Our team of asbestos experts have developed a good resource of answers to some common questions asked by our customers. If you have a question on workplace compliance, please email us at [email protected]
Asbestos FAQs
- Chrysotile (known as white asbestos);
- Asbestos Grunerite (known as brown asbestos); and
- Crocidolite (known as blue asbestos).
- Anthrophylite;
- Tremolite; and
- Actinolite.
There is no requirement to have an asbestos survey carried out. Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012 states the duty is to manage asbestos not a duty to survey. However, in order to manage asbestos that may be within your building, you need to know where it is, what type of asbestos it is and importantly, what condition it is in.
If your building was built before 1999, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, there is a good chance that some materials used within construction or fit-out contain asbestos. The only way that you can be totally certain of this is by carrying out a management survey which will help you assess, prioritise and manage these materials and allow you to carry out regular assessments to ensure that they remain in good condition.
You can assume that all unknown or suspect items contain asbestos, but in a larger building, this can quickly become unmanageable.
A management survey should be carried out by an independent organisation that is not linked to any removal or remediation company so that you can be sure that any recommendations given are made to help you with effective management.
Knowing exactly where you are with your asbestos management is the key to success. This means having accurate and up to date information on all of your asbestos-containing materials (ACM).
The information you hold about asbestos must be kept up to date and made available to anyone who may work with on it or disturb it. Regular reviews and condition assessments should form an essential part of your strategy, alongside training for all relevant personnel. These are the key requirements and responsibilities of the duty-holder.
The likelihood is, if you are relying on a survey that is now years old, which has never been supported with the condition assessments, reviews and training, then your management may not be as robust as you think it is. As a starting point for you, you could check any areas that are “not assessed” or that have been excluded in your survey report.
The current Regulations (CAR2012) place a legal duty on employers to provide information, instruction and training to any of their employees who are likely to be exposed to asbestos as part of their work.
Staff who fall into this category should be aware of what asbestos is, why it is dangerous and the precautions they need to take when working in areas that contain asbestos.
Staff who are responsible for managing asbestos in your buildings should also be competent to perform this role and understand your policy, procedures and emergency measures.
There are three main types of asbestos that have previously been used:
It is often said that white asbestos is of least risk, due to the fibre shape and blue asbestos is of most risk. You cannot tell what type of asbestos is used from the colour of the finished product. White asbestos is the most common type found today as it was the last type to be banned, and was found in a wide range of products, often as a composite of different materials from cement to plaster and bitumen products.
There are also three 'lesser' known types of asbestos:
These were not generally commercially used and can be found as contaminates in other types of asbestos, with tremolite being the most common.
The regulations are for non-domestic premises and depending on the type of asbestos and the duration of the work will determine if you can remove the asbestos without a licence but under some controlled conditions.
There are over 3,500 registered products that contain asbestos and can be found almost anywhere in the workplace. Typical places include partition walls, fire doors, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, roof tiles, damp course, gutters and downpipes etc. In plantrooms, places can include lagging of pipes and boilers, gaskets, flues etc.
Asbestos fibres are very small, usually requiring a microscope for detection, however sometimes you can see fibrous material which is a collection of many fibres in some asbestos containing materials.
If asbestos is kept in good condition it can remain in situ and managed as such. If asbestos is damaged a risk assessment will determine the next steps and this can lead to repair, encapsulation and even removal.
Related services: Asbestos risk assessment
Asbestos fibres can stay airborne for a considerable time possibly 48-72 hours, but this does not account for the slightest of air currents which can make the asbestos airborne again.
Asbestos does not have an odour. The only way you can confirm asbestos is present is by getting it tested.
Asbestos is mined and still being used in Russia, China, Brazil and Kazakhstan.
Asbestos related diseases are a result of breathing in the asbestos fibres. This can result in Asbestosis – a chronic long term lung condition which can cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs resulting in shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing etc or Mesothelioma – a cancer of the mesothelial tissue and develops in the lung lining over a long period of time.
All asbestos types are harmful, but it is generally regarded that Crocidolite (Blue asbestos) is the most dangerous. This is part of the amphibole group of materials and is due to the complex needle like structure of the mineral.
No amount of asbestos is considered safe and products with over 1% of asbestos in them are asbestos containing. The more asbestos you are exposed to over a longer period means the more likely you will get and asbestos disease.
Asbestos fibres do settle once released, but sometimes this can take days with the slightest air current making them airborne again.
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