MENU
Asbestos What You Need to Know
Introduction
Asbestos….
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fibre being composed of many microscopic "fibrils" that can be released into the atmosphere by abrasion, damage and other processes.
Asbestos Types….
Chrysotile
Chrysotile, is obtained from serpentinite rocks which are common throughout the world.
Chrysotile appears under the microscope as a white fibre.
Chrysotile has been used more than any other type and accounts for about 95% of the asbestos found in buildings in UK. Chrysotile is more flexible than amphibole types of asbestos and can be spun and woven into fabric. The most common use was corrugated asbestos cement roofing primarily for outbuildings, warehouses, and garages. It may also be found in sheets or panels used for ceilings and sometimes for walls and floors. Chrysotile has been a component in joint compound and some plasters. Numerous other items have been made containing chrysotile including brake linings, fire barriers in fuse boxes, pipe insulation, floor tiles, residential shingles, and gaskets for high-temperature equipment.
Amosite
Amosite, often referred to as brown asbestos, is a trade name for the amphiboles belonging to the cummingtonite-grunerite solid solution series, commonly from South Africa.
Amosite is seen under a microscope as a grey-white vitreous fibre. It is found most frequently as a fire retardant in thermal insulation products, asbestos insulating board and ceiling tiles.
Crocidolite
Crocidolite, commonly known as blue asbestos, is the fibrous form of the amphibole riebeckite, found primarily in southern Africa, but also in Australia and Bolivia. One formula given for crocidolite Crocidolite is seen under a microscope as a blue fibre.
Crocidolite commonly occurs as soft friable fibres. Asbestiform amphibole may also occur as soft friable fibres but some varieties such as amosite are commonly straighter. All forms of asbestos are fibrillar in that they are composed of fibres with breadths less than 1 micrometre in bundles of very great widths. Asbestos with particularly fine fibres is also referred to as "amianthus".
Other….
Tremolite asbestos, Actinolite asbestos and Anthophyllite asbestos are less commonly used industrially but can still be found in a variety of construction materials and insulation materials and have been used in a few consumer products.
Inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to various serious lung conditions, including asbestosis and cancer, so it is now notorious as a health and safety hazard.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that principally affects the pleura (the external lining of the lung) and the peritoneum (the lining of the lower digestive tract). It takes many years to develop following the inhalation of asbestos fibres. Cases are often diagnosed at an advanced stage as symptoms are typically non-specific and appear late in the development of the disease. It is almost always fatal, and often within twelve months of symptom onset.
There were 2,369 mesothelioma deaths in Great Britain in 2019; this is 7% lower than the annual average number of 2540 over the period 2012-2018.
Asbestos-related lung cancer
Asbestos is one of the most common causes of lung cancer after tobacco smoking. Lung cancer usually has no specific clinical signs associated with particular causes and so it is very difficult to be sure about the causes of individual cases. However, the overall proportion of annual deaths that are attributable to past asbestos exposures can be estimated from epidemiological information. Lung cancer is still typically fatal within a few years of diagnosis and so, as with the mesothelioma, the number of annual deaths is broadly similar to the annual incidence of new cases.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a form of pneumoconiosis caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres, which is characterised by scarring and inflammation of the lung tissue. It is a chronic and irreversible condition in which symptoms typically start to develop several decades following exposure to asbestos. These often progress to seriously affect normal daily activity and can lead to various complications which can be fatal.
Deaths mentioning asbestosis (excluding those that also mention “mesothelioma”) have increased substantially over several decades: there were 490 such deaths in 2019 compared with around 100 per year in the late 1970s. Typically, in recent years, around 2-3% of these deaths were among women.
Non-malignant pleural disease
Non-malignant pleural disease is a non-cancerous condition affecting the outer lining of the lung (the pleura). It includes two forms of disease: diffuse pleural thickening and the less serious pleural plaques. A substantial number of cases continue to occur each year in Great Britain, mainly due to workplace asbestos exposures many years ago.
All of these diseases have a long latency, meaning it takes a long time – typically decades – for symptoms to occur following exposure to asbestos.
Who’s Responsible for asbestos…..
The duty to manage asbestos is contained in regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. It requires the person who has the duty (i.e. the 'duty holder') to:
take reasonable steps to find out if there are materials containing asbestos in non-domestic premises, and if so, its amount, where it is and what condition it is in
presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not
make, and keep up to date, a record of the location and condition of the asbestos- containing materials - or materials which are presumed to contain asbestos
assess the risk of anyone being exposed to fibres from the materials identified
prepare a plan that sets out in detail how the risks from these materials will be managed
take the necessary steps to put the plan into action
periodically review and monitor the plan and the arrangements to act on it so that the plan remains relevant and up to date
provide information on the location and condition of the materials to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb them
There is also a requirement on others to co-operate as far as is necessary to allow the duty holder to comply with the above requirements.
If you are dealing with asbestos, remember it is a dangerous substance and exposure can lead to the above-mentioned asbestos related diseases.
Projects relating to the asbestos works are generally outside of the scope of works for the project being undertaken. Whether that be refurbishment of a particular area, demolition or a stand alone project understanding and undertaking your duties to manage asbestos can be a daunting task that’s where Greensurv Group Ltd are happy to assist in any capacity required.
Stay Safe Call Today!
Prohibited use
You may not use the Website for any of the following purposes: in any way which causes, or may cause, damage to the Website or interferes with any other person's use or enjoyment of the Website; in any way which is harmful, unlawful, illegal, abusive, harassing, threatening or otherwise objectionable or in breach of any applicable law, regulation, governmental order; making, transmitting or storing electronic copies of Content protected by copyright without the permission of the owner.
Registration
You must ensure that the details provided by you on registration or at any time are correct and complete.
You must inform us immediately of any changes to the information that you provide when registering by updating your personal details to ensure we can communicate with you effectively.
We may suspend or cancel your registration with immediate effect for any reasonable purposes or if you breach these terms and conditions.
You may cancel your registration at any time by informing us in writing to the address at the end of these terms and conditions. If you do so, you must immediately stop using the Website. Cancellation or suspension of your registration does not affect any statutory rights.
Links to other websites
This Website may contain links to other sites. Unless expressly stated, these sites are not under the control of Greensurv Group Ltd or that of our affiliates.
We assume no responsibility for the content of such Websites and disclaim liability for any and all forms of loss or damage arising out of the use of them.
The inclusion of a link to another site on this Website does not imply any endorsement of the sites themselves or of those in control of them.
Privacy and Cookies Policy
Use of the Website is also governed by our Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy, which are incorporated into these terms and conditions by this reference. Click here to view the Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy.
Availability of the Website and disclaimers
Any online facilities, tools, services or information that Greensurv Group Ltd makes available through the Website (the Service) is provided "as is" and on an "as available" basis. We give no warranty that the Service will be free of defects and/or faults. To the maximum extent permitted by the law, we provide no warranties (express or implied) of fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy of information, compatibility and satisfactory quality. Greensurv Group Ltd is under no obligation to update information on the Website.
Whilst Greensurv Group Ltd uses reasonable endeavours to ensure that the Website is secure and free of errors, viruses and other malware, we give no warranty or guaranty in that regard and all Users take responsibility for their own security, that of their personal details and their computers.
Greensurv Group Ltd accepts no liability for any disruption or non-availability of the Website.
Greensurv Group Ltd reserves the right to alter, suspend or discontinue any part (or the whole of) the Website including, but not limited to, any products and/or services available. These terms and conditions shall continue to apply to any modified version of the Website unless it is expressly stated otherwise.
Limitation of liability
Nothing in these terms and conditions will: (a) limit or exclude our or your liability for death or personal injury resulting from our or your negligence, as applicable; (b) limit or exclude our or your liability for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or (c) limit or exclude any of our or your liabilities in any way that is not permitted under applicable law.
We will not be liable to you in respect of any losses arising out of events beyond our reasonable control.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Greensurv Group Ltd accepts no liability for any of the following: any business losses, such as loss of profits, income, revenue, anticipated savings, business, contracts, goodwill or a. b. c. any business losses, such as loss of profits, income, revenue, anticipated savings, business, contracts, goodwill or commercial opportunities; loss or corruption of any data, database or software; any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage.
General
You may not transfer any of your rights under these terms and conditions to any other person. We may transfer our rights under these terms and conditions where we reasonably believe your rights will not be affected.
These terms and conditions may be varied by us from time to time. Such revised terms will apply to the Website from the date of publication. Users should check the terms and conditions regularly to ensure familiarity with the then current version.
These terms and conditions together with the Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy contain the whole agreement between the parties relating to its subject matter and supersede all prior discussions, arrangements or agreements that might have taken place in relation to the terms and conditions.
The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 shall not apply to these terms and conditions and no third party will have any right to enforce or rely on any provision of these terms and conditions.
If any court or competent authority finds that any provision of these terms and conditions (or part of any provision) is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that provision or part-provision will, to the extent required, be deemed to be deleted, and the validity and enforceability of the other provisions of these terms and conditions will not be affected.
Unless otherwise agreed, no delay, act or omission by a party in exercising any right or remedy will be deemed a waiver of that, or any other, right or remedy.
This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted according to the law of England and Wales and all disputes arising under the Agreement (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English and Welsh courts.
Greensurv Group Ltd details
Greensurv Group Ltd is a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 15852224 whose registered address is 7 Fortis House, King Edwards Way , Witham, Essex, CM81PX and it operates the Website www.greensurv.co.uk. You can contact Greensurv Group Ltd by email on info@greensurv.co.uk.