The Importance of Proper Asbestos Removal 

Asbestos still poses a serious risk when it comes to any demolition or refurbishment work, and it’s extremely important that asbestos is removed and disposed of appropriately and according to legal requirements. 

What is asbestos 

Asbestos refers to six naturally occurring minerals, composed of flexible, soft and heat resistant fibres, which were used for decades as building materials. 

While Asbestos has now been banned in the UK since 1999, buildings constructed prior to this are very likely to contain asbestos in some form. 

What to do if you find asbestos 

If you are concerned that you may have discovered asbestos, it’s important to act appropriately. If the building materials containing asbestos remain intact, they pose very little risk, in this case if possible you must leave these materials intact and seal the area back up. 

When asbestos containing materials are disturbed, asbestos fibres are released into the air, which is where the risk of asbestos is posed. When these fibres are inhaled by people in the surrounding environment, they can lead to serious lung conditions, including lung scarring, and even forms of cancer. The symptoms of asbestos related illness often do not appear for decades after exposure, so treatment is extremely difficult. 

Consequently, if asbestos containing materials have been, or need to be disturbed, you must act quickly to protect yourself and those around you. If you suspect the presence of asbestos, you must halt your work immediately, until this has been confirmed. If the materials are confirmed as containing asbestos, they must be removed and disposed of properly, by qualified professionals- never attempt to remove asbestos yourself. 

Asbestos disposal services 

There are strict regulations around the disposal of asbestos containing materials. Asbestos must only be removed and disposed of by a person who is properly trained, with the right equipment, as any waste with more than 0.1% of asbestos is classed as hazardous waste.

We can aid in the disposal of asbestos-containing materials safely and lawfully, with the correct PPE/RPE, and packing that meets regulatory standards.

 

 

If you have any questions about asbestos disposal, or require our asbestos disposal service please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Staffordshire Skip Hire, our team is here to help!