Asbestos is a killer, and since it was banned in the UK in 1999 there has been a huge push to identify where it is present and to remove it from causing harm to those who come into contact with it. The problem lies with the fact that asbestos was widely used in many industries up until it was banned, including construction, shipbuilding, and engineering. Many people who came into contact with asbestos fibres as part of their day-to-day jobs and lives decades ago are only now starting to become sick in some cases.
Asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis are fatal, but they can take many decades to manifest symptoms. This is why it is so important to be on top of the survey of asbestos and the management of its removal today. It might seem a harmless substance, but if you come into contact with asbestos fibres, after asbestos materials have been disturbed in a building, you could die from inhalation years and many decades further down the line.
If you are worried about asbestos being present in a building that you are responsible for, or one that you live or work in, it is important to get in touch with a professional and licensed asbestos management company. They can undertake a management asbestos survey on your behalf.
A management asbestos survey is an inspection of a site looking for any signs of asbestos. It is a visual inspection where the location of any asbestos is clearly marked, and the condition of the materials containing asbestos is noted. Alongside that is a note of how much risk there is to those occupying the building in terms of the asbestos being disturbed. These types of asbestos surveys require minimal sampling and are not that intrusive to the daily life of a building and its inhabitants.
All buildings that were constructed before the year 2000 must have a relevant asbestos survey management certificate that can be shown to prospective buyers and tenants. If you are the person responsible for a building it is down to you to ensure that any asbestos present is identified and managed effectively.
In some cases, this means securing and repairing an area and materials where asbestos is present, and making it safe from being disturbed. In rare cases, asbestos is left alone, and in other most cases there will be a requirement for a full asbestos removal service to be undertaken. This ensures that the building is completely clear from asbestos and inhabitants do not have to worry about the risks attached to inhaling asbestos fibres through accidental disturbance of asbestos-materials.
If you feel that there could be asbestos present in a building that you are responsible for managing, immediately contact a professional and licensed asbestos survey company. They can arrange for a full asbestos survey that identifies all asbestos and the dangers it presents in your building, offering expert advice as to the next steps in asbestos management to make the building safe for all who use it.
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