Asbestos is a dangerous substance and if you are living or working within a building that was constructed prior to the year 2000 in the UK, the chances are that there are some asbestos-containing materials present in the building. There is a legal duty and responsibility to the health of those people who live and work within a building to undertake regular checks for safety within a building that you are the owner/manager of. This includes checking for asbestos should there be a plan to undertake any refurbishment work on a property, or if the plot of land is to be worked on and the structure is to be demolished. Before any work can be conducted it is vital that a thorough asbestos management survey takes place.
An asbestos management service is a practical approach to making sure that every person you are responsible for within a building is safe from harm when it comes to the dangers of asbestos-containing materials. It only takes one breath of asbestos fibres to potentially cause life-threatening illnesses that might not manifest symptoms for many years and decades to come. Asbestos is a real silent-killer and is therefore vital that you have the right support when attempting to locate asbestos in a building.
There are a few reasons why you might wish to test for asbestos. The first, is that it has been discovered in the building by any person, accidentally. In these cases, it is vital that the area the asbestos has been found in is safely cordoned off as quickly as possible before an asbestos survey team is called to undertake a further investigation. Other reasons could be that the building is due to be renovated substantially, which could disturb asbestos-containing materials that are present in the building, or the structure is to be completely demolished to make way for a new development on the plot of land.
Once the asbestos management survey is underway, the sections of the building with asbestos present will be secured and sealed, with the professionals deciding the best approach for each item that contains asbestos. It could be that it is possible to repair and seal the materials and keep people safe from harm, but in most cases, a licensed asbestos removal service will be necessary.
Working with any kinds of asbestos management survey is an important part of owning and managing a building where there might be cause for concern regarding the presence of asbestos-containing materials. It is vital that before any work is undertaken on a building, whether to demolish it or to substantially renovate and refurbish it, that a full asbestos survey takes place to ascertain if there is any asbestos present, and how much there is. From there, an asbestos removal service can safely remove any potential dangers and keep the building safe for your residents and tenants, no matter the use of the building. This is where it is vitally important that you only hire a licensed asbestos management company to perform the asbestos survey and removal services, keeping everyone safe in the process.
