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Asbestos - let's go back to the basics

Every time we hear news of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) we do feel we need to stress that asbestos is considered safe when it is undisturbed. Media hype can be misleading so we want to address some questions we have been asked many times....

Residential sales and lettings and dealing with asbestos detection

A useful article on the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) website: 'Material information – what to know and what happens next' refers to guidance published by the National Trading Standards Estate and Lettings Agency Team. The guidance covers residential sales and lettings across the UK and is split into 3 parts A, B and C.Part A requires agents and property portals to publish details during market listing on matters including council tax and charges, tenure type and asking ...

What is a reasonable cost for a pre-refurb asbestos survey?

When presented with a competitor's quote for only £320 + VAT we struggled to see how on earth the firm could arrive at that figure!...

What is the difference between an asbestos survey and a sampling visit?

Sadly this is where things can start to go wrong as obviously people want the lowest cost for the highest return, but the above are actually 2 different services....

Asbestos awareness and the need for an asbestos management plan

This week on LinkedIn, we got involved in a discussion around the idea of a national asbestos database - as mooted by Andrew Paten of UKNAR.Andrew was highlighting a campaign by the Sunday Times,  'Act Now on Asbestos' which is calling for a phased removal of asbestos, starting with schools and hospitals.He explains:"The reality is that our hospitals, schools and many thousands of other aged public buildings, which are not in great condition, contain asbestos that needs to be managed very w...

Think about your DIY project: Is there an asbestos risk?

Last updated: 14 June 2023Previously: 3 August 2022With the weather being so lovely and the summer holidays fast approaching, some readers of this blog may be thinking about the next DIY project.How many will consider the asbestos risk when decorating their homes? Even though the DIY work may only small, you could still be exposing yourself and others to asbestos fibres. As long as the asbestos is not disturbed or damaged, asbestos is safe but we always advise people to talk to us for a steer.Ou...

From the 18th century to now - the story of asbestos

The first blog in our series of the history of asbestos detailed when asbestos was first dated by archeologists - the Stone Age some 750,000 years ago up until its use by the Romans and Egyptians. Our second blog studied the Middle Ages up to the 17th century. We now turn our attention to the 1800s and up to the present day and discovering when people seriously became aware of asbestos-related diseases. The use of asbestos was more widely utilised with the advent of the Industrial Revo...

History of asbestos - from the Middle Ages to the 18th Century

The first blog in our series of the history of asbestos, 'From the Stone Age to the Egyptians and Romans - the history of asbestos' detailed when asbestos was first dated by archeologists - the Stone Age some 750,000 years ago until its use by the Romans and Egyptians. This blog now looks beyond that timescale and up to the 18th century. We start by studying the Middle Ages, which lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th century and began with the fall of the Western Rom...

From the Stone Age to the Egyptians and Romans - the history of asbestos

With the recent coronation of Charles III now behind us and commentators expressing how for future generations, it will be an event that becomes a part of our history, we decided to do our own journey back in time and detail some fascinating facts about asbestos - you will be shocked at how far back we can go!This blog details what archeologists have discovered - from dating its existence right back to the Stone Age (some 750,000 years ago) to recordings of its uses by the Romans and Egyptians. ...

Asbestos Limited's partnership with Benenden Hospital

Our case study featuring Benenden Hospital detailed our long standing partnership and how we responded with a simplified live asbestos management plan when it became necessary to undertake a complete review of the asbestos management. ...

Be aware of the asbestos risk and have a live Asbestos Management Plan

It has been reported recently that UK trade unions are working with one the country's leading cancer experts over fears of asbestos risk to female teachers.Statisticians have detected a rate of mesothelioma deaths among teachers born between 1955 and 1974 that “borders on statistical significance”. See: UK unions call in cancer expert over fears of asbestos risk to female teachers...

Home heating systems and the possibility of ACMs

Not a day goes by now that we don’t hear reference to the ‘cost of living’ crisis as the UK economy hits recession with the downturn only expected to get worse going into 2023. As we all face a decrease in disposable income and heating costs increase, we turn our focus to the heating systems in many homes and the possibility of ACMs (Asbestos Containing Materials) being present.  We don’t wish to sound alarmist so our aim is to educate and raise awareness of the likelihood of asbest...

Why it pays to have an asbestos survey prior to any work undertaken

After hearing of a school closure after asbestos was found during building work (Asbestos find closes King Edmund School in Rochford until new year) we detail why it pays to have a pre-refurb/demo (RD) asbestos survey carried out during the planning stage. ...

Domestic property management

This blog is written by MD Debbie Hales who dealt recently with a domestic property scenario whereby the rental property’s management team failed to see why an asbestos survey was required - which could potentially identify ACMs on site....

Why an asbestos specification is important

When supplying a service, it is important to know who needs what and at what point they need it.   Clients contact us because they need answers to questions regarding their asbestos management. This is where a good specification comes into play as we, the service provider, need to know what questions must be answered.   What are your expectations, so that we can meet, manage or exceed them?...

Toxic Dust - it's not 'just' Asbestos

Updated 12 September 2022. In October last year, we reported on proposals that Health and Safety Executive inspectors would be undertaking spot checks on over 1,000 construction sites (see Construction News: Dangerous dust on sites targeted in new HSE crackdown). The spot checks would include the auditing of health and safety practices in relation to the management of dangerous dust (including asbestos, silica and wood). HSE inspectors would also be assessing dust extraction processes and the us...

Building insurance claims and Asbestos

Updated 22 September 2022. Come wind or shine, hail or high winds, we all dread the prospect of any potential damage to our property. And it's no surprise that the last thing you may think about if you're in the unfortunate position of dealing with property damage, is whether you have Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) in your pre-2000 dwelling or commercial building.  However, this is exactly what you should be considering as you decide how to deal with the fall-out and prioritise remedi...

Asbestos - licensed vs. non-licensed

Updated 13 September 2022.Obviously if work is required that involves disturbing an Asbestos Containing Material (ACM), it makes sense to use a Health & Safety Executive (HSE) licensed Asbestos contractor but... do you have to?...

Asbestos - don't panic?

Updated 6 September 2022. Whenever anyone calls us here at Asbestos Limited, if asbestos is something they haven’t had to deal with before, there’s a tendency to panic. They risk throwing money at the problem before fully understanding why.  It’s a natural response and usually a fear of the unknown is to blame. However, we always advise it’s worth taking some time to understand where the risks may be before taking that action....

Asbestos management - is there a conflict of interest?

Updated 8 February 2023.A one-stop shop approach to asbestos management is usually not the best approach...Learn more from Kent specialists in asbestos management....

Why do I need asbestos training?

Updated 21 July 2022. Following our previous posts: 'Why do I need an asbestos register?' and 'When asbestos management goes wrong', it seemed pragmatic to explain the different levels of asbestos-related training and explain under what circumstances each level is appropriate.   As specialists in asbestos management, based in Kent, we also strive to education and inform and in this post we want to differentiate between the different levels of training - from basic awareness traini...

When asbestos management goes wrong

Updated 16 August 2023.As specialists in asbestos management, based in Kent, we aim to inform and educate in order to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos and the importance of following asbestos management regulations.In the blog 'Why do I need an Asbestos Survey?', we explained under what circumstances an Asbestos Register is required and why an asbestos survey should be undertaken.The duty to manage asbestos is contained in regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012&n...

Why do I need an asbestos survey?

Updated 5 July 2022. Always remember - any building built before 2000, has the potential to have Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) present. If your building was built after 2000, you don’t need to read any further...but it wouldn’t hurt. The Health and Safety Executive also remind us on its website that brownfield sites may be contaminated with asbestos if previously developed - often for industrial and commercial purposes.  Old equipment, such as ovens, brakes, soundproofi...

Alternative to asbestos disposal

Updated 20 June 2022. As specialists in Asbestos surveys, testing and removal, Asbestos Limited, based in Kent, are always interested to follow new and sustainable means to manage the disposal of Asbestos. Thermal Recycling, based in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, opened a new demonstration plant in November 2020 to provide what it claims is the world’s first socially and environmentally responsible alternative to asbestos disposal....

Asbestos - what is the risk?

Updated: 26 May 2022. According to the HSE (see Cancer and construction: Asbestos), Asbestos is the biggest occupational disease risk to construction workers. Its commissioned research estimates it was responsible for the death of over 2,500 construction workers in 2005 – more than two-thirds of cancer deaths in the industry. The latest Asbestos-related disease statistics in Great Britain, 2021 were published in December 2021. Specialists in Asbestos surveys, testing and removal, Asbestos Limi...