Asbestos
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos was the main cause of occupational ill health in the second half of the twentieth century. The legacy of high exposures, until it's use was prohibited in the 1980s, is now responsible for between 2,000 and 3,000 people dying from asbestos-related cancers every year. Asbestos ceased to be used in the construction industry after 1985.
Asbestos is a term used for the fibrous forms of several naturally occurring minerals. The three main types of asbestos are:
- Amosite (often referred to as brown asbestos)
- Crocidolite (often referred to as blue asbestos)
- Chrysotile (often referred to as white asbestos)
All are dangerous; blue and brown asbestos are known to be more dangerous than white. The different types cannot usually be identified by their colour alone.
Effects of inhaling Asbestos fibres
Breathing in asbestos fibres can lead to people developing one of three fatal diseases:
* ASBESTOSIS - Scarring of the lung
* LUNG CANCER
* MESOTHELIOMA - Which is a cancer of the lining around the lungs and stomach
These diseases can take from 15 - 60 years to develop from first exposure - so you or your employees would not be aware of any sudden change in health after breathing asbestos.
It is the precautions you take now which will affect you, or your employees health in the future.
Increased risk to the above diseases may result depending on:
* The type of asbestos fibre (Blue or brown more dangerous than white)
* The younger they are at first exposure
* The number of fibres that are breathed in
* The number of times they are exposed
* Smoking
Asbestos fibres enter your body when you breathe. The body gets rid of large fibres but microscopic fibres can pass into the lung where they can cause disease.
The body naturally gets rid of asbestos fibres taken in with food and water. The fibres cannot be absorbed through the skin.
Asbestos at Work Regulations
Disposal of cement bonded Asbestos
There are several types of asbestos which may be dangerous and may potentially cause injury or disease. However, cement bonded asbestos (as found in sheets and guttering) does not present any significant health risk provided it is handled correctly.
Current government guidance is that cement bonded asbestos should be handled, stored and transported to disposal sites separately. This has meant that there are dedicated containers at specified recycling centres for this waste but because of the relatively small amount of bonded asbestos requiring disposal, and the restricted space at recycling centres, it is not possible to put special containers on all sites. The sites in close proximity to East Hampshire are:
Andover, Scotts Close (off Columbus Way), Walworth Industrial Estate, SP10 5NU, Telephone:- 01264 351421
Basingstoke,Wade Road. Telephone 01256 461750
Lymington :Milford Road,Pennington near Lymington. Telephone 01590 672891
Netley:Grange Road,Netley,Southampton. 023 80406182
Portsmouth:Portway, Paulsgrove, Portsmouth,02392219819
if you would like further information on :
- Hampshire asbestos disposal sites, or if you need information on Hampsire County Council Waste & Recyling follow the links.
Note! Always telephone ahead before making a journey to a site to ensure that the container is not full or away being emptied.
To further reduce risk to you or others from asbestos waste:
DO NOT Break, cut or saw it - damp it first and then double bag any small pieces.
Asbestos in the home
Information and guidance on managing Asbestos
This HSE site contains more information and guidance on managing Asbestos: