Avanti Provides Asbestos Surveys London
Nearly two-thirds of construction workers in London don’t know that asbestos can cause cancer.
This was the surprise finding of the Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH), published in April 2018. Its findings suggest that education around the extreme dangers posed to health as a result of asbestos exposure is being neglected. 40% of the workers asked by IOSH said that they’d not received any training relating to the cancers that can be caused by airborne asbestos.
Asbestos Is a Current Concern for the UK
It’s possible that the ban on asbestos, back in 1999, is considered as a solution to the proble, rather than a first step to overcoming the danger it poses. The legacy of asbestos is very much a contemporary concern, though. There are around half a million commercial buildings, and a million domestic homes that still contain the deadly substance. The Health & Safety Executive estimate that around 5,000 people die every year of asbestos exposure, and 60% of that figure are construction workers.
Why Are Construction Workers So Vulnerable to Asbestos?
People working in construction are very much ‘on the front line’ of asbestos exposure. Wherever major refurbishment or demolition work are taking place on buildings over 50 years old, exposure is a risk.
The Health & Safety procedure for guarding against unnecessary exposure is to maintain an on-site asbestos register, alongside procedures for working with asbestos. Many construction workers were unaware of this practice. IOSH’s No Time To Lose campaign seeks to raise awareness of these issues.
Avanti Provides Asbestos Surveys London
Avanti is a London HSE Licensed Asbestos removal and Management Company. We carry out asbestos surveys on domestic, commercial, public and industrial properties. Their purpose is first to ascertain whether asbestos is present, and second to determine the level of risk it poses.
- Asbestos Management Surveys. This dangerous material exists in houses built throughout the twentieth century. Asbestos surveys ascertain whether there are any Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs). Any damaged or disturbed asbestos is sent to our UKAS accredited labs for analysis.
- Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys. An asbestos survey is legally required as part of demolition or refurbishment planning. This is an intrusive investigation to discern whether or not asbestos is present, and its various locations.
Onsite Asbestos Registers
These identify the following:
- The location of the asbestos
- The source of the asbestos
- The type of asbestos located
- Whether the asbestos is friable (crumbling)
- The condition of the ACMs
- The likelihood of ACMs being exposed or damaged
- The kinds of activity that are likely to disturb or damage the asbestos
The Asbestos Register should be kept current. A well-maintained Asbestos Register safeguards against the accidental exposure of a workforce to asbestos. It’s an integral part of demolition planning.
Avanti Provide Safe Asbestos Removal London
If you discover that your property contains asbestos and you would like to remove it, a professional asbestos company can do so safely. Avanti is a licensed removals expert in London, with extensive experience of clearing premises, and safely disposing of asbestos and ACMs. We carry out air monitoring before, during and after removals to ensure that the environment is entirely safe post-removal.
If you would like to know more about working safely with asbestos, or you’d like to discuss asbestos surveys London, call us today on0333 3355974.
