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Asbestos

Note: New Asbestos Regulation 13 November 2006

Asbestos is the greatest single cause of work-related deaths. Asbestos-related diseases (mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer) are thought to kill up to 3,000 people each year, with these figures expected to rise. These diseases take a long time to develop, which means that the people who are suffering and dying today were exposed to asbestos many years ago.

There is no cure for asbestos-related diseases. Blue (crocidolite) and brown (amosite) asbestos are known to be more hazardous than white (chrysotile). In general the more asbestos dust inhaled, the greater the risk to health.

Asbestos was widely used in construction and refurbishment of buildings between 1950 and 1980 and much of it is still in place today. Electricians, plumbers, building maintenance workers, shopfitters and carpenters may still be at risk when carrying out refurbishment, repairs etc on buildings that contain asbestos. It is also now thought possible that repeated low level exposure, such as could occur during routine repair work, may also lead to asbestos induced cancers.

Typical locations of Asbestos in buildings

Roof and exterior walls

for example:

  • roof sheets and tiles
  • guttering and drainpipe
  • wall cladding
  • soffit/fascia boards
  • panel beneath window
  • roofing felt and coating to metal wall cladding

Boiler, Vessels and Pipework

for example:

  • lagging on boiler
  • pipework, calorifer etc
  • damaged lagging and associated debris
  • paper lining under non-asbestos pipe lagging
  • gasket in pipe and vessel joints
  • rope seal on boiler access hatch and between cast iron boiler sections
  • boiler flue

Ceilings

for example:

  • Spray coating to ceiling, walls, beams/columns

  • Loose asbestos in ceiling/floor cavity

  • Tiles, slats, canopies and firebreaks above ceilings

  • Textured coatings and paints

Interior Walls/Panels

for example:

  • Loose asbestos inside partition walls
  • partition walls
  • panel beneath window
  • panel lining to lift shaft
  • panelling to vertical and horizontal beams
  • panel behind electrical equipment
  • panel on access hatch to service riser
  • panel lining service riser and floor
  • heater cupboard around domestic boiler
  • panel behind/under heater
  • panel on or inside, fire door
  • bath panel

Flooring Materials

for example:

  • Floor tiles
  • linoleum and paper backing
  • lining to suspended floor

Air Handling Systems

for example:

  • Lagging
  • Gaskets
  • Anti-vibration gaiter

Domestic Appliances

for example:

  • Gaskets, rope seals and panels in domestic boilers
  • 'Caposil' insulating blocks, panels, paper, string etc in domestic heater
  • String seals on radiators
    

HSE Asbestos essentials

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