Originally used as a fire-resistant building material between the 1970s and 1980s, asbestos was later found to be highly dangerous to those exposed to it. While asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1999, buildings prior to that date still stand, many containing asbestos, with serious health implications for those exposed to it.
While a number of home maintenance tasks can be achieved with minimal experience, higher-risk tasks should always be left to a professional. In the case of asbestos, this means looking for a licenced and trained contractor whether you’re in need of asbestos removal in Essex, Edinburgh or Lands End.
Potential Health Risks of DIY Asbestos Removal
While tiny in size, exposure to asbestos fibres is known to cause serious health problems over time. Once inhaled, asbestos fibres can affect the respiratory system in a similar way to smoking, leading to lung cancer (with smokers already at higher risk). Other asbestos-related illnesses include:
- Mesothelioma: a cancer affecting the lining of the lungs and the lower digestive system.
- Asbestosis: Scarring of the lungs causing shortness of breath to worsen gradually.
- Pleural Thickening: Swelling and thickening of the lung lining, also leading to shortness of breath and chest discomfort.
While symptoms of asbestos-related illness may take on average 10-40 years to appear, their eventual effect is often serious or even fatal. While brief exposure to asbestos tends to be considered as less dangerous, no exposure to asbestos can ever be considered 100% safe.
Legal Implications
Besides the major health concerns involved, attempting DIY removal, or failure to protect others in non-domestic and domestic premises from ACMs (asbestos containing materials) can result in heavy fines and even prison sentences.
To avoid this and protect the health of yourself and others, it’s essential to understand the law surrounding asbestos. The “Control of Asbestos Regulations” from 2012 contains information about rules, regulations and best practice, including:
- How to inform authorities about unlicensed work.
- Steps to take when a licensed contractor is required.
- Who in the building is responsible for dealing with asbestos-related issues.
The latter also refers to “duty holders”, for example landlords or property managers. While landlords do not have the same duty of care as managers of commercial properties, it is important to note that where the landlord is contractually obliged to repair or maintain the property, failure to deal with an asbestos event properly may result in action for negligence.
Types of Asbestos
Asbestos is generally split into two categories: serpentine asbestos, the most commonly-used form, and amphibole, composed of brittle, needle-like fibres that are more hazardous to health.
Until it was banned in 1985, one particular amphibole type (crocidolite) was the most common.
It can be difficult to identify asbestos at first glance, but in general buildings (commercial, residential or otherwise) constructed or refurbished before the year 2000 tend to be at higher risk of containing asbestos. While all ACMs carry risk to health, some do so more than others. These include:
- Asbestos lagging
- Asbestos insulation
- Sprayed asbestos coating
- AIB (asbestos insulation board)
Dealing with higher-risk ACMs like these legally requires specific training and working practices by a HSE-licensed worker. The contractor must RPE (respiratory medical equipment), in addition to undergoing regular medical assessments.
Leave It to the Experts
Work with some lower-risk ACMs may not require a licence, but it is still mandatory to contact the HSE prior to starting any non-licenced work. That said, because it can also be challenging to decide whether work can be conducted legally, it is typically better to enlist the help of a professional asbestos removal contractor so that all your bases are covered.
Another reason concerns the disposal of asbestos. Besides finding a place to dispose of the materials safely, transportation can shake up asbestos, releasing fibres in transit. Additionally, asbestos must be disposed of at designated sites according to specific practices and procedures, as breaking up ACMs or even attempting to bury them can also release particles.
Putting Safety and Compliance First
Without the appropriate training and experience in place, incorrect or unlicenced handling, treatment and disposal of asbestos has serious legal implications and could potentially put your own health and the health of those around you at risk.
Many of the qualified and licenced contractors which can be found on the HSE websites, are also members of the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association. Even if you discover visible asbestos, hidden asbestos can still remain in the structure of buildings, so hiring a professional will help to ensure its complete removal.
