In the early 1900’s asbestos Surveys were carried out by qualified professionals to determine the amount of asbestos waste and the associated risk. The heavy fire and chemical resistance and naturally occurring nature of asbestos made it an extremely popular construction material in the early 1900’s.
While it continues to be used in limited quantities today, we know now that the microscopic asbestos fibers that once made asbestos so resilient can easily become airborne, emit ionizing radiation, and even pose a health risk. Without this knowledge many companies continued to use asbestos products despite the knowledge of the negative consequences. The result was an influx of new asbestos products that unfortunately included asbestos-containing materials in all areas of production.
As the Health and Safety Executive called for an end to the rampant use of asbestos in buildings in 2021, many companies scrambled to find a replacement material. The result was a myriad of choices; a bewildering number of materials that included asbestos including ceiling tiles, flooring, roofing shingles, insulation, and roofing shingles.
By the time the survey began it was obvious that this vast selection of materials contained asbestos and that the amount of asbestos found in any one product was likely to be the result of improper quality control during the demolition of the structure or the contamination of the surface from demolition debris. It is important to note that this does not include the instances where asbestos dust was brought into a building during renovation or other construction activities.
When conducting an asbestos survey London, you will need to understand your specific needs. Depending on the type of renovation you are undertaking, the survey will determine the concentration of asbestos and the potential exposure level. If your renovation involves remodeling or construction, the survey should identify where the asbestos-containing materials were located during construction or demolition.
If there are multiple rooms that will be exposed to asbestos dust during the renovation project, the survey should also identify where these materials were stored. Again, if you are renovating an office building, the materials stored in the offices should also be identified.
In either case, the survey should identify the location of the asbestos-containing materials, the condition of their condition, and the concentration of asbestos in these materials. Next, the surveyor should assess whether there are any humans who may have been exposed to asbestos while in the area of the renovation.
While there are no legal limits as to how long a person can be exposed to asbestos, the general guideline is that individuals under the age of 18 should not be allowed to perform certain types of jobs that might require the individual to be near asbestos. In addition, the surveyor should advise you of what steps need to be taken to control the potential exposure of your employees during the renovation process.
Again, these recommendations will depend on the specific circumstances surrounding your renovation. If you are performing a bit of renovations and there are no humans present, you may not need to worry about a safety training program.