Removal and disposal of asbestos material is complicated, since it has to be kept in one piece, making it hard to handle.

Tim Peters, from Kershaw Contracting Service’s asbestos removal team explains what’s involved with asbestos disposal.

“We start by erecting an enclosure to contain any asbestos dust that might escape, and this is protected by a one-to-three stage airlock, depending on how likely it is that the material will create dust.

“This structure is then filled with smoke, so we can identify any leaks, before the whole enclosure is put under negative pressure.”

Using a highly specialised fan and filtration system, the enclosure is kept at a slightly lower pressure than outside to make sure that air can only flow inwards, ensuring that it’s impossible for particles of asbestos dust to escape.

Tim added: “Disposing of the material, which has been dampened using a fine mist of water, or in some cases injected with water using a series of needles, can then begin.
“Keeping the material in one piece, it is transferred to a thick plastic bag, which is then wiped clean in the enclosure.

“Once it’s dry, we take it to the first air lock where we use a specially-filtered vacuum cleaner to remove any asbestos dust that might have got through and wipe it again before it is placed in a second bag.

“We repeat the vacuuming and wiping process in each stage of the air lock, all of which are under negative pressure.”

Only now does Kershaw deem the asbestos safe enough to move out of the enclosure, so that the process of asbestos disposal can begin.

“The material is then placed in a lockable skip, or in a special compartment on our vans to be taken to a specialist asbestos disposal company.

“We then check and clean the route from the enclosure to the van, to make absolutely sure that no asbestos has left the enclosure.”  

Asbestos removal is a complicated and dangerous process and we strongly advise that you bring in professionals to ensure its safe removal and disposal.

A specialist asbestos removal company will have the tools and the experience to do the job properly. You can’t, for example use a domestic vacuum cleaner to clean up asbestos dust, because the filters aren’t fine enough to remove it from the air going through the vacuum cleaner, effectively turning your hoover into a very effective asbestos fibre distribution device!

And if the particles are small enough to make their way through a vacuum cleaner filtration system, they certainly won’t be collected by a dust pan and brush.

One of the biggest problems with asbestos removal is that the hardest thing to do while a fibrous material is being taken out of a building is making sure that dust is both contained and- kept to an absolute minimum.

Of course, asbestos dust itself is the danger, so the hardest part of the job is also the most important. The only way to effectively manage dust is by keeping the area wet – would you want to use your garden hose in your house? Do you know which parts of the wall you can cover with water without the risk of electrocution?

It is illegal to take care of some asbestos removal yourself. It’s such a dangerous, difficult and time consuming task that you must employ professionals.

Aside from anything else, if you make a mess of your home trying to remove asbestos, it’s highly likely that the huge repair bill you will be presented with will not be taken care of by your insurance company.

An asbestos removal firm will have public liability insurance so, if something does go wrong, you won’t have to pay for it or take care it – everything will be dealt with on your behalf.

Of course, removing asbestos now is always a last resort. Experts would much rather the material be made safe using specialised sealants and left where it is. This also requires asbestos surveys and special treatment. 

Asbestos exposure is extremely dangerous, but it’s actually more complicated than exposure to many other dangerous substances, such as hazardous chemicals or radioactive material.

In its processed form, undisturbed as insulation, tape, adhesive, or in concrete, asbestos is actually perfectly safe. For this reason, some material containing asbestos can simply be left in place and, in many cases, rather than being removed, asbestos is sealed and remains where it is.

The danger comes when the material is disturbed and the particles become airborne. Asbestos particles are extremely small and, unlike most dust and contaminates that are caught and expelled by the body’s natural defences, asbestos particles can slip through.

They are extremely sharp and damage the lungs, chest and sometimes the stomach. The reason asbestos exposure causes such a serious problem is because it’s a physical reaction to the substance: one microscopic particle of asbestos can be deadly. There is no safe exposure level as there is with other hazardous materials.

This is particularly dangerous in the domestic environment since you may inadvertently drill into a wall that contains asbestos, disturbing particles.

The two most well-known diseases caused by asbestos exposure are mesothelioma and asbestosis. Both can take between 20 and 40 years to appear after initial exposure and, at the moment, neither of them have a cure.

Pleural thickening and pleural plaques can also be caused by asbestos exposure and, while less deadly than mesothelioma and asbestosis both can also be fatal. It has also recently been acknowledged that exposure to asbestos fibres can cause other kinds of lung cancer too.  

Asbestos identification is a difficult task, since products that contain asbestos often look just like the ones that don’t.

In fact, asbestos identification by sight alone is impossible. While an expert will probably be able to point out materials that contain asbestos with impressive accuracy, the only way to confirm its presence is with tests.

A specialist trained in asbestos identification will have to use special equipment to distinguish its unique properties that are invisible to the naked eye. And of course they will have to take plenty of safety precautions to do this.

Usually the best clue as to whether or not you have asbestos in your house is the age of the building. If your home was built between 1950 and 1986 the chances are that asbestos was used at some point during its construction.

It will have been used anywhere where there was a need for protection against heat or fire. Its use was most widespread in the 1950s and 1960s.

If you suspect that asbestos is present in your house a sample of the suspected asbestos material needs to be taken and properly tested by qualified and authorised operatives.

This must not be attempted by you. There is a danger your house could become contaminated with airborne asbestos fibres, which is what causes the health problems associated with the material.

Taking a sample yourself is far more dangerous than leaving the material alone and, if you suspect that materials in your home contain asbestos, treat them as if they definitely do.

Asbestos can be found in roofing materials (roofing felt, roofing adhesives and asphalt shingles), acoustic plasters, adhesives in areas exposed to high temperatures, insulation tape for pipe work, vinyl tiles (for the wall, floor and ceiling), tile underlay and loose wall insulation.  

A man who died of a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos developed the condition because of his father’s work.

Keith Baker died in Berkhamsted on 3rd June 2010, reports the Watford Observer newspaper.

The 57-year-old developed a cough in 2009 and had shortness of breath. He was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a condition typical of people who have had exposure to asbestos.

But Mr Baker had never directly been exposed during his work.

The coroner explained that his father Kenneth Baker had often returned home in overalls covered in asbestos dust.

And it’s likely he was exposed to the dust while living with his father.

Mr Baker senior died in 2004 from an industrial disease.

The coroner recorded a death of malignant mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos.
 

A new survey has revealed that two thirds of us would not be able to identify asbestos if we came across it in our own home.

This is scary news for asbestos safety as exposure to asbestos fibres can cause incurable lung diseases.

The British Lung Foundation surveyed 2,000 homeowners. It found that nearly half – 45 per cent – didn’t even know asbestos had been used as a building material.

Yet the foundation estimates up to 14 million UK homes were built when asbestos was used as a building material.

Asbestos safety is comparatively easy. The material is not dangerous so long as it is not disturbed.

But 65 per cent of British homeowners were not confident of identifying it in their own home. And that means there is a risk to some homeowners during DIY.

The British Lung Foundation has put together a guide showing where asbestos is most likely to be found and how it should be treated. If it needs to be disturbed or removed a specialised firm must be used.

It is illegal to dispose of asbestos with normal waste.
 

This Friday’s Action Mesothelioma Day will be marked in Manchester with the release of doves, to remember victims of the disease.

It is caused by exposure to asbestos decades before symptoms are seen.

More than 2,000 people a year die from the disease which is incurable.

It is a rare form of cancer. Most people who develop it have worked in jobs where they have breathed in asbestos particles.

And it’s why you must take extreme care if asbestos is suspected in any kind of refurbishment or renovation work.

Campaigners will be releasing the doves in the city centre to remember those in the city who have suffered, and their families.

Afterwards there will be a public meeting at the town hall, to discuss palliative care for mesothelioma sufferers.
 

Disturbing news following a survey of British schools

 

Asbestos deaths across the region reach record high

29th April 2010 You will have read in the news on the BBC website, that Asbestos deaths across the region reach record high

The BBC report that in the North East ... "The Health and Safety Executive has revealed that 400 people die from the illnesses each year in the region."

Kershaw Asbestos Removal Division have been able to help companies, schools and private homes remove this risk. For more information please call the Asbestos Removal Division on Tel: 01322 336917