The laws surrounding asbestos and its usage.
History of asbestos laws in the UK
Innovative ways EU governments are combatting asbestos
As many as one-third of European citizens are exposed to asbestos in their lifetime – and nearly 15,000 related deaths occur each year. It’s evident that these carcinogenic substances are still a pervasive problem in European public housing, hospitals, schools and more. Over the last few years, there have been new and effective anti-asbestos campaigns, […]
Could I come into contact with asbestos at work?
The chances of encountering asbestos in the workplace are much higher than one may think. In fact, over 50% of British buildings – and 75% of schools built earlier than 1999 – are thought to hold asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). While tradespeople have higher rates of exposure and diagnosis rates than members of the public, it’s […]
How does the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 affect you?
A summary of the 2012 update to the regulations
Are public buildings in Britain really safe from asbestos?
From the mid-19th century until 1999, Britain produced and used more asbestos-based materials than any other nation. Asbestos insulation, floor tiles, cement and even automobile parts were common and low-cost, purchased by the average citizen who was oblivious to medical evidence that linked the silicate mineral to untreatable lung diseases and cancers. While asbestos materials […]
The dark legacy of the Town of Asbestos
The word ‘asbestos’ hasn’t always had such negative connotations. Asbestos fibres were used in a staggering amount of construction materials including asbestos insulation, floor tiles and even fabric for its soundproofing and fireproofing qualities. Though the negative and deadly consequences of this silicate mineral were suspected for hundreds of years, it wasn’t until the start […]
Bloomsbury Theatre to reopen after asbestos found
At one point in history, Britain used more asbestos than any other country in the world. In fact, until 1999 – when the substance was banned in the UK – the carcinogenic substance was used in a wide variety of building materials such as tiles, shingles and partitions as a method of fire prevention and […]
The FM method – new way of detecting asbestos fibres in the air
Even though asbestos products were banned in the United Kingdom in 1999, nearly half of all buildings – and upwards of 75% of schools – still contain this carcinogenic material. If asbestos products are damaged, their sharp microscopic fibres are released into the air. When inhaled, asbestos can embed itself in the lungs. With proper […]
London to host 3rd European Asbestos Forum Conference in September
What is the European Asbestos Forum? This year, the 3rd annual European Asbestos Forum Conference (EAF) will commence in London. The goal of the EAF is to connect qualified asbestos awareness professionals with industry experts. Whether you’re involved in asbestos removal, testing, insurance or consultancy, the wide range of perspectives encourages engaging dialogue. What have […]
Digging deep into the UK’s lurking asbestos problem
With over 50% of buildings in the UK containing asbestos products, the need for proper asbestos awareness training has never been more important. The threat of asbestos fibre exposure doesn’t stop with buildings, however. Thousands of investigations across the UK have discovered asbestos contaminated soil throughout the country in accordance with the Control of Asbestos […]