Asbestos in the workplace can pose a danger to staff and members of the public if it is not dealt with appropriately. Here we provide some top tips for what to do if you believe that you may have found asbestos on your property.
Don’t try to deal with it yourself
The first thing to note that if you find asbestos in workplace is that you should not attempt to deal with the issue immediately yourself. Many people assume that the best thing you can do if you find asbestos is get rid of it as soon as possible – however, this is actually the opposite of the truth. The first thing you need to do is ensure that you do not disturb it, or leave the vicinity if it is in poor condition or has become damaged.
Asbestos that is in good condition is not normally a risk to health – it is only when it is damaged or disturbed that it can be dangerous. Attempting to move it can damage it, which could lead to exposure to the fibres; exactly what you are trying to avoid.
Make a supervisor, manager or building owner aware
If you are simply an employee in a workplace then you do not need to do anything to deal with this – the responsibility is solely in the hands of the owner of the premises or the building manager. It is essential that you make them aware of any asbestos you have discovered as soon as possible so that they can make arrangements to mitigate the risk of exposure.
If you are responsible for the building then you need to take actions to ensure that no employee or member of the public is at risk of exposure. If the asbestos is in good condition and is not damage there is no immediate risk. If it is damaged or disturbed, you should remove anyone from the affected area and call in specialists as soon as possible.
It may not be asbestos!
It should be noted here that not everything that looks like asbestos is asbestos, and equally some materials that may appear harmless can contain asbestos as a constituent ingredient. The key thing is that you should never assume – if you have any concerns that a material might contain asbestos, get in touch with an asbestos professional.
Have a survey conducted
The first step in dealing with potential asbestos in your property is to have an asbestos survey carried out. These surveys can determine whether or not asbestos is present. At the end of the survey, the provider should not only tell you whether asbestos is present, but also provide advice and guidance on what your next steps should be.
If you have any concerns about asbestos on your property, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Crucial Environmental today. We have years of experience and expertise working with asbestos and would be happy to help.