Asbestos Removal Harlow Essex (CM20): One of the most terrifying and perilous materials encountered in our homes is asbestos, comprising millions of minuscule fibres capable of becoming airborne due to their incredibly small size.
Exposure to asbestos dust is commonly understood by the inhabitants of Harlow to be associated with various fatal lung conditions. Accordingly, the proper removal of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) is imperative to prevent contamination of the removal site and minimise unnecessary exposure to those nearby. Asbestos removal, therefore, necessitates a high level of skill.
Many health complaints, often fatal, can arise from the inhalation of these fibres. Individuals exposed to a high concentration of asbestos removal in the air face a significantly greater risk of developing cancer or other related ailments. Asbestos is widely regarded as an extremely hazardous substance, and it is imperative to minimize all possible contact with it, despite the absence of identified safe thresholds.
When engaged in asbestos removal, it is important to bear in mind that the health effects are exclusively linked to the inhalation of dust. Therefore, it is essential to eliminate any activities that generate dust. An exemplification of this is the use of power tools on ACMs.
There are times when asbestos, if left undisturbed, presents no risk to you or your loved ones. However, in the event that you do have asbestos, it is of utmost importance to promptly arrange for its removal.
If you have asbestos present in your home or suspect its presence, it is crucial to enlist the services of a reputable asbestos removal company. Although asbestos in good condition poses minimal risk, its deterioration and generation of dust can have fatal consequences. Harlow saw extensive use of asbestos for home insulation until the mid-1980s, implying that a substantial number of homes could potentially contain asbestos. Asbestos was utilized in insulation, floor tiles, and various other building materials.
When choosing an asbestos removal specialist in Harlow, it is crucial to ensure that the removal process is conducted in a manner that eliminates or minimises the generation of dust. Many jurisdictions have regulations governing asbestos removal activities. However, if you happen to be in an area without such regulations or if you intend to undertake the removal yourself, the following 10 points can offer valuable guidance:
- As previously mentioned, it is advisable to refrain from using power tools. Grinding asbestos cement sheets has been proven to generate exceptionally high levels of asbestos-containing dust.
- The area where asbestos removal is taking place should be off-limits to others at all times.
- The obligatory use of the appropriate personal protective equipment cannot be stressed enough, and it must include, at a minimum, a particulate respirator and protective coveralls.
- Wetting down ACM is encouraged during the removal process wherever possible and safe to proceed.
- Once the removal is finished, it is crucial to perform a comprehensive cleaning and decontamination of the removal area. This will entail using either a suitable vacuum cleaner (equipped with a High Efficiency Particulate Air filter - domestic vacuum cleaners must not be used) or damp cloths to wipe away any dust.
- Removal of ACMs becomes less risky when the asbestos is securely bound within a bonding matrix, as it becomes more challenging to produce asbestos dust (e.g. asbestos cement products or vinyl floor tiles).
- Upon removal, it is crucial to wrap ACMs in plastic and dispose of them properly. Many jurisdictions have established laws regarding the disposal of ACMs.
- Unbonded ACMs, such as lagging/insulation around pipe work, pose a significantly higher risk. Consequently, removal work involving these materials is frequently performed within specially designed plastic enclosures.
- Plastic sheeting should be used to cover all surfaces which could potentially become contaminated.
- During ACM removal, it is crucial to prioritize the preservation of the material by adopting a method that minimizes damage (e.g. aim to remove asbestos cement sheeting in complete sheets).
Always ensure that you are in compliance with the health and safety regulations applicable in your locality.
Before the contractor starts working, make sure your family and pets are in a safe location. Install a visible warning sign to indicate the hazardous nature of the area, preventing unsuspecting visitors from entering. Turn off air conditioning or heating vents and confine the dust to a limited space. It is of utmost importance that your contractor discusses the possibility of removing or repairing materials before beginning any work.
When all is said and done, the crux of the matter lies in preventing the generation of asbestos-containing dust. If the prospective removal expert is unfamiliar with any of these 10 crucial points, it is recommended to seek an alternative specialist who possesses the necessary knowledge.
Diseases Caused by Asbestos
Examples of common diseases caused by asbestos exposure include:
- Lung Cancer
- Asbestosis
- Colon Cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Stomach Cancer
Exclusively affecting individuals exposed to asbestos, mesothelioma is an exceedingly rare form of cancer. Unfortunately, it is typically fatal.
The efficiency of the lungs is greatly diminished when asbestos fibres cause scarring, leading to the development of asbestosis.
Typical Uses of Asbestos in Harlow
From the 1950s through the 1980s, asbestos was a crucial construction material. In the context of your Harlow home, possible areas where asbestos could be encountered are:
- Garage and shed roofs.
- Storage heaters (usually within the insulation panels).
- Linings for doors, walls and ceilings.
- Bath panels.
- Rain water fall pipes, eaves and gutters.
- Flues for central heating.
- Loose asbestos packing between party walls and floors.
- Fire blankets
- Floor tiles.
Asbestos removal services and asbestos surveys are available to homes and businesses in Harlow and also in surrounding towns and villages such as Gilston, Tye Green, Church Langley, Newhall, Nazeing, Brays Grove, Bush Fair, Halls Green, Roydon, Matching Tye, Old Harlow, Temple Fields. Local Harlow asbestos removal companies will likely have the dialling code 01279 and the postcode CM20. Verifying this should make certain that you are accessing locally based providers of asbestos removal. Harlow householders will be able to benefit from these and lots of other related services.
Types of Asbestos
A naturally occurring fibrous material that is found on every continent of the world, asbestos was regularly used in manufacturing and construction from the latter part of the 19th century to the 1990s. Belonging to the serpentine and amphibole families, there are 6 different forms of asbestos in all - chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite.
Purely for the purpose of this brief article we will be looking at the three main types that are most regularly found in British buildings and homes. Those are: amosite, crocidolite and chrysotile.
Chrysotile (White Asbestos) - The most widely used form of asbestos was chrysotile asbestos, also referred to as white asbestos. This is still frequently found in the ceilings, roofs, insulation, floors and walls of Harlow homes and businesses. It was often also used in the production of brake linings, pipe & duct insulation, boiler seals and gaskets.
Amosite (Grunerite or Brown Asbestos) - Also called brown asbestos, Amosite or grunerite is typically found in pipe insulation, vinyl tiles, roofing materials, cement sheets, fire protection and insulating board. The second most harmful type of asbestos is part of the Amphibole family.
Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos) - Part of the Amphibole family of minerals, crocidolite (often called blue asbestos), is recognised as the most dangerous type of asbestos. It's often found in cement products, pipe insulation, spray-on coatings and plastics, and was used for insulating steam engines.
Amazing But True: In the 1950s people were unknowingly breathing this stuff straight into their lungs, because incredibly, asbestos was even used in the manufacture of cigarette filters. Even more shocking is that at the time it was marketed as a health benefit! Yes, gaffe of the century must be awarded to the Lorillard Tobacco Company (Greensboro, NC), who put the most dangerous type of asbestos fibres (crocidolite) into the filters of their Kent Micronite cigarettes. The unfortunate victims affected by this outrage are still making multi-million dollar settlement claims to this day. Among the different health issues experienced by victims, a number were beset by a rare and particularly aggressive sort of cancer called mesothelioma.
Asbestos Surveys Harlow
There is a good chance that any building put up in Harlow between 1850 and 1999 will contain some kind of asbestos. A widely used building material throughout that period, it was particularly popular thanks to its heat and chemical resistant qualities. After being identified in the nineteen seventies and eighties as a major cause of some serious health conditions, such as asbestosis, throat cancer, atelectasis, laryngeal cancer, mesothelioma and lung cancer, it was taken out of many buildings.
Both blue and brown asbestos was banned in Britain in 1985, and asbestos was banned entirely in 1999. Obviously asbestos remains in many buildings that were erected before 1999, and on that basis asbestos surveys are required in many situations, even now.
There are essentially 2 kinds of asbestos survey that can be done on buildings in Harlow.
- Asbestos Management Surveys (formerly Type 2)
- Asbestos Refurbishment/Demolition Surveys (formerly Type 3)
Asbestos Management Surveys Harlow: An Asbestos Management Survey has the purpose of monitoring asbestos containing materials during the normal occupation and use of a property or building in Harlow. As long as ACMs are in good condition and are left undisturbed, they should not be of any danger to a building's occupants. But, when they're damaged, disturbed or in bad condition asbestos fibres can be released into the surrounding environment, causing potential risk. The requirement for these surveys applies to any non-domestic buildings, or shared parts of domestic buildings in Harlow that were constructed before the year 2000.
Asbestos Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys Harlow: When there are plans for renovating or demolishing a building or premises in Harlow, an Asbestos Refurbishment/Demolition Survey will be required. Most often ARD surveys are conducted on Harlow buildings which are unoccupied or vacant, because a substantial amount of structural damage can be caused during one of these surveys. ARD surveys must be carried out before any refurbishment, demolition or upgrading work starts. The existence of any asbestos containing materials will be established during this survey, and methods to safely remove or manage these materials can be put into action. Commissioning such surveys is down to occupants, professionals and management agents engaged in these refurbishments, regardless of their size.
Asbestos Removal Tasks Harlow
Asbestos removal experts should be able to help with the identification of ACMs, chrysotile white asbestos removal Harlow, lead paint testing, asbestos encapsulation in Harlow, asbestos van collection, the removal of asbestos popcorn ceilings, fly tipping clearance, asbestos gutter removal, licensed asbestos removal Harlow, asbestos removal services, residential asbestos removal Harlow, asbestos roof tile removal, asbestos floor tile removal, asbestos replacement Harlow, asbestos risk assessment, hazardous waste removal Harlow, soft strip demolition, industrial asbestos removal Harlow, Artex removal, household asbestos removal Harlow, asbestos roof removal, armosite brown asbestos removal Harlow, asbestos encasement, asbestos tile removal in Harlow, crocidolite blue asbestos removal Harlow, asbestos pipe lagging removal, residential asbestos surveys, the removal of asbestos Harlow, office clearance Harlow, ground remediation Harlow, soft-strip demolition, asbestos dismantling, and other hazardous waste related jobs. These are just some of the activities that are undertaken by those specialising in asbestos removal. Harlow companies will be delighted to keep you abreast of their whole range of services.
UK Occupations Most at Risk of Asbestosis (Mesothelioma)
(In No Particular Order)
- Vehicle & Coach Body Builders
- Electrical Energy, Boiler & Plant Operatives
- Mates to Metal & Electrical Fitters
- Demolition Workers
- Shipbuilders
- Metal Working Production & Maintenance Fitters
- Heating Engineers
- Construction Workers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Electrical Maintenance Engineers & Electricians
- Carpenters & Joiners
(Source: Health and Safety Executive Study 2009)
Construction Products That Might Contain Asbestos
- Composites (Window Sills, Bath Panels and Toilet Cisterns)
- Old Floor Tiles
- Boiler Lagging
- Gaskets and Rope Seals (Particularly on Old Hot Water Boilers and Stove Doors)
- Spray Coatings on Columns, Beams, Walls and Ceilings
- Roofing Felt (Especially on Outbuildings and Garages)
- Textured Coatings (Older Forms of Artex and Polytex)
- Textiles (Heat-Resistent Gloves, Fire Blankets and Protective Aprons)
- Asbestos Insulating Boards (AIB) (Ceiling Tiles, Partition Walls and Fire Door Panels)
- Asbestos Cement Products (Downpipes, Cladding and Roofing Sheets)
Asbestos Removal Nearby
Also find: Roydon asbestos removal, Bush Fair asbestos removal, Nazeing asbestos removal, Gilston asbestos removal, Brays Grove asbestos removal, Temple Fields asbestos removal, Old Harlow asbestos removal, Matching Tye asbestos removal, Halls Green asbestos removal, Tye Green asbestos removal, Newhall asbestos removal, Church Langley asbestos removal and more. Pretty much all of these localities are serviced by companies who do asbestos removal. Residents in these places can obtain price quotes for asbestos removal by clicking here.
Asbestos Removal Services Harlow
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