5 Myths Around Asbestos Removal that You Should Not Believe

5 Myths Around Asbestos Removal that You Should Not Believe

It is natural to panic when you find asbestos on your property. The material is highly toxic but was immensely popular among construction companies in the 1960s and 1970s. If your home is a bit aged or refurbished, you may find traces of asbestos in many installations. You should take no time to remove it, as the material can harm you and your family.

The Hazards of Asbestos Usage:

Along with posing a serious threat to health, asbestos can even cause death. Your body may not show the symptoms even after exposure to asbestos for 20 or 30 years. You may hear some popular myths and misconceptions about asbestos from many sources. Do not believe in them; rely on professional asbestos removal in Brighton to remove the material from your house.

Dispelling the Common Myths Around Asbestos:

In this blog, we will discuss the popular myths about having asbestos in your home and dispel them. It will help to clear your confusion and remove the material from your home once and for all.

Asbestos is not Found in Newer Properties: It would be great if this happened, but unfortunately, the claim is not as true as it sounds. Surely, asbestos was more popular in the middle of the 20th Century. However, its usage ceased only after 2000, which means the modern properties may also have traces of this material. You can take help from professionals if you want to be sure.

The Dangers of Asbestos are Exaggerated: This is a common myth with asbestos removal. Many become sceptical about the health hazards of prolonged exposure to this material. However, to follow good health, it is better to avoid these scepticisms. Many scientific proofs refer that asbestos can cause many deadly diseases.

You can Remove Asbestos from Your House: Many tend to follow this trick to save up on professional asbestos removal. However, it may not help you as you do not possess the safety gear or protective wear of the experts in asbestos removal. Many believe wearing a mask will ensure safety, but this claim is too far from reality. Though the experts perform the same task by wearing a mask, their ones are layered and well-designed to prevent health hazards.

It is Easy to Identify Asbestos: If you know about asbestos, then finding asbestos in your home will be an easy task. Otherwise, you should get your property tested by a professional asbestos testing and removal company. They can understand the type of asbestos in your property and take the final call. They can also perform an air test to determine the presence of asbestos particles in your house.

These are the common myths about asbestos that you should not believe. Try to analyse these claims and find a solution that will help you. To remove asbestos with expert help, you can take help from Clearaway Asbestos Services. We are a leading asbestos removal in Brighton, providing service to residential and commercial properties. We have a professional team who can identify the asbestos presence in your house and remove it safely. For more details, you can visit our website.

What to do if You Find Asbestos

What to do if you find asbestos?

Asbestos has been banned in the UK for almost twenty years, and any building constructed as recently as the year 2000 may well contain asbestos. Despite the ban, asbestos still kills thousands of people every year. It’s a silent killer where the symptoms may take decades to develop. No one wants to live or work near asbestos, so it’s a good idea to check if your building is affected, and if it is, what should you do about it?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that has been used for thousands of years in a range of items, including clothing, pottery, candle wicks and even in the preservation of dead bodies. Here in the UK, asbestos became widely used during the Industrial Revolution, when its fire and heat-resistant properties were ideal for steam engines, boilers, turbines and pipe insulation. Asbestos has also been widely used in brake linings, drywall, ship-building, and perhaps most notoriously in roof insulation, all of which can be found very commonly in day-to-day life. During the 1990s, the dangers of asbestos came to light, and it was banned. Although it had been banned, many items built before this time still contained asbestos. That is why it is such a danger nowadays as some residential buildings and places like hospitals and schools could risk containing asbestos.

What Does Asbestos Look Like?

Asbestos can be hard to detect when mixed with other materials, but it comes in blue, brown, and white varieties in its natural form. Asbestos is most dangerous when the small fibres are disturbed and become airborne. If you live in an older building or are working on any project built before the year 2000, it is essential to get an asbestos inspector out like us here at Clearaway to check for fibres. It is vital you do this before any work begins, as simple things like drilling or knocking walls down could disturb the fibres and make them airborne. Airborne asbestos has no particular smell and is hard to spot, making it even more dangerous, especially as the effects of inhaling it most likely won’t show up for many years.

What Should I do if I Suspect Asbestos?

Asbestos can be very hard to spot as it’s not clearly visible to the naked eye. This is why it is a good idea to call us here at Clearaway. We can come out and inspect, test and then remove the asbestos for you. If you were to find something that you suspect to be asbestos, then it is important that you do not disturb it. It is better to leave this to the professionals to contain in.

What Can Clearaway Asbestos Do to Help?

Our team can remove any potential asbestos samples using safe methods to help minimise the number of asbestos particles released into the air. Any suspected asbestos is transported in sealed containers and safely taken away for testing. We will ensure that any areas we have touched to remove the asbestos are made safe and that it is contained to one area to prevent any spread of the fibres.

Despite the potential hazards of asbestos, finding it in your building is no cause for alarm as long as you treat it correctly and do not disturb it. During our survey inspection, we’ll be able to advise you on how you can continue to operate safely around the asbestos. We will also contain the asbestos in one area so it doesn’t contaminate the air in other rooms or areas.

Clearaway specialises in safe, quick and professional removal of asbestos. Don’t hesitate to contact us today if you have an enquiry.

 

Who is at Risk of Asbestos?

Who is at Risk of Asbestos?

With the dangers of asbestos now commonly known across both building trade and broader society, everyone must be aware if they were ever exposed to this toxic material. Asbestos can cause many health problems for people, but it is often too late to do anything by the time these health issues come to light. This is because it can take anywhere between 10-60 years for the asbestos-related diseases to come out and show any significant symptoms. Over the last 30 years, asbestos death rates have increased, reaching around 5,000 deaths in the UK per year. The key to minimising these diseases is to limit asbestos exposure. However, that can be tricky as asbestos fibres can be hard to identify as they are not visible to the naked eye. That is where we here at Clearaway Asbestos are here to help. Before starting any work on a building, especially one built before the year 2000, it is vital that you call an asbestos company to come and investigate first. Here at Clearaway, we can inspect and check the building to see if asbestos is present. If we suspect asbestos in the building, we will send it off to the lab for testing, close off the room to limit the spread around the property and work on removing the asbestos fibres. Although asbestos may be easy to locate in households as it is a smaller and more accessible location, there are long-serving buildings used by thousands of people a year where asbestos could be present.

Asbestos In Schools

The amount of asbestos currently in pre-2000 built educational establishments has come into question recently. Mesothelioma is a rare but dangerous form of cancer that can affect anyone who has worked with asbestos. Lately, there has been a rise in mesothelioma related deaths among teachers due to the exposure of asbestos in old school buildings.

The Department For Education has estimated that 75% of UK schools contain asbestos. More worryingly, when asbestos usage was at its peak between 1945-1974, around 13,000 schools were built. Asbestos was used in schools to help keep the spread of a fire at bay if one was to start. Many of the key features in schools were also insulated with asbestos, including ceiling panels, boilers, roofing sheets and pipes. Pipe and central heating maintenance in schools have to take place regularly. Doing this can disturb asbestos and disseminate deadly fibres into the atmosphere. This can be a worrying thing for many schools across the country, so it is always best to get in an inspector to help get rid of the asbestos material.

Asbestos In Hospitals

A hospital building is built to last, so few are constructed nowadays. This means the majority of UK hospitals are considerably old. An extensive network of heating pipes and boiler systems throughout the hospital contain asbestos panelling. The BBC reported that as of October 2018, 90% of UK hospitals were confirmed to have asbestos present in their structures. There have been ongoing claims made against the NHS relating to the exposure to asbestos in hospital environments.

There is a big issue with asbestos in hospitals because they are such busy places and open 24 hours. If the asbestos was to be kept secure and left untouched, then there is a risk of it becoming fragmented and hazardous over time. On the other hand, a complete and thorough asbestos removal may interfere with the constant clinical schedules as they won’t be able to close off any areas of the hospital to work on the asbestos removal. Despite this, there has been some success stories of trusts achieving this without clinical disruptions.

Asbestos is a serious health risk that is still a danger to millions despite the 1999 total ban on using asbestos. Here at Clearaway Asbestos, we are an established business specialising in asbestos removal. Our trained operatives are organised and safety conscious, giving you complete confidence that we will do a good job. Arrange your asbestos clearance with us today by visiting our website to get your free quote tailored specifically to your job.

 

Why Choose Clearaway Asbestos For Your Asbestos Removal?

Why Choose Clearaway Asbestos For Your Asbestos Removal?

Here at Clearaway Asbestos, there are many reasons why you should choose us for your asbestos removal. We are a highly professional team specialising in asbestos removal throughout Surrey, Middlesex, Sussex & SW London. We specialise in garage asbestos removal and also remove asbestos from domestic properties, warehouses, commercial roofs and industrial environments. We ensure that all employees here at Clearaway Asbestos are professionally trained. They recieve initial and ongoing training, meaning that their work meets all the current health and safety standards and the current techniques. We cover a wide range of areas across London and can offer a wide range of services for your job. We understand every job is different, and we will create a quote tailored to your specific job and requirements.

What to look for when choosing your asbestos removal company

When choosing your asbestos inspectors, you must choose a professional and reliable service where the job will get done correctly. Below is a list of things to consider and why you should choose us here at Clearaway.

  • Experienced workers
  • Safe disposal methods
  • Price, licence and certifications
  • Inspection process

These things make up a good and professional company, just like us here at Clearaway. Read on to learn more about how we ensure our company meets all these requirements.

Experienced workers:

Clearaway is a company that has been running for many years. We are reliable and professional, with a high-quality team working for us to remove your asbestos. Our team members have been undergoing the latest training methods and know-how to remove asbestos from your site safely. They will all be wearing the correct protective headgear, gloves and other safety equipment to ensure no further contamination to the workers or your property.

Safe disposal methods:

Once the asbestos has been removed, it is essential you dispose of it correctly as it can also negatively impact the environment. Here at Clearaway Asbestos, we follow a sustainable and environmentally friendly asbestos removal process ensuring that we remove it correctly and with the environment in mind.

Price, licence and certifications:

Here at Clearaway Asbestos, we will give you the best price we can offer for your job in line with other competitors in the area. Since asbestos removal is a dangerous job, it is essential that we have a professional licence. This shows that we are a licensed company, allowed to remove asbestos safely. If you hire a company without this, it could be unsafe as they are not fully trained.

Inspection process:

Here at Clearaway Asbestos, we follow an official inspection process. This is the method used to choose the removal process and inspect where it actually is. This will be a full inspection where we will examine the property and sample the house or area for asbestos as it is not directly visible to the naked eye. We will send off the asbestos to the testing lab, where it can be sampled and checked. Some companies will follow a short and random inspection method, in which case it’s best not to hire them. Finding where the asbestos is located is one of the most crucial parts of the process as this will need to keep it contained to one area to prevent it from spreading around and find the exact location for the removal.

All of the above reasons show that Clearaway Asbestos is the best company for your job. There is no better option than us providing a high quality and professional service at a fair, competitive price. Contact us today to get a quote specifically tailored to what you need us to do for you.

Where is Asbestos found?

Where is Asbestos found?

Asbestos is a hazardous substance that is caused by silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics and is used in fire-resistant and insulating materials. If you are planning to knock down or renovate your house, then it is usually good to check for asbestos especially if you live an older home. Using an asbestos clearing company like us here at Clearaway Asbestos can make the job easier for you so you don’t have to worry about it.

Asbestos can be found in any industrial or residential building built or refurbished before the year 2000. It is in many of the common materials used in the building trade that you may come across while doing your building work. Older buildings can contain asbestos from materials used when the building work took place. Some construction companies lined ceilings, walls, roofing and even water pipes with asbestos. Identifying asbestos containing materials before any work commences is essential before any work begins.

Why do I need to remove asbestos before starting my home renovation?

 

Asbestos is responsible for over 5000 deaths every year. Younger people, if routinely exposed to asbestos fibres over time, are at greater risk of developing asbestos-related disease than older workers. This is due to the time it takes for the body to develop symptoms after exposure to asbestos. One of the most dangerous aspects of Asbestos is that it is a friable material; meaning it can easily crumble. When this happens, the deadly fibres are released and become airborne. Exposure to asbestos can cause four main diseases:

  • Mesothelioma
  • Asbestos-related lung cancer
  • Asbestosis
  • Diffuse pleural thickening

It can take anywhere between 15-60 years for any symptoms to develop after exposure, so these diseases will not affect you immediately but may do later in life which is why it is so important to get the asbestos check out in your home.

If you start a building or renovation project without checking for asbestos first, then you could be exposing yourself and your family. The particles spread very easily around your home so need to be contained as soon as possible. There are also different severities of asbestos, and some jobs may be easier to remove than others so it is always best to get a professional out to check out the situation.

How can you remove asbestos?

You should not try and remove the asbestos on your own without getting an inspector out first. It is very dangerous, and you need to get a professional company who follow all the safety regulations to inspect it for you to see the severity of the case. All of our workers here at Clearaway Asbestos will have received proper training to complete a professional job.  They will be wearing full safety equipment to protect themselves. This will include a face mask and a suit to cover all their exposed skin. They will seal off the areas where the asbestos has been found in. This will prevent the fibres from circulating around your building and to reduce asbestos contamination throughout the area. They will then go through the process of locating and removing the asbestos from the area and disposing of it safely. It can pose a health hazard if it is not handled properly during the demolition process which is why it is always best to get professionals in.

Asbestos fibres are hard to identify as they are not easily visible to the human eye so will need to be tested on to identify the substance. Therefore, hiring us here at Clearaway is a good method to remove your asbestos as you get the testing and removal all in one service.  For more information on our services, check out our website or contact us today.

Things to Avoid During the Asbestos Removal Process

Things to Avoid During the Asbestos Removal Process

Asbestos leaks from roofs and garages are a common problem. In the case of old building demolitions, high amounts of asbestos might be found in the piled-up remains of the building. It’s always best to take precautions while removing or cleaning the traces of asbestos from the premises. Asbestos is a harmful chemical that, if inhaled, can cause lung infections, breathing problems and lung cancer.

Thus, wearing appropriate protective equipment while removing and cleaning up asbestos can help you avoid its harmful effects. To ensure the job is performed without any risk, we strongly recommend hiring professionals for the job who are qualified and certified in handling toxic and hazardous materials. Professionals in asbestos removal in London use protective gear and take the proper precautions before starting work.

When performing asbestos removal services, professionals always follow a select few rules to avoid contamination and get the premises clear of the substance efficiently and safely.

Four things to avoid during the asbestos removal process

Avoid contaminating other areas of the building

Make sure that you thoroughly clean up the place and the equipment near the affected area before moving on to the rest of the house. Use a vacuum cleaner and mop to clean up the site and avoid unnecessary contamination. Ensure that you don’t leave the asbestos-contaminated materials in and around the house area.

Avoid careless disposals

You must be very careful in disposing of the asbestos products. Please don’t dispose of them in some random dustbins inside or outside the house. Professional asbestos removal companies generally require the help of skip hire services to dispose of hazardous remains of asbestos. With the help of a professional asbestos removal company, you can get rid of the substance professionally and sustainably.

Clean off the personal protective equipment

If you’re wearing a PPE kit while removing the asbestos, you must thoroughly clean and disinfect it after handling asbestos. You can also keep a separate disposable bin where you can easily drop off the used PPE kit and ensure that nothing else is contaminated due to the remains of asbestos present on the PPE kit. Professional removal specialists keep a respirator on until the contaminated clothes are removed completely.

Avoid contaminating surroundings

If you need to remove an asbestos-contaminated roof, you must inform the neighbours before starting the project. This will ensure your neighbours secure their premises by closing the windows and removing their personal belongings from the area. Also, make sure that you use a heavy plastic covering for the garden and the soil to avoid any contamination.

If your premises are contaminated with asbestos, hire Clearaway Asbestos experts for safe removal services. To find out more, check out our website or contact us today.

Legal Complications Around Asbestos

Legal Complications Around Asbestos

Asbestos was used frequently in construction projects in the 20th century. It was initially considered a fantastic building material due to its fireproof, weatherproof, strong qualities, and the fact that it was relatively cheap to come by. However, once people began to notice the adverse effects it was having on the health of those exposed to it, it was banned from use in 1999.
The problem lay in that banning it didn’t vanquish the problem, as it was still present in thousands of buildings built before 1999. In fact, it still is present in a lot of those buildings. Many people are unaware that their property contains asbestos, as it is not visible to the naked eye and requires sampling and testing to identify. The other problem is that many people are still becoming ill from asbestos exposure, as some of the health complications don’t appear to present themselves until decades after the substance was inhaled.

Residential Properties

Whilst having asbestos on your property is never a good idea, it can be relatively harmless if left untouched. The dangerous asbestos fibres are actually only released when the material is damaged or dislodged in any way. Commonly, this occurs when garage roofing containing asbestos is subject to storms or particularly windy weather. It also means that removing the contaminated parts of your home is an extremely dangerous task, as you run the risk of damaging it during the process. For this reason, it is critical that you hire a professional, reliable asbestos removal company if you discover the substance in your home, as attempting a DIY could prove disastrous or even fatal.
When it comes to domestic properties, there are currently no legal obligations to have asbestos identified or removed, though you put your and your visitors’ health at great risk by not doing so. Even when you hire someone to work at your property, you are not legally required to ensure they are safe from asbestos; they are responsible for this risk themselves. However, suppose you suspect there may be asbestos on your residential property. In that case, we highly recommend having an asbestos survey carried out in order to determine whether your home is contaminated and potentially dangerous.

Commercial Properties

In non-domestic properties, you have a legal duty of care to identify any asbestos on the premises. Clearaway Asbestos can provide comprehensive testing services, which involve sampling materials on your property and sending them to a lab to be tested for the substance. You are not legally obligated to remove the asbestos from the property if it appears undamaged. As mentioned above, asbestos is only dangerous if disturbed, and the fibres are released. As removing asbestos presents this risk, it is sometimes deemed safer to leave the substance where it is and monitor it closely.
You will be required to draw up an asbestos management plan based on the survey findings, which will determine whether or not you should have the substance removed.

Contact Clearaway Asbestos for Professional Removal Services

Our team at Clearaway Asbestos is highly trained, experienced and qualified to remove the hazardous substance in a safe, efficient manner. It requires a great deal of precision and skill and can be disastrous if unsuccessful, which is why you should never attempt to remove asbestos yourself. To find out more about our services or talk to a member of our dedicated team, get in touch with Clearaway Asbestos today.

Why Is Asbestos So Dangerous?

asbestos

You’ve probably heard people talking about the risks of asbestos at some point or another. Inhaling asbestos fibres can have huge implications for your physical health, putting you at risk of developing a number of diseases and ailments that could prove disastrous and sometimes even fatal. In fact, it’s estimated that the dangerous substance kills around forty tradespeople every single week.

Why Was Asbestos Used In the First Place?

Asbestos is widely acknowledged to be the construction industry’s biggest error. It is a naturally occurring substance that has been in use for thousands of years and became popular in the UK construction industry after the industrial revolution when it was imported for manufacturing purposes. It became one of the most widespread products for construction in the 50s and 60s.

On the surface, asbestos was the ideal material for workers. Naturally strong, cheap to use, fire and water-resistant, heat and sound-insulating – the list of benefits is unending. It’s no wonder why it took the construction industry by storm. Workers left, right and centre used the substance to build countless products, including roof tiles, floor tiles, fire doors, cladding, window sills and toilet seats. It wasn’t until 1999 that people fully realised the dangers and had it banned from use in the UK. Regardless, it still remains in thousands of properties across the country, mixed into the fabric of the buildings. When dislodged, it can be inhaled by people and cause significant health problems.

What are the Risks?

The problem was that the strength of the asbestos fibres proved too much for the human body to handle. When inhaled, they can essentially slice into lung tissue, causing a whole host of problems that could prove catastrophic for your health. While asbestos is not currently used in construction, it appears that health problems caused by the substance can take years to show, which is why many people who inhaled asbestos fifty years ago still suffer from its effects today.

Some of the most common diseases caused by asbestos exposure include:

Asbestosis: This is a respiratory disease caused by scarred lungs.

Lung Cancer: This is a tumour that blocks the lung’s air passages. Smoking tobacco may exacerbate this cancer. 

Mesothelioma: This is a form of cancer that covers the chest cavity and lungs. Symptoms may not arise until thirty to forty years after asbestos exposure.

Will I Be Affected?

Not everybody exposed to asbestos will develop a deadly disease, though it is always worth being wary. Whether or not you are affected depends on a number of factors, including the amount you were exposed to, whether you already suffer from breathing conditions and whether or not you smoke tobacco.
If you suspect you may have been affected, it’s always worth talking to a doctor so they can assess your risks and spot any problems before they escalate. We also highly recommend avoiding smoking, as this could significantly worsen the situation.

I Suspect My Property May Be Contaminated…

Nowadays, people are a lot more clued in on the dangers of asbestos and have developed safe methods of removing the dangerous substance from buildings. If you think your property may be contaminated, get in touch with a member of the Clearaway Asbestos team, and we can arrange a sample test to identify any asbestos on the premises. We will happily remove the substance from your property in a safe, efficient manner and replace any roofs where necessary.

Hire Professionals For Proper Handling And Disposal Of Asbestos

Asbestos Roof Removal in London

If you think that removing and disposing of old asbestos roofs is an easy task, think again. If you want to ensure your safety, get in touch with someone experienced to properly handle, remove, and get rid of asbestos. They will follow all the relevant regulations necessary to handle asbestos. This is important because asbestos-containing materials can release deadly fibres into the air if handled improperly.

Why Is It Necessary To Handle Asbestos Safely?

The only way you can avoid asbestos exposure is by handling the material safely. The fibres can become airborne if asbestos is dislodged. Once inhaled, they accumulate in the linings of the abdomen, heart and lungs. Diseases you could be exposed to due to asbestos exposure include lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.

DIY Or Hire Professionals?

Some homeowners think that they can save money by removing the old asbestos roof in their property themselves instead of hiring professionals. We at Clearaway Asbestos strongly recommend getting in touch with a professional team to avoid risk to your or your family. We offer comprehensive asbestos surveys for all properties. Safety is our top priority for removal, disposal and roof repair, and we are highly experienced in the field of asbestos removal.

Several Common Asbestos-Containing Building Materials

  • Caulking
  • Concrete
  • Plasters
  • Ceiling tiles
  • Sheetrock
  • Siding
  • Millboard
  • Textured popcorn ceilings
  • Cement sheeting
  • Electrical breakers
  • Roof shingles/felt
  • Vinyl floor tiles

Benefits Of Hiring Professionals For Asbestos Roof Removal in London

Contacting an experienced company for Asbestos Roof Removal in London will allow for better peace of mind. They will understand and avoid the risks of asbestos handling, which may not be possible for the general public. If you are planning to renovate or demolish your home, be wary, as the roof is one of the most common asbestos-containing materials found in the home. If you notice damage to potential asbestos-containing materials, they must be removed from your property as soon as possible.

Remove Your Old Asbestos Roof Before It’s Too Late

One of the biggest challenges for homeowners is determining the right time to remove the old asbestos roof in their home. Since you need experience, expertise and tools to remove old roofs safely, make sure you hire experts for the task before it is too late. On top of roofs, asbestos can also be found in various building materials and consumer items.

Asbestos fibres are hard to identify as they are not easily visible to the human eye. Clearaway Asbestos can perform tests to identify the hazardous substance and remove it accordingly. For more information on our services, check out our website or contact us today.