Avanti are Asbestos Removal Contractors in Essex
Asbestos is known as the ‘silent killer’ because the deadly effects of sustained inhalation can take years to emerge. A local Essex solicitor has recently spoken out on this issue. She makes the case that Essex workers and their families are now paying the price for asbestos inhalation during their working lives. She names the Cape Asbestos factory in Barking and a list of other Essex employers who routinely exposed their workers to asbestos from the 1950s through to the 1980s.
Throughout the 20th century, asbestos was a cheap and plentiful construction material. As such it was used extensively in industry and construction. Evidence of the deadly consequences of asbestos inhalation came to light towards the middle of the century. By 1999 it was comprehensively banned for use in the UK. This doesn’t mean that the danger is past, however. Any building constructed over the last 120 years is likely to contain asbestos in its fabric.
Managing the Asbestos Legacy
Asbestos becomes dangerous when it is damaged, or disturbed. This normally occurs when buildings are demolished, or undergo renovation or refurbishment. There are now a number of ways to manage the risks presented by extant asbestos.
1. Domestic Asbestos Management
If you are buying, or own a property built in the course of the 20th century, it’s likely that there’s asbestos contained in the fabric, or in decorative artex plasterwork. In order to find out whether you home contains Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs), you can have an Asbestos Management Survey carried out.
An Asbestos Management Survey comprises a detailed visual inspection of the surfaces of a property, such as walls, ceilings, cupboards, kitchen fittings etc. There’s no destructive element to this kind of survey, and the aim is to determine the kinds of ACMs that are likely to be contained. In the resulting report, recommendations are made for the responsible management of asbestos.
2. Refurbishment and Demolition Survey
This is a mandatory survey which has to be carried out if demolition or refurbishment is planned in a domestic or commercial property. In this case, the goal is to accurately identify any ACMs contained in the fabric of the premises. Should asbestos be located, a licensed asbestos removals company would need to be involved in the ongoing planning.
A Refurbishment and Demolition Survey is far more intrusive than the Asbestos Management Survey. Access to all areas is required, which requires a destructive approach in order to achieve a comprehensive inspection. Samples of the asbestos are then sent off to a UKAS accredited laboratory for testing and analysis. The report will locate and identify all ACMs.
Working With Essex Clients on Asbestos Removals
Avanti has been providing asbestos removals in Essex for a number of years now. We’ve worked in a range of domestic, and commercial environments – as well as offering safe asbestos removals on a number of demolition sites across the county. In all cases, we carry out air monitoring before, during and after the asbestos removal, in order to ensure the site is safe for re-occupation.
Asbestos continues to be a hidden threat in homes and workplaces across Essex. For prompt and accurate asbestos surveys, or removal, call Avanti on 0333 3355974
