Industrial Asbestos: Where Can It Be Found?
Any industrial or residential building that was constructed before the year 2000 has the potential to contain asbestos. If building materials that contain asbestos are disturbed, harmful fibres can be released and inhaled by individuals in the immediate vicinity. Prolonged exposure to these substances can cause serious health problems, in some cases, many years later.
Even the smallest levels of exposure can pose a considerable health risk to staff, including builders, contractors or teachers. However, because so many common building materials contain asbestos, it can be difficult to detect.
Click on the hotspots on the image below to find out where asbestos can be found inside an industrial property
Where Can Asbestos Be Found?
Due to its popularity as an insulator, asbestos is commonly found in roofs, walls and under floor tiles. However, all property types are different, and the presence of asbestos-containing fibres often depends on the company that originally built the building and the work that was carried out before you moved in. Asbestos in construction industry settings is likely to be in different parts of a building compared to asbestos materials in residential buildings.
How Can Industrial Employers Find Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs)?
Employers in any field have a duty to make sure their premises are safe. Risk assessments should be undertaken yearly, or whenever a change to the workplace occurs. However, dealing with asbestos fibres warrants an extra level of care due to its hazards.
- Survey for asbestos: a professional asbestos survey should be done by a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited company or individual. The survey can help identify ACMs and assess their condition. Surveys should involve sampling and analysis to confirm the presence or absence of ACMs.
- Check building records and plans: these could include relevant asbestos information about the building's construction, any refurbishments, and even specific materials used. If the building was built or renovated before 2000, it is quite possible that ACMs may be present.
- Identify likely locations: asbestos was used in a wide range of building materials, often for fireproofing, insulation and sound absorption. It could be found in pipe insulation, ceiling tiles, boilers, sprayed coatings, insulating boards, cement products, floor tiles, textured coatings like Artex, and even toilet cisterns.
- Hire professional assistance: any investigation or removal of suspected ACMs should be performed by trained and competent professionals. If you do come across potential ACMs, do not disturb them. Asbestos becomes dangerous when it is disturbed and its fibres are released into the air, where they can be inhaled.
- Develop an asbestos management plan: once the presence and location of ACMs are confirmed, employers should develop an asbestos management plan to manage the risks. This includes maintaining a record of the location and condition of asbestos or ACMs in your premises, regular checks to ensure the ACMs have not degraded or been disturbed, and ensuring that anyone likely to disturb asbestos is informed about its location and condition.
If you have found that your employer has failed in their duty to properly survey your workplace and it has caused you to develop an asbestos-related disease, you should speak to one of our expert solicitors about making an asbestos in industry personal injury claim.
Types of Asbestos
Although the use of asbestos in construction has been banned since 1999, the chances that it could be present in an industrial setting are high.
There are three types of asbestos that are regularly found in places of work:
Amosite (brown asbestos)
Chrysotile (white asbestos)
FAQs about asbestos in industrial settings and building materials
- When was asbestos most commonly used in the construction industry?
Asbestos was most commonly used in construction during the mid-20th century, particularly between the 1950s and the late 1980s. Its various beneficial properties, such as excellent insulation capabilities, resistance to fire and durability, made it a popular choice for many building applications.
However, the use of asbestos was fully banned in the UK in 1999 when its health impacts were fully understood. Before this, the Asbestos Industry Regulations 1931 limited the use of asbestos-containing construction materials, but did not outright stop their use. Therefore, if a building was constructed or refurbished before the year 2000, there is a chance that asbestos-containing materials may be present.
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- What PPE should construction workers use to protect against asbestos fibres?
Here are some types of protective gear that construction workers should use to protect themselves against asbestos:
- Respiratory protective equipment (RPE): not just any mask is suitable for asbestos work. Workers need a mask that fits well and has the appropriate filter. In most cases, this will be a half or full-face mask with a particulate filter of at least class P3, which is designed to filter out very fine dusts and fibres. Remember that you must be face-fit tested by a competent person to ensure the mask fits properly.
- Disposable overalls: overalls should be of a suitable standard to prevent the penetration of asbestos fibres. The cuffs should be elasticated and the overall should include a hood to accommodate RPE.
- Disposable gloves and footwear: gloves and footwear should be disposable, or if not, they need to be decontaminated after use along with the other protective clothing.
- Personal decontamination: there should be facilities for workers to decontaminate themselves when leaving the work area. This might include showers for full body washing.
It is essential that any protective gear is worn correctly and is put on and taken off in the correct manner to avoid contaminating other areas with asbestos fibres. All personal protective equipment (PPE) should be checked regularly to ensure it is in good condition and workers should also be trained in the proper use and disposal of PPE.
Remember that these measures are the last line of defence and every effort should be made to reduce the release of asbestos fibres at the source. This might include using safer methods of work, wetting materials to reduce dust, and using enclosures to contain dust.
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- What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive type of cancer that primarily develops in the lining of the lungs but can also occur in the lining of the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) and, less commonly, in the lining around the heart or testicles.
The primary cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. The disease often takes many years, sometimes decades, to develop after the initial exposure to asbestos fibres.
Symptoms of mesothelioma can vary depending on the location of the cancer, but they often include:
- Chest or abdominal pain
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
Because these symptoms are also common to many other conditions, mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages, and its implications typically lead to death.
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Talk to Us
For more information about what you can do if you have contracted an asbestos-related disease, call our personal injury team today on 0345 872 6666. Alternatively, fill out an online contact form and we will be in touch at a time convenient for you.
