Asbestos is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK. This site provides health and safety advice and guidance so that those who may be exposed to asbestos at work know what to do to protect themselves and others.
Why is asbestos dangerous?
When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases which are responsible for around 4000 deaths a year. There are four main diseases caused by asbestos: mesothelioma (which is always fatal), lung cancer (almost always fatal), asbestosis (not always fatal, but it can be very debilitating) and diffuse pleural thickening (not fatal).
Asbestos fibres are present in the environment in Great Britain so people are exposed to very low levels of fibres. However, a key factor in the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease is the total number of fibres breathed in. Working on or near damaged asbestos-containing materials or breathing in high levels of asbestos fibres, which may be many hundreds of times that of environmental levels can increase your chances of getting an asbestos-related disease.
Asbestos related diseases won't affect immediately but later on in life, so there is a need for you to protect yourself now to prevent you contracting an asbestos-related disease in the future. It is also important to remember that people who smoke and are also exposed to asbestos fibres are at a much greater risk of developing lung cancer.
When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases which are responsible for around 4000 deaths a year. There are four main diseases caused by asbestos: mesothelioma (which is always fatal), lung cancer (almost always fatal), asbestosis (not always fatal, but it can be very debilitating) and diffuse pleural thickening (not fatal).
Asbestos fibres are present in the environment in Great Britain so people are exposed to very low levels of fibres. However, a key factor in the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease is the total number of fibres breathed in. Working on or near damaged asbestos-containing materials or breathing in high levels of asbestos fibres, which may be many hundreds of times that of environmental levels can increase your chances of getting an asbestos-related disease.
Asbestos related diseases won't affect immediately but later on in life, so there is a need for you to protect yourself now to prevent you contracting an asbestos-related disease in the future. It is also important to remember that people who smoke and are also exposed to asbestos fibres are at a much greater risk of developing lung cancer.
Where can you find asbestos?
Some of the places where you may find asbestos can be found in our interactive diagram.
Some of the places where you may find asbestos can be found in our interactive diagram.
Asbestos cement products Where do you find this?
You can find asbestos cement in many places inside and outside buildings such as:
Asbestos cement roofs
These are mainly made up of large sheets of corrugated asbestos cement; they are often found on industrial or farmyard buildings, but also can be found as roofs on garages and sheds. They are usually covered in mosses as they've been there for many years.
Asbestos wall cladding
Shape and structure similar to roof sheeting, and is often found on walls/as walls of buildings with asbestos cement roofs.
Asbestos downpipes and gutters
Sometimes attached at the end of cement roofs in warehouse type buildings.
Asbestos cement flues
This may be found in boiler systems (including domestic) air conditioning and ventilation systems. Articles
Examples include water tanks, fire surrounds and pipes. What does it look like?
Asbestos cement is just ordinary cement mixed with asbestos, in some cases asbestos can make up over a third of the cement. It is a hard, grey material which was moulded and compressed to produce some of the materials listed above
How dangerous is this?
As the asbestos is held tightly within the structure of the cement not much is given off when this is broken, however more asbestos fibres will be given off if it is sawn or drilled.
You don't need a licence to carry out work with asbestos cement. Work with any type of asbestos is dangerous which is why the HSE have produced a number of guidance sheets. These sheets will tell you how to carry out work with asbestos cement safely so that you reduce the risk to yourself and others.
WARNING: Asbestos cement can sometimes be found with other more dangerous asbestos materials such as sprayed coatings - make sure you check before you carry out any work. Asbestos cement is also very fragile and deaths and injuries from falls through asbestos roofs are common - do not stand on it!
Textured coatings
Where do you find these?
Textured coatings were used to produce decorative finishes on ceilings and walls. In the past, they have had various trade names such as 'Artex'.
What do these look like?
This is dependent on the particular decorative finish required i.e. peaks or patterns. They are hard and were originally white in colour but have often been painted over.
How dangerous are these?
The asbestos fibres are held in place within the structure and are not easily given off and breathed in, however they are easily released if the coatings are sanded down - never do this.
Take care - sometimes textured coatings are applied on top of other types of asbestos such as asbestos insulating board.
You do not need a licence to work on these materials, however work with any type of asbestos is dangerous which is why the HSE have produced a number of task guidance sheets.
Where can you find asbestos? Floor tiles, textiles and composites Where do you find these?
Sometimes you may find asbestos floor tiles hidden under carpets.
Textiles can be found in fuse boxes behind the actual fuse. Old fire blankets and heat resistant gloves can also be made out of asbestos textiles.
Asbestos composites can be toilet cisterns and seats, window sills, and bath panels.
Asbestos paper was used for lining under tiles and inside metal cladding.
What do these look like?
These asbestos containing materials are not very distinctive from what is used now. To make sure the HSE recommend you ask the owners about how long they've had certain things or look for a trade name. You should be able to look up this trade name on the internet to find out more about it.
How dangerous are these?
These should be treated with caution, if in doubt assume they are asbestos and treat as such. You do not need a licence to work on these materials and the HSE had produced a number of task sheets to help you to take the correct precautions.
Sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls and beams/columns Where do you find this?
Insulation on the underside of roofs and sometimes sides of buildings and warehouses. Also used as fire protection on steel and reinforced concrete beams/columns and on underside of floors.
It was very easy to overspray or get a 'splash back' from the equipment used to apply this so there is likely to be debris around the sprayed area.
What does this look like? Usually white or grey in colour with a rough surface, although they may have been painted.
How dangerous is this?
This contains up to 85% asbestos and breaks up very easily. It is one of the most dangerous materials containing asbestos. Even minor disturbance of sprayed coatings can release large quantities of asbestos fibres into the air where they can be breathed in.
DO NOT attempt to work on this material under any circumstances unless you are an HSE-licensed contractor Asbestos insulating board
Where do you find this?
Asbestos Insulating Board was commonly used as fireproofing material but it had many other uses such as:
Normal building items such as wall panels boards, ceiling tiles and plasterboard. It is difficult to tell the difference between asbestos insulating board items and non-asbestos materials.
How dangerous is this?
Work on AIB normally needs a HSE-licensed contractor. Asbestos insulating board easily releases fibres in to the air when disturbed. Some small or minor tasks can be carried out by non-licensed workers, these include:
Lagging
Where do you find this?
Mostly found in or on heating systems such as round boilers or calorifiers and around pipework.
What does this look like?
This type of asbestos has many different appearances but is mostly a fibrous material which flakes and powders easily. When applied to pipes it is often covered in a protective coating (or painted) which can be any colour, and may make it more difficult to identify.
How dangerous is this?
This is one of the most dangerous materials containing asbestos. You are more at risk from breathing in asbestos fibres because disturbance of the lagging or insulation releases fibres very easily in to the air that you breathe.
DO NOT attempt to work on this material under any circumstances unless you are a HSE-licensed contractor. Loose asbestos in ceiling or floor cavity
Where do you find this?
This was used to insulate industrial and domestic premises so can be found in between cavity walls, under floorboards and in loft spaces.
What does this look like?
This is a loose, fluffy insulation material (similar to candyfloss), which may be blue-grey or whitish in colour.
How dangerous is this?
Probably the most dangerous asbestos containing material. Loose fill is made up of pure asbestos and if disturbed can release large amounts of fibres in to the air, where they can be breathed in.
DO NOT attempt to work on this material under any circumstances unless you are a HSE-licensed contractor
You can find asbestos cement in many places inside and outside buildings such as:
Asbestos cement roofs
These are mainly made up of large sheets of corrugated asbestos cement; they are often found on industrial or farmyard buildings, but also can be found as roofs on garages and sheds. They are usually covered in mosses as they've been there for many years.
Asbestos wall cladding
Shape and structure similar to roof sheeting, and is often found on walls/as walls of buildings with asbestos cement roofs.
Asbestos downpipes and gutters
Sometimes attached at the end of cement roofs in warehouse type buildings.
Asbestos cement flues
This may be found in boiler systems (including domestic) air conditioning and ventilation systems. Articles
Examples include water tanks, fire surrounds and pipes. What does it look like?
Asbestos cement is just ordinary cement mixed with asbestos, in some cases asbestos can make up over a third of the cement. It is a hard, grey material which was moulded and compressed to produce some of the materials listed above
How dangerous is this?
As the asbestos is held tightly within the structure of the cement not much is given off when this is broken, however more asbestos fibres will be given off if it is sawn or drilled.
You don't need a licence to carry out work with asbestos cement. Work with any type of asbestos is dangerous which is why the HSE have produced a number of guidance sheets. These sheets will tell you how to carry out work with asbestos cement safely so that you reduce the risk to yourself and others.
WARNING: Asbestos cement can sometimes be found with other more dangerous asbestos materials such as sprayed coatings - make sure you check before you carry out any work. Asbestos cement is also very fragile and deaths and injuries from falls through asbestos roofs are common - do not stand on it!
Textured coatings
Where do you find these?
Textured coatings were used to produce decorative finishes on ceilings and walls. In the past, they have had various trade names such as 'Artex'.
What do these look like?
This is dependent on the particular decorative finish required i.e. peaks or patterns. They are hard and were originally white in colour but have often been painted over.
How dangerous are these?
The asbestos fibres are held in place within the structure and are not easily given off and breathed in, however they are easily released if the coatings are sanded down - never do this.
Take care - sometimes textured coatings are applied on top of other types of asbestos such as asbestos insulating board.
You do not need a licence to work on these materials, however work with any type of asbestos is dangerous which is why the HSE have produced a number of task guidance sheets.
Where can you find asbestos? Floor tiles, textiles and composites Where do you find these?
Sometimes you may find asbestos floor tiles hidden under carpets.
Textiles can be found in fuse boxes behind the actual fuse. Old fire blankets and heat resistant gloves can also be made out of asbestos textiles.
Asbestos composites can be toilet cisterns and seats, window sills, and bath panels.
Asbestos paper was used for lining under tiles and inside metal cladding.
What do these look like?
These asbestos containing materials are not very distinctive from what is used now. To make sure the HSE recommend you ask the owners about how long they've had certain things or look for a trade name. You should be able to look up this trade name on the internet to find out more about it.
How dangerous are these?
These should be treated with caution, if in doubt assume they are asbestos and treat as such. You do not need a licence to work on these materials and the HSE had produced a number of task sheets to help you to take the correct precautions.
Sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls and beams/columns Where do you find this?
Insulation on the underside of roofs and sometimes sides of buildings and warehouses. Also used as fire protection on steel and reinforced concrete beams/columns and on underside of floors.
It was very easy to overspray or get a 'splash back' from the equipment used to apply this so there is likely to be debris around the sprayed area.
What does this look like? Usually white or grey in colour with a rough surface, although they may have been painted.
How dangerous is this?
This contains up to 85% asbestos and breaks up very easily. It is one of the most dangerous materials containing asbestos. Even minor disturbance of sprayed coatings can release large quantities of asbestos fibres into the air where they can be breathed in.
DO NOT attempt to work on this material under any circumstances unless you are an HSE-licensed contractor Asbestos insulating board
Where do you find this?
Asbestos Insulating Board was commonly used as fireproofing material but it had many other uses such as:
-
· Partition walls
· Fireproofing panels in fire doors
· Lift shaft linings
· Ceiling tiles
· Soffits
· Panels below windows
Normal building items such as wall panels boards, ceiling tiles and plasterboard. It is difficult to tell the difference between asbestos insulating board items and non-asbestos materials.
How dangerous is this?
Work on AIB normally needs a HSE-licensed contractor. Asbestos insulating board easily releases fibres in to the air when disturbed. Some small or minor tasks can be carried out by non-licensed workers, these include:
Lagging
Where do you find this?
Mostly found in or on heating systems such as round boilers or calorifiers and around pipework.
What does this look like?
This type of asbestos has many different appearances but is mostly a fibrous material which flakes and powders easily. When applied to pipes it is often covered in a protective coating (or painted) which can be any colour, and may make it more difficult to identify.
How dangerous is this?
This is one of the most dangerous materials containing asbestos. You are more at risk from breathing in asbestos fibres because disturbance of the lagging or insulation releases fibres very easily in to the air that you breathe.
DO NOT attempt to work on this material under any circumstances unless you are a HSE-licensed contractor. Loose asbestos in ceiling or floor cavity
Where do you find this?
This was used to insulate industrial and domestic premises so can be found in between cavity walls, under floorboards and in loft spaces.
What does this look like?
This is a loose, fluffy insulation material (similar to candyfloss), which may be blue-grey or whitish in colour.
How dangerous is this?
Probably the most dangerous asbestos containing material. Loose fill is made up of pure asbestos and if disturbed can release large amounts of fibres in to the air, where they can be breathed in.
DO NOT attempt to work on this material under any circumstances unless you are a HSE-licensed contractor