Asbestos is well known as a carcinogenic material. It was banned from use in 1999, but had been used extensively in the construction of all types of buildings including houses and flats through the 1960s and 1970s. So, it may well be the case that you could find that you have asbestos somewhere on either your residential property or business premises.

If you discover asbestos on your property you might think that it is essential to have it removed as soon as possible – but that’s not necessarily the case. First of all, we’d say: get an asbestos survey to confirm that the material either is or is not asbestos. Asbestos can look extremely similar to other materials that are harmless – and vice versa. An asbestos survey includes testing to understand whether it is dangerous or not.

From this you can also decide whether or not you need to have asbestos removed. But why is this all such big deal – surely, the right thing to do is simply to removed any offending material? Actually, removing asbestos can be one of the most dangerous things you can do if you find it. Here we take a look at why that is:

What happens when you disturb asbestos fibres?

Asbestos is not typically dangerous when it is undisturbed and in good condition. It is when asbestos fibres are allowed to get into the air where they can be breathed into the lungs that it can become a major issue.

This creates a scenario in which individuals believe that getting rid of asbestos from their home or business as fast as possible is the safest thing to do. In fact, in doing this they are putting themselves at risk. In the majority of cases where asbestos is unlikely to be disturbed and is in good condition, it is best to leave it where it is.

Not taking proper precautions

When people who do not have experience with asbestos try to move it, they may not take the proper precautions and can make some mistakes. These mistakes cause the asbestos fibres to get into the air and this is where they are dangerous.

If you are going to attempt to remove asbestos yourself it is vital that you must have experience dealing with asbestos and understanding the dangers.

What if asbestos gets into the air?

If asbestos is disturbed and the fibres are able to get into the air, they are in a position to cause damage to human health. When asbestos fibres are breathed into the lungs they can get trapped in the lining where they do damage over a number of years.

Many people who have been exposed to asbestos won’t experience symptoms for up to 20 years – but at this point they can develop into very serious conditions including cancers.

If you are concerned that asbestos may have been disturbed it is important to get in contact with asbestos specialists immediately.

Have removal work carried out professionally

It is important to recognise that removal of asbestos is not always necessary – it is often the case that asbestos may be safer left in situ, unless it is in danger of being damaged or disturbed. However, if you do need to have asbestos removed, you should have the work carried out by experienced professionals.

If you need to have asbestos removals carried out, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with the team at Crucial Environmental today.