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Asbestos Removal - Updated Pages

Asbestos Removal UK: Asbestos is classed as a substance that is harmful to health and is accountable for approximately five thousand deaths each year, (Health & Safety Executive figures). If you find that you have asbestos in your UK property, and it needs removing and disposing of, you have to seek advice from an expert in the asbestos removal industry before you commence any work. If, during building or renovation works, you believe you've discovered asbestos you need to stop work immediately and speak to a qualified asbestos company. They'll be able to check if the material actually is asbestos, and formulate the safest technique for its removal and disposal.

Certain asbestos building materials don't require a certified asbestos company to carry out the removal and disposal. However, with asbestos dust and fibres capable of doing long term damage and cause lasting impacts on people's health, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Always use an established UK asbestos removal contractor who abides by the appropriate HSE regulations and that has had training in the industry.

THE HEALTH DANGERS OF ASBESTOS

Asbestos isn't dangerous when left undisturbed. Asbestos can release minute fibres into the surrounding air only when cut, abraded or damaged. If such fibres are inhaled they enter the lungs and are trapped, causing a health condition known as asbestosis. It's been found that asbestos fibres contribute to the development of lung cancer and mesothelioma.

There is no known cure for asbestosis and the scarring to the lungs caused by the asbestos fibres cannot be reversed.

The symptoms of asbestosis could include:

Extreme Fatigue
Wheezing
Pain in the Shoulder or Chest
Chronic Cough
Severe Shortness of Breath

If you think you've been been in contact with asbestos over time, and you experience any one of these symptoms, you must make an appointment to see your local GP and seek medical advice.

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH ASBESTOS

Asbestos was banned from being used in 1999 in Britain, although it wasn't very widely used from 1985 onwards. If your property was built in this period of time you need to be conscious of the possibilities of finding asbestos during restoration work. Asbestos was used in products like boiler insulation, pipe lagging and ceiling tiles and was also applied in spray form as the perfect fire-proofing and insulation material.

Stumbling upon asbestos in your property in the UK doesn't add up to an immediate threat. Remember that asbestos is typically only a danger to health if disturbed. There are certain scenarios whereby it could be better to leave the asbestos in situ, ensuring it is not disturbed or damaged. You ought to get help from an experienced asbestos removal contractor if you're unclear about the safety of any asbestos materials in your home in the UK.

Not all asbestos materials are a high health risk and require accredited asbestos removal specialists to tackle them. For instance, pipe lagging, asbestos insulation boards and loose fill insulation are deemed higher risk than roofing panels and asbestos cement sheets. Only an accredited asbestos removal firm in the UK will be capable of recognising, removing and getting rid of any items containing asbestos, in a safe, secure and environmentally friendly way.

If there is a requirement for licensed asbestos removal work to be done then the local authority or the Health & Safety Executive must be informed, depending on the kind of premises and its usage. All work relating to asbestos must follow the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 to prevent and limit an exposure to asbestos dust and fibres.

You could be prosecuted if you conduct any asbestos removal work that requires permission from the Health and Safety Executive if you don't hold that license.

THE DISPOSAL OF ASBESTOS

After any asbestos product has been stripped away from your UK property it is labelled as hazardous waste. It's crucial that any asbestos hazardous waste is disposed of in the proper manner, observing the stated instructions from the local authority. A competent asbestos removal contractor in the UK will adhere to all of the regulations and guidelines outlined by the local authority and the HSE.

The Carriage of Dangerous Goods Act 2009 deals with the transport and disposal of asbestos if it is in the form of loose fibres or is damaged and very likely to release harmful particles into the air. A waste carrier's licence is needed in this case to ensure its safe disposal in a government endorsed disposal facility. To put your mind at rest the hiring of a certified UK asbestos removal firm gives them the obligation to follow all rules and guidelines, including the safe-keeping of all disposal documents for a minimum of 3 years in the event that it's needed in the future.

THE PHASES OF WORK

You must confirm any supposed cases of asbestos in your UK home or property before you start any actual removal work. Only a registered asbestos surveyor or contractor can lawfully determine asbestos and the methods necessary for removing and disposing of it. You might decide not to conduct an asbestos survey on your property, but if it was constructed between the years 1945 and 1999, you have to expect that there probably is asbestos present and comply with all of the safety measures.

A professional asbestos surveyor must be independent of your appointed asbestos removal contractor, and will undertake all sampling, inspections and analysis.

If it is found that you need to hire a Health and Safety Executive certified asbestos contractor for the removal and disposal required, it is a legal requirement to advise the Health & Safety Executive of any work to be undertaken at least 2 weeks in advance. The appropriate paperwork will be supplied by the asbestos removal contractor and will include: 1. A strategy for the asbestos sampling, plus the methods of cleaning up the work site after completion by following the 4 stage clearance procedure. 2. A work statement showing the regulations that will be adhered to. 3. All certificates required by the company and its employees to accomplish the work, covering; risk assessments, medical, hazardous waste disposal, sample testing, work licenses and training. 4. Once the 4 stages of clearances have been accomplished, the Certificate of Reoccupation from an accredited organisation will be supplied.

Adequate PPE (personal protective equipment) will be provided for all persons entering the site, by the asbestos removal firm, and they'll also ensure the right method of disposal of any asbestos waste materials.

AFFILIATIONS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS and QUALIFICATIONS

To make certain you pick out a dependable asbestos removal firm in the UK there are a number of industry organisations and bodies for asbestos management specialists.

ARCA - The Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) is Great Britain's principal body which represents businesses working within the asbestos industry. By providing guidance, training and support to their highly respected members, ARCA is dedicated to promoting safe working practices and professionalism within the asbestos removal and disposal trade.

UKATA - The United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) is a nonprofit organisation that is dedicated to improving standards within the asbestos industry, by delivering the highest quality training in asbestos awareness. They also provide fast affirmation of individual contractor's and company certifications by way of their searchable, online database.

ATaC - The Asbestos Testing and Consultancy Association provides guidance and qualifications for asbestos surveyors and analysts. It's a UKAS accredited body and its fully-fledged members are recognised as specialists in the field of asbestos.

Asbestos Encapsulation UK

When asbestos is found within a structure in the UK, it might not always be necessary to remove and dispose of it, as there is another option that is called asbestos encapsulation. This is a process that involves encasing the asbestos containing materials (ACM's) in a protective wrapping to both stop the potentially harmful asbestos fibres from being released and protect the ACM from the chances of being damaged or compromised. This layer may be a rigid sheet, a painted or sprayed coating or a fabric or cloth wrap. A thorough risk assessment will be needed to establish if encapsulation is acceptable as an alternative to removal.

Asbestos Garage Roof Removal UK

Around the UK area there are many garages that still have asbestos bonded cement on their roofs, and if you need to replace such roofing you need to be conscious of the hazards involved. In most cases of asbestos it's required by law that you use a qualified contractor to perform the removal and disposal. Private individuals can only remove and dispose of asbestos if it's in the form of cement bonded sheets, such as that found on garage roofs in the UK, and only if they comply with all legislation and guidelines.

If you are in any way doubtful of your ability or the state of the asbestos that has to be removed, get hold of a professional. Leaving the job to a recognised specialist means you won't need to bother about wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), getting rid of your asbestos afterwards, or all the different legalities in asbestos.

Adhering to all health and safety guidelines and regulations, a professional asbestos removal contractor in the UK will successfully have your old asbestos roofing removed and set for your new garage roof to be installed quickly, legally and safely. (Tags: Asbestos Garage Removal UK, Asbestos Garage Roof Removal UK, Asbestos Garage Roof UK).

Artex Removal UK

Applying Artex coatings to the walls and ceilings of properties in the UK, was a common occurrence during the 70s and 80s. Any visible cracks, flaws and imperfections in these surfaces were easily hidden by the textured finish of Artex. Artex was frequently used as a replacement for polystyrene tiles, which had created a considerable fire risk in many UK properties.

The irony is that these folks were merely replacing one hazardous material for another, since Artex contains asbestos. Needless to say, when this was happening, the true dangers of asbestos weren't fully recognised and it wasn't until sometime later that the risk to health was grasped by the general public. There are still numerous dwellings in the UK which have coatings of Artex, and provided that it is not disturbed in any way, it is mostly harmless.

Although the removal of textured coatings is classified as a non-licenced project, if you have a home or business premises in the UK that has Artex on the walls or ceilings, you should not try to remove it by yourself. To harmlessly remove the Artex, you should get in touch with a local asbestos removal company, who'll give you an estimate for both inspecting and correctly removing the problematic textured coatings.

Asbestos Surveys UK

Asbestos containing materials (ACMs) are highly likely to be discovered in any building that was constructed in UK between 1850 and 1999. A widely used building material throughout that period, it was especially popular due to its chemical and heat resistant attributes. Identified in the 70s and 80s as a major cause of various health issues, such as laryngeal cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer, atelectasis and throat cancer, it was taken out of many structures.

Both blue (crocidolite) and brown (amosite) asbestos was banned in the UK in 1985, and all types of asbestos were banned in 1999. Asbestos surveys are needed in many scenarios, since many structures that were built before 1999 still contain asbestos.

Essentially, there are 2 kinds of asbestos survey that buildings in UK can undergo.

Asbestos Management Surveys
Asbestos Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys

Asbestos Management Surveys UK: The purpose of an Asbestos Management Survey is to keep track of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) during the normal occupation and use of a building in UK. As long as ACMs are in sound condition and are left undisturbed, they don't present much risk to the occupants of a building. Asbestos fibres can be released, causing a potentially dangerous situation, when they're damaged, disturbed or in poor condition. The requirement for these Asbestos Management Surveys applies to all non-domestic buildings, or shared areas of domestic buildings in UK which were built before the year 2000.

Asbestos Refurbishment/Demolition Surveys UK: Asbestos Refurbishment/Demolition Surveys (ARDs) are conducted on properties in UK that are due to be demolished or renovated. Most often ARD surveys are undertaken on UK buildings that are unoccupied or vacant, because a significant amount of structural damage can be caused during this sort of survey. These must be carried out before the start of any refurbishment, demolition or upgrading work. The intention of this survey will be to detect any asbestos containing materials in the building's structure, and determine how they can be safely managed or removed. Irrespective of the size of the restorations, any management agents, professionals and occupants involved are responsible for arranging these ARD surveys, in line with the Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012).

Construction Products Which Could Contain Asbestos

Textiles (Protective Aprons, Fire Blankets and Heat-Resistent Gloves)
Rope Seals and Gaskets (Especially on Boilers)
Composite Materials (Bath Panels, Window Sills and Toilet Cisterns)
Asbestos Insulation Boards (AIB) (Ceiling Tiles, Fire Door Panels and Partition Walls
Asbestos Cement Products (Downpipes, Roofing Sheets and Cladding)
Floor Tiles
Roofing Felt (Especially on Outbuildings and Garages)
Lagging on Pipework
Textured Coatings (Older Types of Polytex and Artex)
Spray Coatings on Ceilings, Walls, Beams and Columns

Occupations Most at Risk of Asbestosis (Mesothelioma)

(In No Particular Order)

Coach & Vehicle Body Builders
Sheet Metal Workers
Mechanical Engineers
Electrical Energy, Boiler & Plant Attendants
Plumbers/Heating & Ventilation Engineers
Riveters
Carpenters & Joiners
Construction Workers
Mates to Electrical & Metal Fitters
Electrical Maintenance Engineers
Metal Working Production & Maintenance Fitters

(Source: Health and Safety Executive Study 2009)

Training Courses for Asbestos Removal

ATac (the Asbestos Testing and Consultancy Association) provide plenty of asbestos related training courses, for anybody who would like to get the necessary qualifications for asbestos surveying, asbestos analysis, asbestos removal and asbestos management. The currently available courses are RSPH Level 3 Award in Asbestos Bulk Analysis, RSPH Level 3 Award in Asbestos Air Monitoring and Clearance Procedures, RSPH Level 4 Certificate in Asbestos Laboratory and Project Management, RSPH Level 3 Award in Asbestos Surveying and RSPH Level 3 Award in Asbestos Management for Dutyholders. These qualifications are provided via the RSPH (Royal Society for Public Health), and have been developed specifically for specialists involved in asbestos management, working for UKAS approved organisations.

Asbestos Removal Tasks UK

Asbestos removal specialists will be able to help with industrial asbestos removal, asbestos removal UK, fly tipping clearance, asbestos risk management, asbestos removal services UK, asbestos tile removal UK, soft strip demolition, asbestos encapsulation, blue asbestos (crocidolite) removal, asbestos removal price quotes in the UK, asbestosis prevention, asbestos waste collection, asbestos sampling UK, asbestos inspections UK, environmental cleaning UK, domestic asbestos removal UK, asbestos insulation removal UK, white asbestos removal UK, asbestos roof tile removal, office clearance, and other hazardous waste related work.