Are you feeling unsure on what to do if you find asbestos at work?
The first thing you should do is let your employer, or the owner of the building, know that you suspect asbestos may be present. It is then their duty to manage the risk of asbestos within your workplace, as its fibres can pose serious health risks if inhaled.
How Dangerous Is Asbestos?
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the presence of asbestos alone should not be a cause for concern. Asbestos only becomes a risk to human health when it is released into the air and breathed in.
Therefore, if any asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) identified within your workplace are in good condition (this can be checked via an asbestos survey), or are unlikely to become disturbed, the risk of exposure should remain low.
However, if the building you work in was constructed before the year 2000 (before the use of asbestos was banned in the UK), or there are any refurbishment, demolition or significant maintenance works planned for the premises – the dutyholder of the building will be legally required to outsource any asbestos abatement services needed in order to manage ACMs that have been left in a poor condition.
You should never attempt to repair or remove asbestos yourself if you have not had any training for non-licensed asbestos work, as exposure to asbestos can lead to serious health risks (e.g. mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural thickening, etc.).
Who Has The Duty To Manage Asbestos At Work?
According to the HSE, the duty to manage asbestos in buildings covers:
- All non-domestic premises, e.g. factories, offices, shops, etc.
- ‘Common parts’ of multi-occupancy domestic premises, like purpose-built flats.
Additionally, the person who has the duty to manage asbestos (the dutyholder) in non-domestic premises could include the:
- Building owner.
- Landlord for the premises.
- Person or organisation with clear responsibility for the building’s maintenance or repair.
The HSE advises that if the building was constructed or refurbished before 2000, you should assume there is asbestos present. Asbestos can be visible or hidden within the fabric of the building, e.g. inside wall cavities or fire doors.
The first step the dutyholder should take is having an asbestos survey undertaken to confirm the presence and locations, as well as the type and condition of any ACMs at hand, that could be damaged or disturbed during the normal occupancy of the workplace (this is usually an Asbestos Management Survey). The HSE recommends this process should also include regular maintenance and cleaning activities.
If any installation or refurbishment work is due to take place at the premises, a more intrusive asbestos survey (a Refurbishment & Demolition Survey) will need to be carried out as a legal requirement.
Once the presence, locations, type and condition of any potential ACMs have been identified, if they are in a poor condition or are likely to become disturbed, the dutyholder will need to have Asbestos Remediation or Asbestos Removal services undertaken.
Asbestos Remediation
If any ACMs identified within your workplace are slightly damaged or have deteriorated over time, they can sometimes be repaired by sealing or encapsulation. As an ARCA and ACAD certified asbestos contractor, you can rest assured that your workplace will be in the best hands possible.
Our fully trained and competent team of asbestos remediation consultants can help you figure out what to do if you find asbestos at work. Our dedicated team has built up nearly 40 years of experience in delivering bespoke and complex remediation contracts in a safe, compliant and timely manner, tailored to projects of any size or sector.
Asbestos remediation can include the removal of small areas where ACMs are present, including boarding or pipe insulation removal, and the encapsulation of boards or walls.
If you have chosen to undertake asbestos remediation works, you should inform the builders, maintenance workers or contractors who are carrying out the refurbishment at your property where the encapsulated asbestos materials are present. This will reduce the risk of disturbing them, as well as the risk of exposure.
Asbestos Removal
If the option to remediate, seal or encapsulate ACMs is not practicable, any materials that have been left in a poor condition or have become badly-damaged, worn or broken, should be removed in order to avoid the fibres becoming airborne and leading to exposure for building users.
You should always enlist the help of trained asbestos removal contractors to carry out asbestos removal works.
Factors such as cost implications and the size of the project will determine whether asbestos remediation or asbestos removal is chosen.
Why Choose Reddish Vale?
Here at Reddish Vale, our friendly, professional and knowledgeable team of asbestos removal specialists have lived and breathed the industry for almost 40 years. Not only have we been licensed for asbestos removal by the HSE since 1985, but we are also full members of the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) and the Asbestos Control and Abatement Division (ACAD). Hence, there is no one better qualified to undertake your asbestos abatement works.
Having built up a highly versatile portfolio of experience, our licensed asbestos abatement consultants have also worked across a wide range of sectors, including domestic, commercial, education, leisure, government and industrial. Therefore, we can undertake asbestos remediation and removal projects of any size, in any sector.
Get A Free Quote Today
If you’re unsure of what to do if you find asbestos at work and you’re worried about the implications, enlist the help of our licensed asbestos removal and remediation specialists.
Our friendly and knowledgeable team is always happy to discuss your individual project requirements with you over the phone or via email. Alternatively, if you would prefer to leave us a message about your enquiry, please fill in the contact form on our website and we will get back to you as soon as possible with a free, no-obligation quote.
Contact our licensed asbestos contractors today for more information.
