Asbestos safety

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a natural mineral made up of many small fibres. It’s strong and can stand up to hear and chemicals, and has been used in buildings for many years. Since 1993, the widespread use of asbestos has been banned for health and safety reasons.   

Why can asbestos be harmful?

If you breathe in asbestos fibres, they can become stuck in your lungs. This can lead to lung diseases, especially cancer. But, asbestos is generally only a risk if you disturb or damage it. This can release fibres into the air. If materials have asbestos in them but they're in good condition or unlikely to be disturbed or damaged, it’s usually safer to leave them where they are.

How do I recognise asbestos?

It’s not easy to tell if something has asbestos in it. They only way to be sure is to test it, which must only be done by a trained asbestos surveyor. If there’s asbestos in your home, it’s unlikely to be harmful. If you find something that might have asbestos in it, contact us for advice.

Where can asbestos be found?

Asbestos can be found in all sorts of different materials, such as:

•  Insulating boards (e.g. on backs of doors)

• Asbestos lagging (e.g. around pipes)

• Floor tiles (e.g. in bathrooms)

• Asbestos cement (e.g. roof sheds)

• Textured coatings (e.g. artex).  

What will be done if I find asbestos in my home?

If asbestos is known to be in something that is in good condition, it will be labelled, monitored and removed as part of any future planned works. If it needs to be removed, a specialist company will do it safely without any risk to you or your family.