Did you know that every week...
- 3 plumbers die
- 20 tradesmen die
- 6 electricians die
- 6 joiners die
...all from this hidden killer.
More information on asbestos can be found on the HSE site here:
Asbestos basics - health and safety in the workplace
It’s not easy to tell asbestos from how it looks, and it needs to be properly identified in a specialist laboratory. But here are a few examples; some pictures are also featured in the asbestos
picture gallery[2]:
- Asbestos used as packing between floors and in partition walls
- Sprayed (‘'impet') asbestos on structural beams and girders
- Lagging on pipework, boilers, calorifiers, heat exchangers etc
- Asbestos insulating board - ceiling tiles, partition walls, service duct covers, fire breaks, heater cupboards, door panels, lift shaft lining, fire surrounds, soffits etc.
- Asbestos cement products such as roof and wall cladding, bath panels, boiler and incinerator flues, fire surrounds, gutters, rainwater pipes, water tanks etc.
- Other products such as floor tiles, mastics, sealants, rope seals and gaskets (in pipework etc.), millboard, paper products, cloth (fire blankets, etc.) and bituminous products (roofing felt, etc)
Some of the examples listed above can only be carried out by a contractor who has been granted a licence from HSE, details of this can be found in the
licensing section[3] of this website. Other jobs can be carried out using the
task sheets[4], (make sure you use the correct sheet for the job). Also check the
equipment and method sheets[5] for details on what to use and how.
How do I deal with asbestos waste?
Make sure you double-bag it and label as asbestos waste. You can then get in contact with the Local Authority or Environment Agency to find out if they will assist you in disposing of it, they may charge for this service. Alternatively, you can contact the
Environment Agency[6] or if based in Scotland,
SEPA[7]. The waste
must be disposed of at a licensed tip.