Full PPE Included
Written by Tom Yates . Edited
Fact Checked by William Wright, NEBOSH
Asbestos was outlawed in the UK prior to the turn of the millennium. This was because lung cancer and other unsafe diseases were shown to be caused by exposure to it.
Twenty years later, many home and business owners are still dealing with the substance. Buildings that were constructed before the 1990s may still contain asbestos. Requiring trained specialists to come in and remove it.
Large industrial cities like Leeds are often full of asbestos. The substance was widely used in cities more than rural areas and still exists in high amounts. Especially in certain buildings built in particular decades.
Sadly, this time period (the last 100 years) is when much of the industrial growth happened in Leeds and the surrounding area. Meaning the city is still likely to contain high amounts of asbestos, and the buildings which contain it are probably the ones due or soon to be due for repairs and improvements.
We know this because it's often the case in other large cities across the UK. The good news is, we can help you detect asbestos and remove it before it causes any danger to your family or employees. Or anyone else that visits your building.
As buildings get older, they inevitably need to be repaired and altered. Once this work starts, asbestos can become exposed - and once it does, so does the danger.
Asbestos is actually safe when left undisturbed. This is because it remains inside the structure, hidden and enclosed behind masonry and other materials.
But if work begins before it is detected, then this can lead to problems for those in the vicinity. It's for this reason that asbestos needs to be located in older buildings before necessary renovations begin.
This way, it can then be removed, allowing the work to go ahead safely. By using one of our asbestos test kits, you can analyse materials suspected of containing asbestos, giving you a clearer idea of where it is in your building.
Asbestos is comprised of a variety of minerals containing a small group of microscopic fibres, which if breathed in, can cause respiratory damage. Throughout the preceding century, asbestos was widely used in building projects throughout the UK, including major industrial cities such as Leeds.
As it was known, the 'magic material' by those in the trade and blended into cement, flooring, roofing, and wall materials. Asbestos was deemed to be so helpful that it was over-used by construction companies - in tremendously high amounts.
This is why it still exists today in substantial quantities, and ideally, needs to be removed before large construction or renovation projects begin. The appropriate checks should be made to confirm if any asbestos is present. This is why our testing kits come in so handy.
Inhaled asbestos can be hazardous, even fatal. It's possible to inhale microscopic fibres which can eventually cause lung cancer and other crippling respiratory disorders.
The good news is asbestos that remains hidden is generally not a problem, but the place where it's hidden will eventually become subject to renovation as buildings move between owner to owner. This is when action needs to be taken to ensure it can be done safely.
Asbestos-related symptoms can take a long time to develop, but once they do, that person can fall very ill. Blue-collar workers usually are at the most at risk. Since they are sometimes placed in situations that expose them to asbestos. These fibres, however, can impact anybody who gets too close.
Asbestos removal must first involve confirmation of its location. Something our test kits can provide once you send your sample back to us for analysis. If the material you give us contains traces of asbestos, we will inform you of this immediately.
Removal can then be arranged via a third-party. We can also provide recommendations on who to pick for this task. That's because every location uses different companies to remove asbestos from buildings. A company in London may not be active in Leeds.
Our kits are provided with specific instructions and PPE, which is approved by industry authorities. However, we won't leave you to do it alone if you're unsure. If you need us to walk you through the process, we can support you by telephone.
You can learn more detail about the procedure here by watching this video. We only need a tiny sample, so there's no need to obtain too much material. We'd recommend it be the size of a small coin.
Your sample will be sent to our testing laboratory ideally, on the day it arrives. If the sample comes back positive for asbestos, we'll then suggest what to do next. In order to remove it, we can also recommend a local company.
If you're unsure that there is asbestos in your building, a complete survey could be a better option. This helps confirm whether there is any and if so, this will alert you to where. It is also far more detailed than a test kit, which is only designed to test a particular area.
We do not conduct surveys ourselves, but we can provide advice on who can. Even contact a local agency to organise this for you. You'll then know where any asbestos may be hidden after a thorough inspection.
From the survey, you will find what you need to know. But if you already suspect asbestos exists in your building, you can order one of our asbestos test kits today.
We can help you detect whether asbestos is there or not - and how it can be removed safely.
Full PPE Included
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