Are you concerned about asbestos in the workplace? Asbestos is still surprisingly common in commercial and industrial properties around the UK. Here we provide details on some of the places you might find asbestos at work.
Offices
You might assume that you are unlikely to encounter asbestos in a modern office building, and in some senses this is true. If the office you work in was built after 2000 then it will not contain asbestos, as the substance was completely banned from use in 1999. However, if the building was built any earlier then there is the chance that it will contain asbestos.
Asbestos was used as an insulating material often in the roofing or within the walls. It is possible it may still be there. The building owner or your employer are required to have a management plan to minimise the risk of asbestos exposure – this should detail the location and condition of any asbestos on the property. If you are worried about asbestos you should contact the owner.
Warehouses
As with offices, if a warehouse was built before 1999 then it may contain asbestos. Some of the most common places that you can find it include cement, roofing and sprayed coatings. It is your employer’s responsibility to keep you protected against asbestos exposure, so if you have any concerns about work you are doing or materials that might be asbestos, it is best to contact them.
Old buildings
If you are any kind of contractor or you work on different sites, it is important to be aware of asbestos. The material had a number of properties that made it very popular – it is highly resistant to temperature change and works as an excellent insulation. Always check with the manager of the site about the potential for encountering asbestos.