Would you believe that asbestos-related health conditions take the lives of more people than a common road accident does? It may seem like a frightening statistic to think about – but it is also true. Asbestos fibres are known as the silent killers, and as no asbestos is considered safe – anyone who has prolonged exposure to them is susceptible to diseases and severe health risks. Although banned for new builds, the traces of asbestos-containing materials are still very much present in 20th-century buildings. This makes asbestos management surveys on pre-2000 structures an extremely important document to keep builders, contractors and anyone living or working around the material safe from harm. If managed correctly then asbestos is generally safe.
What happens during an Asbestos Management or Refurbishment Survey?
An asbestos management survey highlights if a property has any existing asbestos-containing materials, as far as reasonably practicable. If you own a non-domestic building, you are legally obliged to ensure asbestos is handled properly and remains undisturbed.
Safe handling of asbestos is vital in keeping the risk of fibre exposure to anyone as low as possible. Asbestos management surveys are non-intrusive visual inspections where samples are taken for asbestos testing at an accredited laboratory.
An asbestos refurbishment survey is classed as intrusive and destructive in locating all asbestos-containing materials before premises are refurbished. This can be part of or the whole of the building. One is required even if asbestos has already been identified as present in a particular structure or part of the building as part of a management survey, and will examine relevant materials and surrounding areas which may also contain asbestos.
Where a building would look to be completely demolished, a different fully intrusive survey known as an asbestos demolition survey would be required.
Professional needs
Whichever type of survey is required, any work on them must be conducted by a professional asbestos removal company experienced in asbestos removal south Manchester to fully identify any hazardous materials safely.
It is also important for the asbestos survey to be compiled early on in the process before any refurbishment work commences. These steps taken early prevent a catastrophic and costly chain of events that can land you in hot water in the form of huge fines and prison time for non-compliance.
When needing a professional for an asbestos survey Manchester, contact the team at Grosvenor Asbestos Solutions for an accredited specialist in undertaking asbestos surveying and asbestos removal Manchester. Grosvenor brings a full asbestos consultancy package through all processes of asbestos compliance to keep you safe.
