Where can asbestos be found in commercial buildings?

Asbestos can be found in an commercial or residential building built before 2000.  Many of the common building materials may contain asbestos , therefore you may come across these during your work.

When am I most at risk?

I've found asbestos during work being carried out , what should I do?

You should stop work immediately, confirm what it is or assume it is asbestos and carry out a risk assessment. You should only carry out non-licensed work on asbestos if you have had the appropriate information, instruction and training

What is asbestos waste?

Asbestos waste describes any asbestos products or materials that are ready to be disposed. This includes any contaminated building materials, dust, rubble, used tools that cannot be decontaminated, disposable PPE (personal protective equipment) and damp rags that have been used for cleaning.

Asbestos waste should only be handled by a licensed disposal site. 

What are the health risks of asbestos exposure?

Asbestos is responsible for over 5000 deaths every year. Exposure to asbestos can cause four main diseases:

• Mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the lungs; it is always fatal and is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos)
• Asbestos-related lung cancer (which is almost always fatal)
• Asbestosis (a scarring of the lungs which is not always fatal but can be a very debilitating disease, greatly affecting quality of life)
• Diffuse pleural thickening (a thickening of the membrane surrounding the lungs which can restrict lung expansion leading to breathlessness.)

It can take anywhere between 15-60 years for any symptoms to develop after exposure