What to Do If You Find Asbestos in Your Home

Row of residential homes, addressing the steps to take if asbestos is found in a home.

Asbestos is a material which was often used when building homes between the 1950s and 1990s. Therefore, if your house has been built during this time period there is a chance that asbestos is present.

The problem with asbestos is that the material was deemed a health risk when damaged or disturbed. Consequently, the use of asbestos is now regulated by law and the material is banned from use in building work. We have put together this blog to help you understand asbestos and know exactly what to do if you find it in your home.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a natural mineral composed of thin fibres. Before people understood the associated dangers, it was used in homes as a strong, low cost and effective building material. However, it was discovered that the fibres in asbestos are extremely toxic and dangerous when they become airborne and are inhaled. As the fibres are so strong, your body cannot break them down. As a result, they begin to cause damage to the lung tissue. Fibres will only become airborne when the material becomes damaged.

In many cases, the asbestos present is undisturbed, so won’t pose an immediate health risk. But to ensure health and safety, we always recommend that you get a professional to check out the areas of risk and remove the material if required.

Where Could Asbestos Be in My Home?

Asbestos was a very effective building material and used throughout many homes. For example, the substance was added into plaster and cement to add strength. Common places you might find asbestos in your home include:

  • Vinyl flooring
  • Insulation boards within walls
  • Roofing felt and tiles
  • Coatings and textured paints on walls and ceilings
  • Cement water tanks
  • Cement gutters and rain pipes
  • Bathroom elements such as bath panels, toilets and sinks

If you suspect asbestos, it is critical to keep the item in place. Then, trained professionals can help you survey and remove the material. If you try to remove it yourself, you risk breathing in some of the tiny and dangerous fibres.

Steps to take if you find asbestos in your home:

  1. Don’t panic! Leave the area alone. If you have accidentally damaged the asbestos, don’t try and clear up the mess. By doing this, you could make the situation worse.
  2. Contact professionals who can give you a detailed survey. This will determine whether or not asbestos is present in your home. Additionally, the report will advise on the areas the material can be found within your home. The team will then provide you with recommendations on how the asbestos needs to be dealt with in order to keep your home safe.
  3. Use the recommendations given to guide you moving forward. If the asbestos containing material is dangerous and a risk to your health, you will need to organise professionals to remove the asbestos. However, if the material containing asbestos poses little to no health risk, the advice may be removal is not required.

These are very important steps to take if you find asbestos in your home. You will minimise the risk to your own health by employing trained professionals to deal with your situation.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/faq.htm

Should You Have an Asbestos Survey When Buying a Property?

While buying a new property is exciting, there are some significant aspects to check out. This helps you know exactly what you are purchasing! One of the important questions to ask is whether or not the property is likely to contain asbestos.  Should You Get an Asbestos Survey When Buying a Property?

This blog will help you identify if you should have an asbestos survey when buying a property.

Is an Asbestos Survey a Legal Requirement When Buying a Property?

Carrying out an asbestos survey is not a legal requirement when buying a property for homes built after 2000. However, there are many reasons why it is a good idea. Most importantly, carrying out a survey will help you confirm that the property you are purchasing is safe from the health risks of asbestos. If asbestos is present, the survey will issue you with recommendations for dealing with the material safely. 

When is a Property Likely to Have Asbestos? 

If your property was built before the year 2000, there is a chance the material is present. 

Asbestos was widely used by builders due to its strong, low cost, insulating, water and chemical resistant properties. However, the fibres the material is composed of are extremely toxic and dangerous when airborne and inhaled. The fibres do remain safe if left alone and the material is not damaged or disturbed.

Unfortunately, Asbestos was used in properties and building work up until as recently as 1999. Since then, there has been a ban on use of the mineral within the UK. This has led to research suggesting that around half of all homes in the UK are at risk of asbestos. And this figure is even steeper for other types of buildings, with a government report finding that a massive 75% of schools in the UK are at risk of having asbestos containing materials within the properties! 

There may not be an immediate risk if the asbestos is left alone. However, there is still the possibility of a significant health risk within a property containing asbestos as the fibres can become disturbed. For example, water damage to a ceiling containing asbestos could disturb and disperse the dangerous fibres. Additionally, many insurance policies will not cover the damage if the material is found. They will however sometimes cover the cost of asbestos removal as part of your claim. 

Where Would Asbestos Be in a Property? 

If you suspect there may be asbestos within a property, there are some places you are most likely to find it. Two of the most common places are within decorative ceiling coatings and vinyl floor tiles. Other common areas include insulation, internal garage roofs, storage tanks, rainwater pipes and gutters. 

If there is a chance asbestos is present in the building you are interested in buying, an asbestos survey is always recommended. This is the same regardless of whether the property is a residential home or a commercial property. 

If you are looking for a qualified and experienced team to carry out an asbestos survey for a property you are buying, contact us as South East Asbestos Surveys Ltd for a free quote. 

Construction site health and safety risks

Construction site health and safety risks, There are many health and safety risks when working on or managing a construction site. We’ve compiled a list of the top 5 health and safety risks on construction sites.

1. Asbestos Management

Asbestos is a very dangerous substance and must be handled correctly. Due to asbestos being an extremely hazardous material, it is important that before beginning construction work an asbestos survey is carried out by a qualified surveyor. If asbestos is found at your construction site, the correct procedures must be followed whilst it is being removed, this includes proper disposal. For further information on asbestos surveys, contact our team.

2. Electricity 

Electrocution is another big health and safety risk at construction sites, especially with live wires around. It is important to ensure your workforce is trained in electrical safety to keep themselves and their colleagues safe. There are several options for how to train your workforce, including online courses, a great option for any construction companies with a workforce in different sites.

3. Noise

Whilst noise is not always considered a hazard, on a construction site it must be. With lots of loud repetitive noises on site every day, it is vital that staff members are taking the correct precautions to protect their hearing. Depending on the level of noise, you may need to provide your team with noise defenders or other PPE to protect their hearing.

4. Working at height 

On a construction site, there are going to be many times during the constructions process that workers are required to work at height. You should make sure that any workers working at height have been given the correct training and safety equipment such as harnesses to avoid injury. There are lots of training resources available to utilise to ensure your workforce are safe no matter what height they are working at. 

5. Moving objects

There are always lots of heavy, moving objections on construction sites, from materials to vehicles. Whilst you can take some precautions to reduce injury caused by moving objects, it is the responsibility of your workers to be aware of who and what is around them when moving around a site. 

Read further information on construction site hazards, or contact us to discuss an asbestos survey or management plan.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/key-points.htm

What is a COSSH assessment ?

A COSSH assessment aims to identify hazardous substances, identify who might be at risk, and then evaluate the risk to decide on precautions that need to be taken. In this blog, we will define what COSSH stands for, detail when a COSHH assessment is required and outline the three steps for completing a COSSH assessment. What is a COSSH assessment ?

What does COSSH stand for?

COSSH stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. This health and safety legislation outlines how employees and employers should handle, store and dispose of hazardous substances. The main goal of COSSH is to minimise risk and to reduce exposure to hazardous substances to prevent health issues.

When is a COSSH assessment required?

If you are or your employees are using, creating or producing a substance that could be hazardous to a person’s health then you are required to complete a COSSH assessment. Employers are legally required to carry out a risk assessment before any work with or around hazardous substances can begin. As an employer, neglecting your responsibly to conduct a COSSH assessment could not only lead to legal action, but could also put your workforce at risk.

How to carry out a COSSH assessment?

A COSSH assessment is carried out in three steps; identifying hazards, identifying who is at risk and evaluation. 

Step 1: Identifying the hazards 

The first step is to identify any hazardous substances present in your workplace that may present a risk to the health and safety of customers or employees. A hazardous substance is classes as any mixture of materials that are toxic, corrosive or are an irritant. All substances that are used in the workplace, produced due to work activities, substances that are naturally occurring and biological substances, for example bacteria. Substances include chemicals, gases, vapours, mists, fumes, dusts and microorganisms. All hazardous substances must be recorded, no matter how small a risk they present to a person’s health and safety.

Step 2: Identify who is at risk

After identifying all hazardous substances, you need to consider who will be at risk from them. Remember to include employees, supervisors, contractors, cleaning and maintenance staff, site visitors, people residing or working nearby that may be exposed. Once you have identified who could be a risk, you will need to consider all the different ways they could be harmed based on how harmful the substance is, how likely it is for someone to be exposed and the duration of exposure. Some effects of coming into contact with hazardous substances include irritation to the skin, loss of consciousness, allergic reactions, infection from biological substances and terminal illness. 

Step 3: Evaluate and reduce risk of exposure

Your report should now detail all of the hazardous substances that anyone at your workplace could directly or indirectly come into contact with. Now comes the critical step of evaluating each substance and detailing the ways you will minimise risk of exposure. Begin with the substances that present the most risk and work your way down. You can follow the hierarchy or control when detailing how you will reduce risk; elimination, substitution, isolation, engineering, administration and PPE. 

For more information on dealing with hazardous substances and COSSH assessments, visit hse.gov.uk.

Two types of asbestos survey: which one is right for me?

Asbestos is a dangerous material when not handled correctly and is the biggest cause of work-related deaths in UK. As a result of this, asbestos surveys are required by law when asbestos is found in buildings. There are two types of asbestos surveys; Management Asbestos and Refurbishment and Demolition Asbestos Surveys. So which survey do you need, and when do you need to conduct an asbestos survey? Two types of asbestos survey: which one is right for me?

Asbestos Management Surveys

As the name suggests, a management asbestos is necessary when asbestos containing materials are expected to be present, but are not going to be disturbed. This type of survey is necessary if you are the duty holder of any non-domestic building built before 2000 as the use of asbestos containing materials wasn’t banned until 1999. Whilst management asbestos surveys are not usually required for domestic buildings, they are required for communal areas in flats or houses of multiple occupancy. Communal areas include corridors and foyers, for example.

A management survey will usually include a visual inspection of asbestos containing materials, assessing the condition and any risk involved with normal usage. A surveyor may take minimal samples to be sent for analysis or presume some materials are without samples based on their own judgement. A management survey will provide you with all the necessary information to manage and monitor any asbestos containing materials. A surveyor will prepare an asbestos registry and present you with an asbestos management plan. No further action will be required, providing the asbestos materials found do not present any risk to normal occupancy. 

Refurbishment and Demolition Asbestos Surveys

A refurbishment and demolition survey is required when carrying out any construction or renovation work in all buildings built before 2000. This type of survey is comprehensive and in-depth to ensure that any asbestos containing materials are found and removed to prevent risk of fatal diseases and illness. Asbestos only becomes dangerous once disturbed, hence why a comprehensive survey by a qualified, license professional is required.

As a refurbishment and demolition survey is much more comprehensive than a management survey, you may be required to vacate the building during the survey to ensure any occupants are not exposed to asbestos. A surveyor will take multiple samples of materials and send them off to a specialist laboratory for testing. This is to ensure that all types of asbestos are found, this includes materials within the building structure that may be hidden behind other materials. It should be noted that you are not required to have the entire building surveyed if you are only carrying out one in one room or area. 

It is vital that no construction, renovation or demolition work is carried out until the analysis of the samples has been carried out, and you have received the results from the laboratory. Some asbestos materials come with a license and if your building contains any licensed asbestos materials, work will need to be carried out by a licensed contractor. 

If you would like any further advice on the which survey is right for you or when you may need to conduct a survey, please contact our experienced team who will be able to assist you.

Can you live in a house that has asbestos in?

Can you live in a house that has asbestos in? Knowing how dangerous asbestos can be makes finding it in your home very scary. You are likely to have lots of questions running through your head about safety, we’ve got the answers to your questions, so if you are wondering whether it is safe to live in a home that has a presence of asbestos, continue reading.

Firstly, if you do think your home contains asbestos, don’t panic! Contact an asbestos survey or your local authority, who will also be able to provide you with guidance of the next steps to take.

Where is asbestos found in houses?

If you live in an older property that was built before 1999, there is a possibility that asbestos materials may have been used as in 1999, the UK government banned the use of asbestos containing materials. 

There are two main types of asbestos, firmly bound and loosely bound. Firmly bound asbestos materials include vinyl floor tiles, artificial brick cladding and vinyl floor tiles, to name a few. The second type of asbestos is loosely bound. Loosely bound asbestos containing materials include insulation for ceilings, heaters and hot water pipes.

Is it safe to leave the asbestos in my house undisturbed?

In short, yes if you don’t plan on carrying out any building or renovation work. Asbestos is only harmful when the fires are exposed, if asbestos is left undisturbed no airborne particles will be released. However, asbestos shouldn’t be ignored and you should contact an asbestos surveyor to carry out a survey. Head to our blog to find out which asbestos survey you will need. If you are planning any work in the new future, it is vital you get the asbestos removed by a qualified, licensed professional. If you do find asbestos in your home, it is always best to have the area inspected by professionals, as the effects of asbestos exposure can take up to 30 years to present themselves.

Can I remove the asbestos in my home myself?

Whilst it is not illegal to remove asbestos yourself, it is strongly advised against. We recommend hiring a qualified, experienced, professional to remove the asbestos in your home as lots of precautions need to be taken to minimise exposure. For example, protective clothing should be worn along with gloves and a mask with a special filter cartridge that traps asbestos fibres. All surfaces should be covered with plastic sheets to catch any loose fibres, and any asbestos containing materials must be disposed off correctly by a licensed professional. Asbestos is a dangerous material when handled incorrectly and should be handled by those with the correct qualifications to ensure minimal exposure.

Who can help me remove asbestos?

After conducting a survey to confirm whether asbestos is present, contact a professional asbestos remover. For further information on who is best to help you remove asbestos from your home, please see our blog on ‘How to choose an asbestos removal company’. We are always happy to advise and answer any questions you may have about the presence of asbestos in your home, so please don’t hesitate to contact our team.

https://web.archive.org/web/20241106103737/https://hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-buying/buying-a-house-with-asbestos/

How Dangerous is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a type of naturally occurring mineral, there are six different types of crystals that form depending on what materials were used during construction. Commonly found in old buildings and structures, such as offices and warehouses, the most common type of asbestos found is Chrysotile or ‘white asbestos.’ But just how dangerous is asbestos? And who is the most at risk from asbestos? In this blog, we’ll explain how dangerous asbestos really is.

Asbestos, when undisturbed, is usually safe and isn’t a cause for concern. However, when the material containing asbestos begins to crumble, the asbestos will start to emit fibres in the air which can cause some serious health problems. Crumbling asbestos is known as friable; specifically, when the asbestos is easily broken by hand. Once the asbestos is broken, the air surrounding it becomes extremely hazardous and should be removed by professionals as soon as possible to prevent any further contamination.

The spores that asbestos release into the air can cause a range of different health issues to anyone who breathes them in. Asbestos is dangerous because anyone who has breathed in the asbestos fibres will not show any symptoms of any possible health condition for anywhere between 1-10 years, in which time the fibres would have settled in your system and will begin to develop untreatable health conditions. Some of these conditions are as follows:

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects your Pleura (the lining of the lungs) and your Peritoneum (your lower digestive track). Being nearly exclusive to asbestos exposure, there is almost no way to treat the cancer and is therefore extremely fatal.

Asbestos-related Lung Cancer

Asbestos-related Lung Cancer looks almost identical to other types of lung cancer that is caused by smoking etc. Due to the nature of asbestos, this articular type of lung-cancer can be more deadly than the types that are more easily identifiable.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is caused from heavy exposure of asbestos over multiple years. This condition causes heavy scarring of the lungs and in most cases can be fatal. Asbestosis causes a shortness of breath that progressively gets worse as the scarring continues to grow.

Pleural Thickening

A more general condition that occurs after heavy asbestos exposure. Pleural Thickening is the swelling and thickening of the lining of the lungs. As the condition grows, the lungs may become suffocated and can cause a shortness of breath and/or discomfort in the chest.

These fatal conditions aren’t the only things that asbestos can cause. Short term exposure to the asbestos fibres can cause dry coughs, shortness of breaths, loss of appetite followed by weight loss and chest pains of tightness.

Due to the fact that asbestos exposure is difficult to identify and many of the symptoms don’t appear until the fatal conditions are already set in place, asbestos is an extremely dangerous substance when not handled professionally. Around 5,000 workers die every year from conditions caused by asbestos exposure, that’s more deaths than our roads cause annually.

With all of this in mind, it’s very important to be educated on asbestos and aware of your surroundings in your everyday living environments. Make sure your homes and workplaces are surveyed for asbestos and keep yourself and everyone around you safe. To arrange an asbestos survey, please contact our team.

Do I need an Asbestos Survey?

Do I need an Asbestos Survey? For many buildings it is a legal requirement to conduct an asbestos survey, this means if you fail to comply you could be breaking the law. The main objective of an asbestos survey is to identify if there is asbestos in the building and note where it is. Knowing this information could save lives, as asbestos kills. In this blog, you’ll find out when you need an asbestos survey.

An asbestos survey will be required if:

  • The building was built before 2000
  • It is a non-domestic building
  • Public areas of domestic buildings
  • You are planning construction work

The building was built before 2000

When deciding if you require an asbestos survey, the first thing to consider is the age of the building. Asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999, therefore if the building was constructed in 2000, or later it should not contain asbestos.

Any building constructed before 2000 may have been built using asbestos materials. Asbestos was a popular material used for cement, insulation, doors, ceiling panels and so much more. Asbestos fibres are very difficult to see with the naked eye, hence the reason for an asbestos survey. One of the things your asbestos surveyor will do during your survey is take samples, these will then be sent to a lab for testing. At SE Asbestos, we only use UKAS accredited laboratories.

Non-domestic buildings

The Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR), Regulation 4, details the duty of building owners and managers to manage asbestos in non-domestic buildings. A non-domestic building includes workplaces, factories, offices, hospitals and schools. In short, a non-domestic building is any building that is not a home. 

To comply with legal requirements, the duty holder of a non-domestic building must conduct a survey to identify if asbestos is present in the building and the condition it is in. For non-domestic buildings, a management asbestos survey would be required. For more information on management asbestos surveys, take a look at our website or contact our team.

Public areas in domestic buildings

CAR also states that the duty holder of domestic buildings, such as flats, has a duty to manage asbestos in public areas of domestic buildings. A public area would include corridors or reception areas. If you are a duty holder of a domestic building that has public areas, you will be required to carry out a management asbestos survey to determine if asbestos is present.

If you are planning construction work

If you are considering construction work in a building you are the duty holder of, you are legally required to conduct a refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey. Asbestos is most dangerous when it is disturbed, that is why it is vital that a thorough survey is carried out by an asbestos surveyor before any construction work is carried out. This applies to both domestic and non-domestic buildings, and it does not matter what kind of construction work you are carrying out, you must carry out a refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey.

If you have any further questions regarding when you need an asbestos survey, or would like to book a survey with one of our surveyors please contact us.

What is an Asbestos Survey?

Asbestos surveys are a vital tool for those in construction and building management, as well as a variety of other industries. Asbestos surveys are required by law due to the high risks that asbestos materials present in buildings. An asbestos survey will include a range of important information, in this blog we will highlight the information you should see in an asbestos survey. What is an Asbestos Survey?

Information about your surveyor and the date

It is important to ensure you use a competent surveyor with experience of asbestos surveys as if your survey is not completed correctly or is inadequate the consequences can be disastrous. When you receive your asbestos survey report, ensure it includes the name of your surveyor as well as the company they represent and contact information. It is important this information is included, so you can contact your surveyor if you have any issues.

Executive summary 

The executive summary will give you a complete overview of your report and is a great way to get an understanding of your report in a bite size chunk.

Main findings

This section of the report will detail the key findings of the asbestos survey including the location of any asbestos-containing materials that could be damaged or disturbed by normal activity. Normal activity may include maintenance, installing new equipment or replacing pipes. It is important to ensure all asbestos-containing materials have been noted, so they can be monitored and reassessed in the future.

Recommendations

Your surveyor will include a list of recommendations in your asbestos survey report, this may include removing materials or getting materials checked out in greater detail. This is an important section of the report to read as some recommendation may need to be actioned for the building to be safe.

Any further actions

Any further action required will be detailed in this section, this may include additional actions that need to be completed in order for construction work to be carried out or for the building to be occupied again.

Details of the laboratory 

When your surveyor completes your survey they will take samples of any asbestos-containing materials to be tested. It is vital the name and contact details of the laboratory is included in your report, so you can contact them if necessary.

If you require an asbestos survey, please contact our team on 07872 054963 or email info@se-asbestos-surveys.co.uk for a quote or to discuss your requirements. 

https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/