for some time after that. The use of asbestos containing textured coatings was completely banned in 1999. At the moment damaged textured coatings must be tested for asbestos and if found to be positive for asbestos requires the use of a controlled asbestos removal process.

Textured coatings are not homogeneous and so within a room only a small area may contain asbestos. Several samples need to be taken to ensure we have a clear picture of the content of the textured coatings.

Not all damaged Artex ceilings need to be removed - in some cases it can be sealed and made secure. We are happy to advise on safe containment and sealing.