Man has used asbestos for centuries. However, it is over the last 100 or so years that its use has been widespread – an estimated 500,000 buildings in the UK still contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) within their fabric.
The dangers of asbestos have long been known. First commercially mined in Canada, in 1879, it had been added to a list of dangerous dusts by the UK and French governments by the early 1900s and in 1918 one insurance company, recognising the connection between asbestos and lung disease, refused to provide life cover to asbestos workers. It wasn’t, however, until 1993 when most insurance companies removed asbestos cover from their public liability policies.
The health risks associated with exposure to asbestos include asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. These diseases have relatively long latency periods of between 15 – 40 years and the problems created in the recent past will continue to have a significant impact for the foreseeable future. There are some estimates that the mortality rate for asbestos-related diseases will continue to rise from the current 4,000 per year to 10,000 deaths per year by 2016. These deaths are not limited to asbestos workers but include persons accidentally and unknowingly exposed to the harmful fibres released when asbestos containing materials are disturbed. The HSE recently announced that 20 tradesmen, including 4 electricians and 6 plumbers, die every week as a direct result of exposure to asbestos – often because they do not understand the risks of exposure.
These frightening statistics are what has driven the HSE’s commitment to redraw the regulations surrounding these harmful products.
Since 2004, duty holders (owners, occupiers, managers and those with responsibility for non-domestic premises) have had a responsibility to locate, identify, assess and manage all asbestos-containing materials on their non-domestic premises. It should be remembered that this is a duty to manage, not simply a duty to survey or provide a register, and over 500 local authority officers have now been trained in the requirements of the law and been instructed to raise the issue of asbestos management at every premises they visit. Should an officer be unsatisfied with the answers they receive, they will be taking action, which could result in improvement and prohibition notices or even prosecution. Recent cases where employers had failed to manage asbestos on their premises have resulted in fines ranging from £20,000 to £50,000 even though surveys or registers were in place.
Having had a survey carried out by a competent person, duty holders are expected to devise a written management plan outlining what action they intend to take to address high and medium risks, including a budget for the works. They must also state how they intend to monitor the condition of those ACMs they intend to leave in position and draw up emergency procedures to deal with any disturbance or release of harmful fibres.
The most recent legislation placed a requirement upon employers to ensure that any employees likely to encounter asbestos as part of their work receive suitable asbestos awareness training in an effort to eliminate accidental and unknowing exposure. There has been some concern over the last few years regarding who carries out this training and what it should include, and employers must satisfy themselves of the competency of the training providers. One way to do this is to check that they are affiliated to UKATA, ARCA or NDTG, where they will have been audited.
A health and safety consultancy service can help you establish the presence, location, quantity, nature and condition of any asbestos on your premises by undertaking an asbestos site survey and reporting on the findings. This report will indicate whether further intrusive investigation is required.
After analyzing the asbestos survey report health and safety consultants can then put together a management system to allow you to properly discharge your obligations.
Watch the video related to asbestos
Steel mill workers are among the occupational populations that are at a higher-than-normal risk of asbestos exposure, and therefore have a correspondingly high rate of developing the rare cancer mesothelioma, which targets the lining of the chest cavities.
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how can i find out if asbestos was used in my popcorn ceiling?my house was built towards the end of 1984. is there a chance that there might be asbestos in the acoustic (popcorn) ceiling?
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builders and workers need a special license to work with asbestos now. Try this company. http://www.asbestosprofessionals.com.au/index.htm?gclid=CK6g0MLtjJMCFREqagodUVWPfA
or yellow pages online.
don't work on the room until your sure it's safe.
The pipe can be left in place and actually should be as long as it's in good condition.
What needs to be done is to seal the broke end so no more frayed off fibers can enter the atmosphere. That is of course if the pipe is no longer being used.
Asbestos is dangerous, but over concern creates a scare.
Since the damaged end is not in your living quarters and is up in the attic, I hope you get to feeling better about it.
Construction workers can be exposed to 0.1 fiber/cubic centimeter over an 8 hour work day and an excursion limit of 1.0 fiber/cubic centimeter as averaged over 30 minutes.
Call them back to wrap and seal it up. Check their work and forget about it.
Of course, if you want to have it removed, by all means do so. It's just that fibers are released a lot of time during removal. That's why I support leaving it there until necessary to remove it.
Unfortunately, for you, you own the property so clean up is your responsibility.
If the architect or contractor had found asbestos at the start, you would have had to pay for the removal.
From your description, their errors did not cost you anything beyond the cost of the removal.
Don't you just hate it when you get hit in the pocketbook really hard?
Each state has its own program. You really need the asbestos inspector and asbestos management planner licenses together in today's job market. The class takes a week and then you have to apprentice under a licensed inspector for a certain number of inspections. The number will vary by state. Then you apply for the license.
I moved to NC from VA several years ago and I maintain my licenses in VA. How certain states view other state's licenses varies if you try to switch. No matter what state you do the work, you must have a license in that state that is current, so I don't do NC jobs.
USEPA only sets the regulations for the training required and along with states approves the training. The license work is strictly a state function. I even believe DC has a separate program. I suggest you find a company in the state you are going and give them a call.
You've probably not got anything to worry about. Assuming your office(s) have a drop ceiling, they'll simply lift out several panels to run the signal wires.
If not a drop ceiling, small holes (1/4" or smaller) will be drilled to chase the wires.
If it concerns you that much, you could wear a face mask like medical personnel use or take personal days while the work is done.
Good luck…
You Don't!
Nearly every house built before 1960 has asbestos in it somewhere. Asbestos was a commonly used product at that time, due to its fire resistance capabilities. It is not illegal to have asbestos in a home and/or rental property, and it is not dangerous as long as it is 'encapsulated', such as in exterior asbestos siding or interior floor tiles.
First the contractor seals the area with plastic, then uses a HEPA filter to create a negative pressure situation. This keeps the airborne fibers in the area. They are soaked with a soap solution to keep them as intact as possible, then they are scraped clean. The asbestos is placed in plastic garbage bags, which are tightly sealed. This bag is placed inside another bag, which is also tightly sealed. When the job is complete, the bags are taken to special landfills and disposed of carefully.
Leaving the asbestos pipewrap in place is dangerous. All it takes is a good bump to release fibers into the air. I wouldn't expose myself or my children to this. Abatement is pricey, but how much is your life worth? Have it taken care of, it's the right thing to do.
Hope this helps.
The pipe insulation since the asbestos fibers are loosely bound. It is the very fine asbestos filaments getting caught in lungs that do the damage.
I'd "negotiate" for removal of such or walk away from the deal (unless I have the removal priced in my offer).