Asbestos Roof

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibre which is mined in various parts of the world, notably South Africa and Canada. Its properties of resistance to heat, electricity and sound, make it useful for a variety of purposes, particularly brake linings and insulation.

You can still find asbestos  present in a wide variety of buildings, including hospitals, schools and homes, often in walls and ceilings as well as in lagging around steam pipes and boilers. It can be a hazard to health and for this reason its use has declined considerably in recent years. Strict regulations now exist to prevent dangerous levels of exposure.

Providing the asbestos is well maintained and preferably covered by an impermeable layer of paint or other material so that it is not releasing dust, it does not present any hazard to health. It is only the inhalation of loose asbestos fibres which causes disease.

People who have been  exposed   to substantial asbestos fibres/dust can get a disease called asbestosis.

Asbestosis is caused when people have inhaled loose asbestos fibres/dust.  These irritate the lining of the lungs causing inflammation/ scarring and shrinkage therefore making it difficult to breathe.  This can happen years (even 20 years) after the initial inhalation of the asbestos fibres/dust. #

There are a number of other diseases that can be caused by inhalation of Asbestos dust from Asbestos roofing including Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma.

 

 

Removing asbestos

If you hire a tradesperson to remove asbestos from your home, check that they have the proper training and equipment to do this.

If you choose to remove asbestos materials yourself, make sure you’re wearing the correct personal protective equipment. This includes a dust mask approved for asbestos and a disposable overall. For full details, see the guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

You should also take the following precautions:

•keep other people away from the working area

•wet the material well with water containing a little washing up liquid (check there is no potential for contact with electricity first)

•always remove whole sheets or components; don’t break them up

•place any loose or small items in strong plastic labelled bags and seal

•clean up all dust with a damp cloth and then seal it in a plastic bag whilst damp

•don’t use a domestic vacuum cleaner, as dust may pass through the filter

If in any doubt, contact your local council for advice.