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Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which is mined from deposits in rocks beneath the earth’s surface. There are several different kinds, but all share the same fibrous appearance, only varying in colour. In total, asbestos comes in six different forms:
• Actinolite
• Amosite
• Anthophyllite
• Crocidolite
• Tremolite
• Chrysotile
Its long, thin fibres are flexible but very strong, making it an ideal construction material. Humans have been mining and using asbestos for at least 4,500 years, although its use is now banned in more than 60 countries worldwide because of the health risks it poses.
Asbestos began to be used as a construction material in the early 1900s and was combined with a huge range of other substances to make a wealth of products, from wall panels and roofs to floor tiles and insulation.
By the middle of the 20th century, asbestos products were prevalent. Its strength, moisture resistance, resilience to heat, affordability and insulative properties made it something of a 'wonder' material.
However, throughout the latter part of the twentieth century, an increasing number of studies were conducted demonstrating the clear health risks presented by asbestos. Not only were those who worked with it at risk but secondary exposure through fibres lodged in clothing was possible as well as those living and working in buildings constructed using asbestos materials.
As a result, the use of asbestos products of all kinds began to decline. By the late 90s, pressure on the UK government to act had grown, and the Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 was passed into law, making the importation and use of asbestos in the UK illegal. However, because it was used for so long and was so commonplace, it is still common to find asbestos in buildings today, more than 25 years after the ban was enforced.
Yes, asbestos in house construction was common, especially during the post-war housing boom as it was cheap and provided a wealth of benefits including water resistance, fire resistance and insulation.
If you own or operate a commercial, industrial or retail premises built before 1999, there’s a chance it contains asbestos building materials somewhere in its structure.
Asbestos is made up of millions of tiny fibres. When these fibres are disturbed, they become airborne, where they can be inhaled. Once in your lungs, they attach to the lung wall and begin to cause damage.
Over a period of often several decades, this can lead to conditions such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
The dangers of asbestos are particularly apparent in places where it was formerly mined, like Wittenoom in Australia. The town was home to a massive crocidolite asbestos mine until 1966. Mine workers would regularly bring home contaminated materials and blue asbestos used to literally blow through the streets. Now, it is estimated that as many as a quarter of the former mine workers will die because of mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure in the mine.
The only reliable way to locate asbestos materials within your premises is with an asbestos survey.
This will involve a trained professional attending your site with specialist equipment and protective clothing to review your property’s construction and collect samples of any suspected Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) for laboratory analysis.
Legal Responsibilities and Regulation
As of 2012, the management of asbestos in the UK is governed by the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR). These regulations stipulate that a duty holder is responsible for the safe management of any ACMs at their premises. This applies to commercial, retail and industrial premises, as well as the communal areas within shared rented accommodation.
The duty holder is usually defined as the building owner, manager or operator – anyone with responsibility for the property. In accordance with the CAR, the duty holder must ensure that their property is regularly surveyed for asbestos and that a robust asbestos management plan is in place.
The same regulations do not apply to homeowners.
Despite stringent governance, asbestos in the UK is still an ongoing issue, and the government is under pressure to require more than just ongoing management.
In 2022, the Work and Pensions Committee published a report titled ‘The Health and Safety Executive’s Approach to Asbestos Management’. In this report, the Committee suggested a 40-year deadline for the removal of asbestos from all public buildings in the UK, in light of the dangers it still poses to building occupants. The government refused to accept the timeframe, stating it believed that the current CAR regulations were sufficient.
Since then, charities, MPs and several asbestos surveying and removal companies have called on the government to accept the recommendations of the Committee’s report. Figures published by Mesothelioma UK in a 2023 report suggest that a rapid removal programme over 10 years would save the British public around £3.6 billion.
As pressure mounts, it is possible that we may see a change in the government’s attitude to asbestos in buildings.
EMS have been conducting expert asbestos surveys in Worcester, Hereford, Cardiff, London & and across the UK since 2003. We are UKAS-accredited and highly experienced, delivering exceptional service.
Call us on 01432 263333, email us at info@emsgroupuk.com or fill out our contact form here.
