Here in the UK asbestos seems to hit the headline news on a regular basis, so once a month, one of our blog posts deals with recent news stories about asbestos. This is our news roundup for the month of May and, again, it would be interesting to know what you, the readers, think of the stories that feature here. Please join in by adding your comments below the regular news roundup postings.
In an astonishing news report recently it was revealed that a Battersea building company has been fined for failing to highlight the known presence of asbestos insulating board (AIB) at a Berkshire warehouse that was undergoing refurbishment work.
Although mesothelioma is described as a rare form of cancer, we tend to hear so much about it online and on the news these days that you can be forgiven for thinking it’s not rare at all, it seems quite common. It’s a cancer that usually starts in the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) but may also start in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). The disease gets its name from the mesothelium, a sac-like membrane that protects the body’s internal organs. The mesothelium is divided into two layers, the visceral layer (which surround the organ directly) and the parietal (a sac aroun
The initial symptoms of mesothelioma are fairly non-specific in nature and can be mistaken for other conditions such as persistent pneumonia or gastronomical disorders. Some patients exhibit no symptoms at all so evaluation and diagnosis is often delayed. When diagnosing mesothelioma, physicians need to use a review of the patient’s medical history and must taken into account any past exposure to asbestos.
Any building in the UK that was constructed before the year 2000 is likely to contain asbestos or asbestos containing materials (ACMs). Prior to the total ban in 1999, asbestos was commonly used in the construction industry in many applications which means that asbestos can be found just about anywhere in a building. If a building is due to undergo refurbishment or remodelling work or is due to be demolished, then a Demolition and Refurbishment Asbestos Survey will be necessary before any work disturbs the fabric of the building.
Every building in the UK that was constructed before the total asbestos ban of 1999 can be presumed to contain asbestos or asbestos containing materials (ACMs). Because asbestos has been found to be such a hazardous substance, causing severe and fatal health problems in many people. The best way to identify whether or not asbestos or ACMs are present in a building is to have an asbestos survey performed. This will allow the building owner to identify the location of any asbestos or ACMs and determine which type of asbestos, if any
Hardly a week goes by without some sort of news story about the dangers of asbestos so ignorance is no excuse when it comes to this hazardous substance. Because the use of asbestos was so widespread in the construction industry in the 20th Century, there is hardly a building in the UK that’s not at risk of containing asbestos somewhere. Although asbestos was finally banned totally in Britain in 1999, any building constructed before that date is likely to contain asbestos.
Nobody in the UK can be in any doubt about the dangers of asbestos nowadays. Despite the total ban here in Britain back in 1999, we are still seeing so many cases of asbestos related diseases being diagnosed as it can take up to 30 years from the date of initial exposure to asbestos for symptoms to start appearing. Because asbestos was used so extensively in the construction industry in the UK, asbestos is likely to be present in homes and buildings across the UK and will need dealing with for many years to come. If you’re a homeowner and need to know more about asbestos and safe methods
The dangers of asbestos are pretty well known nowadays – hardly a week goes by without a story in the news about the dangers of asbestos. Although it may seem that the risks associated with asbestos are a thing of the past, nothing could be further from the truth. Asbestos still presents a very real danger here in the UK where many of our buildings that were constructed before the total asbestos ban of 1999 contain asbestos somewhere in the premises. Even supposedly modern buildings may contain asbestos or asbestos containing materials (ACMs) that may pose a risk to contractors and worke
Asbestos was totally banned in the UK in 1999 so new buildings that were constructed from the year 2000 onwards will be asbestos free. However, most of us in the UK live in homes that were built before that date and this means that asbestos or asbestos containing materials (ACMs) may be present. This means that any homeowners who are planning remodelling or refurbishment work on the house will need to check for asbestos before undertaking any work.