Asbestos Removal Swanscombe Kent (DA10): Asbestos is one of the scariest and most dangerous materials that we can ever find in our homes. Asbestos is a mineral which is made up of millions of very tiny fibres. The problem with these fibres is that they are so small they can easily become airborne.
As many people in Swanscombe will be aware, exposure to asbestos dust is associated with a range of lung conditions which can be fatal. As such, the removal of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) must be done properly to avoid contaminating the area from which it is being removed, and to avoid unnecessary exposure to those in the area. This means that asbestos removal is a very skilled operation.
If the fibres are inhaled then they can cause many health complaints, many of which are ultimately fatal. If anyone is exposed to a high amount of asbestos fibres in the air then there is a much bigger risk that this person will develop cancer or other related conditions. Asbestos is seen as a very dangerous substance, and although there have been no safe thresholds identified, it is very important to avoid all contact with it where possible.
When removing asbestos the main thing to remember is that health effects are only associated with breathing in the dust. Therefore, any activities which generate dust need to be eliminated. A good example is the use of power tools on ACMs.
Sometimes if asbestos is not disturbed then it will cause no harm to you or your family. However if you do have asbestos then it is important to get it removed as quickly as possible.
If you have any asbestos anywhere in your home, or suspect that you might then it's important to hire a professional asbestos removal company. Although asbestos in good condition poses very little concern, if it is left to deteriorate and become dust then this will be potentially fatal. Asbestos was a very popular material for insulating homes in Swanscombe right up until the mid 1980's, which means a large proportion of homes potentially have asbestos. Asbestos was used for a number of different things, including insulation, floor tiles, and in various other building materials.
Therefore when you are selecting an asbestos removal specialist in Swanscombe you need to be confident that it will be done in a manner which reduces or eliminates the creation of dust. Asbestos removal activities are regulated in many jurisdictions; however if you happen to be in an area where it isn't, or if you are planning to do a removal for yourself, then the following 10 points should be helpful:
- ACMs in which the asbestos is tightly bound within a bonding matrix present a lower risk during removal as it more difficult to create asbestos dusts (e.g. asbestos cement products or vinyl floor tiles).
- Plastic sheeting should be used to cover all surfaces which could potentially become contaminated.
- The ACM should be removed in a manner which creates the least amount of damage (e.g. when removing asbestos cement sheeting try to remove the sheets in one piece).
- Never allow others in the vicinity or the asbestos removal area.
- The appropriate personal protective equipment must always be worn. As a minimum, this must include a particulate respirator and protective coveralls.
- ACMs in which the asbestos is not bonded within a matrix present a much higher risk (e.g. lagging/insulation around pipe work). Removal work involving unbonded ACM is often conducted inside custom built plastic enclosures.
- Upon removal, ACMs should be wrapped in plastic and disposed of appropriately. Many jurisdictions have laws governing the disposal of ACMs.
- The removal area must be thoroughly cleaned and decontaminated once the removal is complete. This will involve the use of either an appropriate vacuum cleaner (which must be fitted with a High Efficiency Particulate A filter - domestic vacuum cleaners should never be used) or wet rags to wipe up dusts.
- As stated above, the use of power tools should be avoided. Grinding an asbestos cement sheet has been shown to generate extremely high concentrations of asbestos containing dust.
- Wherever possible, and if it is safe to do so, ACM should be wetted down during the removal process.
Always comply with your local health and safety regulations.
In certain health conditions, stopping exposure to a harmful substance and adopting a healthy lifestyle can help reverse the harmful effects. However, this doesn't apply with asbestos. When you're exposed to the toxic fibres, the harmful effects may take 10 to 30 years before they appear, even if you actually ceased exposure to the fibres.
When everything is said and done, it is all about preventing the generation of asbestos containing dusts. If your prospective removal expert is unfamiliar with any of these 10 points then find someone else who is!
Asbestos removal services and asbestos surveys are available in Swanscombe itself and additionally in nearby places like Higham, Bean, Denton, Stone, Southfleet, Luddesdown, Greenhithe, Hartley, Cobham, Gravesend, Shorne, Northfleet, Cliffe Woods, Istead Rise, Milton, Singlewell, Perry Street, Darenth, Crayford. Locally based Swanscombe asbestos removal companies will likely have the postcode DA10 and the telephone dialling code 01322. Verifying this will confirm that you access locally based providers of asbestos removal. Swanscombe householders will be able to utilise these and many other asbestos related services.
Types of Asbestos
Popular in both the manufacturing and construction industries from the latter part of the 19th century until it was banned altogether in the UK in 1999, asbestos is a fibrous material that occurs naturally on every continent of the world. There are 6 different types of asbestos, all of which are unique minerals belonging to the amphibole and serpentine groups, namely - crocidolite, chrysotile, amosite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite.
It's somewhat beyond the scope of this article to consider all but the three primary types - crocidolite, amosite and chrysotile.
Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos) - Part of the Amphibole family of silicate minerals, crocidolite (often called blue asbestos), is recognised as the most dangerous form of asbestos. It's frequently found in spray-on coatings, plastics, cement products and pipe lagging, and was most notably used for insulating steam engines.
Amosite (Grunerite or Brown Asbestos) - Also known as brown asbestos, amosite or grunerite is often found in roofing materials, vinyl tiles, fire protection, pipe insulation, insulating board and cement sheets. The second most dangerous form of asbestos is a part of the Amphibole family.
Chrysotile (White Asbestos) - The most commonly used form of asbestos was chrysotile asbestos, also known as white asbestos. This is still frequently found in the ceilings, floors, walls, insulation and roofs of Swanscombe homes and business premises. It was often also used in manufacturing to produce brake linings, gaskets, pipe & duct insulation and boiler seals.
Amazing But True: An interesting but shocking fact is that asbestos was even used in the manufacture of filter cigarettes, so smokers were unwittingly breathing this dangerous material directly into their lungs during the nineteen fifties. At that time it was marketed as a health benefit, which makes it even more incredible! Indeed, the producers of Kent Micronite cigarettes, namely the Lorillard Tobacco Company (Greensboro, NC), must get the "blunder of the century" award for encouraging smokers to stick the most harmful form of asbestos (crocidolite) into their mouths. Over 60 years on lawsuits are still being raised by those affected by this outrage. Among various health problems experienced by victims, a number suffered from a rare and aggressive type of cancer called mesothelioma.
Asbestos Removal Tasks Swanscombe
Asbestos removal companies will be able to help with reinstatement services, residential asbestos removal Swanscombe, garage asbestos removal Swanscombe, asbestos encasement, asbestos van collection, asbestos management services, lead paint testing, asbestos encapsulation in Swanscombe, asbestos floor tile removal, asbestos abatement, asbestosis prevention, asbestos dismantling Swanscombe, brown asbestos removal Swanscombe, house clearance in Swanscombe, air testing, building waste removal, asbestos removal quotations, chrysotile white asbestos removal Swanscombe, ethical asbestos disposal, asbestos cement water tank removal, asbestos risk assessment in Swanscombe, office clearance, asbestos roof tile removal, household asbestos removal Swanscombe, artex asbestos survey, soft stripping, asbestos strip-outs, pre-demolition asbestos survey, the removal of asbestos popcorn ceilings, hazardous waste removal, asbestos sampling, blue asbestos removal Swanscombe, and other hazardous waste related work. Listed are just an example of the activities that are handled by people specialising in asbestos removal. Swanscombe companies will tell you about their entire range of asbestos removal services.
Some Occupations Most at Risk of Mesothelioma (Asbestosis)
(In No Particular Order)
- Electrical Energy, Boiler & Plant Operatives
- Mechanical Engineers
- Carpenters & Joiners
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Metal Working Maintenance & Production Fitters
- Mates to Electrical & Metal Fitters
- Vehicle & Coach Body Builders
- Heating Engineers
- Electricians
- Riveters
- Construction Workers
(Source: Health and Safety Executive Study 2009)
Construction Products Which May Contain Asbestos
- Asbestos Insulating Boards (AIB) (Partition Walls, Ceiling Tiles and Panels in Fireproof Doors
- Composite Materials (Toilet Cisterns, Window Sills and Bath Panels)
- Textured Coatings (Older Types of Polytex and Artex)
- Roofing Felt (Especially on Outbuildings and Garages)
- Asbestos Cement Products (Cladding, Downpipes and Roofing Sheets)
- Sprayed Coatings on Walls, Beams, Columns and Ceilings
- Old Floor Tiles
- Gaskets and Rope Seals (Particularly on Hot Water Boilers)
- Textiles (Fire Blankets, Heat-Resistent Gloves and Protective Aprons)
- Pipework Lagging
Advice and Guidance
If you'd like to learn more details on asbestos, you will uncover details about the health effects of asbestos, areas where asbestos is still legal, the occurrence of asbestos in nature, the recycling and disposal of asbestos materials, substitutes for asbestos in construction, the production of asbestos, the history of asbestos use, how asbestos is regulated internationally and the different sorts of asbestos & asbestos fibres, by visiting Wikipedia. To find accredited and recommended asbestos removal contractors in Swanscombe you can head over to the website of the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association. To read a little more about hiring asbestos removal companies click here. Get information and advice about asbestos and how to dispose of it from your local authority by visiting https://www.gov.uk/asbestos-in-home.
Asbestos Removal Nearby
Also find: Cliffe Woods asbestos removal, Darenth asbestos removal, Milton asbestos removal, Luddesdown asbestos removal, Shorne asbestos removal, Istead Rise asbestos removal, Southfleet asbestos removal, Crayford asbestos removal, Perry Street asbestos removal, Singlewell asbestos removal, Bean asbestos removal, Higham asbestos removal and more. Most of these villages and towns are catered for by asbestos removal companies. Residents in these areas can acquire asbestos removal price quotes by clicking here.
Asbestos Removal Services Swanscombe
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Asbestos Removal in DA10 area, telephone code 01322.
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