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Asbestos Advice and information If you've arrived at our website then it's fairly probable that you already have or think that you might have a problem with asbestos in one way or another. This site is about identifying asbestos and the careful management, removal and disposal of sheeting, insulation and other products made from the material. All information provided at this site is offered on a non-professional basis and you should take all sensible precautions and consult qualified professionals when dealing with asbestos around the home or commercial building. We aim to supply you with background information, sensible tips and precautions plus links to professional organisations and asbestos removal contractors in the UK and beyond. An Introduction to Asbestos Science – The Facts Much of the confusion over asbestos arises from incorrectly transposing the health risks posed by ----------------------- For example, nickelplated ------------------------------------------------ How asbestos fibres can affect health -------------------------------------- The Asbestos Watchdog Way Asbestos containing products can be found in over 3000 locations, many of which can be found in the domestic home. It is important to remember, however, that there are rarely instances when asbestos containing materials (ACMs) in domestic properties pose measurable risks to health. No current legislation forbids the presence of asbestos in domestic properties, but the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will prosecute anyone who unwittingly exposes workers to such materials. Should a worker require access to your property, it is important to safeguard them against any potential asbestos exposure. It is our mission at Asbestos Watchdog to provide you with all the resources you might need to protect yourself from exploitation. By knowing the law and the science you will be in the best position possible to protect yourself both now, and in the future, from unscrupulous contractors desperate to take your money. --------------------------------------- Please click on the following links for more information in the relevant domestic areas.
What is asbestos cement and where will you find asbestos cement materials (ACMs)? Asbestos cement is where asbestos fibres (predominantly white asbestos) are added to cement to lend the cement its unique properties. The major domestic uses of asbestos cement are: corrugated cement sheeting (such as on garage roofs, outhouse roofs, etc), flat sheets, general lining to buildings, roofing slates, water pipes, water tanks, and cement flues. Are there any health risks associated with asbestos cement materials (ACMs)? 85% of all asbestos materials are ‘hard encapsulated’ (HE) asbestos containing materials (ACMs) and there is no measurable risk to health from the asbestos content in asbestos cement. Most ACMs are made solely from white (chrysotile) asbestos; although a few ACMs can sometimes contain blue or brown (amphibole) asbestos, and some older ACMs may have had their white asbestos contaminated with another asbestos fibre, tremolite. Do not let anyone tell you this is a problem, however, as all the fibres are locked away and, whatever the composition, the asbestos content in asbestos cement poses no measurable risk to health. If you wish to read the Asbestos Watchdog paper on ‘Casitile’, please contact us. It is interesting to note that 1/3 of drinking water is still delivered through asbestos cement pipes, even though some were mainly made with blue asbestos. The fibres are locked away in the cement though and pose no measurable risk to health.
Do you need to remove your asbestos cement structures by law? Current legislation recognises the difference in risks between various asbestos products; accordingly the licensing regulations do not apply to asbestos cement products. You have no legal obligation to remove asbestos cement structures just because they are asbestos containing. Any contractor who forces you to remove asbestos cement products from your domestic property is either ignorant of the legislation or trying to exploit your ignorance.
If you are selling your house, can your property become devalued if asbestos cement materials are present? A common problem if you are selling your house is for a surveyor to suggest you have to remove your asbestos cement materials; threatening you with devaluation of your property if you fail to comply. You are under NO legal obligation to remove any of the ACMs, and anyone threatening to devalue your property under the pretext of the new buyer having to remove the asbestos cement products once they move in is fraud. The prospective buyer of your property will not be under any legal obligation to remove the structures, and should they wish to remove them for other reasons, it should cost no more than removing non-asbestos cement materials. Does the presence of asbestos cement materials in a house you are about to buy condemn it? Any surveyor condemning a house you are intending to purchase because of the presence of asbestos cement materials is providing you with incorrect information. Neither the current homeowner, nor you, is under any obligation to remove the asbestos cement structures (such as asbestos cement garage roofs, asbestos cement water tanks, etc). The presence of asbestos cement materials in good repair does not reduce the property’s value; any surveyor trying to tell you different is either ignorant of the legislation, or trying to exploit your ignorance. Indeed, white asbestos materials are common in approximately 8 million UK homes and cause no measurable risk to health. If the asbestos cement materials are in disrepair and on moving into the property you wish to remove them, it should cost no more than removing nonasbestos cement structures and they should not be treated as different to nonasbestos products by your surveyor. If you want the structure removed for other reasons, do you require a specially licensed contractor? One of the main headaches for domestic property owners is finding a contractor who will not overcharge you for your work. The good news is that asbestos cement is not a licensable asbestos product; it does not require a specially licensed asbestos removal contractor to do the work. Any competent regular jobbing contractor can do the work for you; we suggest ringing round a few local contractors for quotes. This will be cheaper than unnecessarily hiring a specially
If you want to remove asbestos cement from your domestic property yourself, can you? If you feel you are competent enough to remove asbestos cement products (such as garage roofs, asbestos cement water tanks, etc), asbestos cement is not licensable, so you are able to carry out the work yourself. As with all such work, we urge you to take care handling materials and observe appropriate safety procedures. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggests you kit yourself out with all the necessary precautionary safety equipment (mask, gloves, etc) and treat the asbestos cement with respect. If you need to break it up, do so carefully and double bag it ready for disposal.
Can you use power tools on asbestos cement materials? Disturbing asbestos cement materials by drilling, cutting holes, breaking them up, etc is possible and does NOT release hazardous levels of respirable fibres, but be careful as using power tools can be difficult on asbestos cement (remember the cement dust is probably a greater hazard than the asbestos).
Where can you dispose of waste asbestos cement? Although asbestos cement materials do not need to be handled by licensed contractors, they do need to be taken to a specially licensed tip. Some local councils provide a domestic asbestos waste collection service; we suggest telephoning your local council to see if you live in an area where this is available. If they do not offer this service, they will be able to advise you on where your local asbestos licensed tip is and options of how to get your waste there. More factsheets: Artex (and other textured decorative coatings) Asbestos containing linoleum Asbestos insulation boards Loose asbestos fibre lagging Some general tips to help arm yourself against exploitation ---------------------------------------------
What are Textured Decorative Coatings (TDCs) and where are they found? TDCs are the textured decorative plasters (Artex being one of the most common) and are mostlyfound on ceilings and walls of domestic properties decorated in the 1950s – 1980s. Untilapproximately 1984, TDCs could contain very small quantities (around 2%) of white asbestos fibres. Even before this date, however, most textured plasters were not asbestos containing.
Are there any health risks associated with TDCs? Due to a misunderstanding with the authorities, TDCs have been classed as asbestos containing coatings as they were confused with Limpet products (100% asbestos fibres sprayed onto support beams in buildings as fire insulation). There is, however, no measurable risk to health from the asbestos content in TDCs.
Do you need to remove TDCs from your property by law? There is no measurable risk to your health from the asbestos content in TDCs and any contractor who tries to force you to remove them based on this is trying to exploit your ignorance. There is no law demanding that you remove the TDCs from your property either, if you had no plans on removing them.
If you are selling your house, can your property become devalued if TDCs are present? A common scam if you are selling your house is for a surveyor to suggest you need to remove your TDCs; threatening you with devaluation of your property if you fail to comply. You are under NO legal obligation to remove TDCs from your ceilings or walls, and anyone threatening to devalue your property under the pretext of the new buyer having to remove the TDCs once they move in is fraud. The prospective buyer of your property will not be under any legal obligation to remove them either.
Does the presence of TDCs in a house you are about to buy condemn it? Any surveyor condemning a house you are intending to purchase because of the presence of TDCs is providing you with incorrect information. Neither the current homeowner nor you are under any legal obligation to remove the TDCs. The presence of TDCs in good condition should not reduce the property’s value or pose any measurable risk to health; the best thing you can do is to leave them alone. If you strongly dislike the décor, however, and wish to change it the best cause of action is to plaster over it for a fraction of the cost of expensive removal.
If you want your TDCs removed for other reasons, do you need a specially licensed contractor? TDCs have recently been taken out of the licensing regulations and are now no longer licensable materials. Whereas previously TDCs required licensed asbestos contractors to remove them, now the work can be carried out by any trained and competent contractor using the proper controls. We suggest ringing round a few local contractors for quotes. This will be cheaper than unnecessarily hiring a specially licensed asbestos contractor, but be thorough when deciding if you really want this work done and wary when employing contractors; make sure you get a range of quotes to compare rates.
If you have been told you have ‘trace’ levels of asbestos in your TDCs, what does it mean? Due to the difficulty in finding asbestos content when TDC samples are studied, many laboratories cover their results by declaring ‘may contain trace levels of asbestos’. This normally
If you have TDC ceilings or walls, can you use power tools on them? The asbestos content (if any) in TDCs is minimal and poses no measurable risk to health. Adding light fittings, picture hooks, or similar, by drilling or making holes, poses no measurable risk to health. If you do this work yourself it is advisable to damp down surfaces before drilling or making holes, and wearing a mask to prevent inhalation of any dust in general. The use of power tools such as sanders, or abrasive scrapers, on TDCs, however, is not advised. Power sanders create large volumes of dust (irrespective of any potential asbestos content) and should not be used on asbestos containing materials. Don’t forget ALL forms of respirable dust can be harmful. More factsheets: Asbestos cement in your domestic property Asbestos containing linoleum Asbestos insulation boards Loose asbestos fibre lagging Some general tips to help arm yourself against exploitation
What are Textured Decorative Coatings (TDCs) and where are they found? TDCs are the textured decorative plasters (Artex being one of the most common) and are mostlyfound on ceilings and walls of domestic properties decorated in the 1950s – 1980s. Untilapproximately 1984, TDCs could contain very small quantities (around 2%) of white asbestos fibres. Even before this date, however, most textured plasters were not asbestos containing.
Are there any health risks associated with TDCs? Due to a misunderstanding with the authorities, TDCs have been classed as asbestos containing coatings as they were confused with Limpet products (100% asbestos fibres sprayed onto support beams in buildings as fire insulation). There is, however, no measurable risk to health from the asbestos content in TDCs.
Do you need to remove TDCs from your property by law? There is no measurable risk to your health from the asbestos content in TDCs and any contractor who tries to force you to remove them based on this is trying to exploit your ignorance. There is no law demanding that you remove the TDCs from your property either, if you had no plans on removing them.
If you are selling your house, can your property become devalued if TDCs are present? A common scam if you are selling your house is for a surveyor to suggest you need to remove your TDCs; threatening you with devaluation of your property if you fail to comply. You are under NO legal obligation to remove TDCs from your ceilings or walls, and anyone threatening to devalue your property under the pretext of the new buyer having to remove the TDCs once they move in is fraud. The prospective buyer of your property will not be under any legal obligation to remove them either.
Does the presence of TDCs in a house you are about to buy condemn it? Any surveyor condemning a house you are intending to purchase because of the presence of TDCs is providing you with incorrect information. Neither the current homeowner nor you are under any legal obligation to remove the TDCs. The presence of TDCs in good condition should not reduce the property’s value or pose any measurable risk to health; the best thing you can do is to leave them alone. If you strongly dislike the décor, however, and wish to change it the best cause of action is to plaster over it for a fraction of the cost of expensive removal.
If you want your TDCs removed for other reasons, do you need a specially licensed contractor? TDCs have recently been taken out of the licensing regulations and are now no longer licensable materials. Whereas previously TDCs required licensed asbestos contractors to remove them, now the work can be carried out by any trained and competent contractor using the proper controls. We suggest ringing round a few local contractors for quotes. This will be cheaper than unnecessarily hiring a specially licensed asbestos contractor, but be thorough when deciding if you really want this work done and wary when employing contractors; make sure you get a range of quotes to compare rates.
If you have been told you have ‘trace’ levels of asbestos in your TDCs, what does it mean? Due to the difficulty in finding asbestos content when TDC samples are studied, many laboratories cover their results by declaring ‘may contain trace levels of asbestos’. This normally
If you have TDC ceilings or walls, can you use power tools on them? The asbestos content (if any) in TDCs is minimal and poses no measurable risk to health. Adding light fittings, picture hooks, or similar, by drilling or making holes, poses no measurable risk to health. If you do this work yourself it is advisable to damp down surfaces before drilling or making holes, and wearing a mask to prevent inhalation of any dust in general. The use of power tools such as sanders, or abrasive scrapers, on TDCs, however, is not advised. Power sanders create large volumes of dust (irrespective of any potential asbestos content) and should not be used on asbestos containing materials. Don’t forget ALL forms of respirable dust can be harmful. More factsheets: Asbestos cement in your domestic property Asbestos containing linoleum Asbestos insulation boards Loose asbestos fibre lagging Some general tips to help arm yourself against exploitation What is asbestos containing linoleum and where is it found? Some linoleum tiles can contain very small amounts of white asbestos fibres, these are usually the darker coloured tiles. Occasionally the adhesive used on the back of the tiles can also contain white asbestos or asbestos paper lining can be found on the back of some of the tiles. These tiles are traditionally found on the floors of either kitchens or bathrooms. Are there any health risks associated with asbestos containing linoleum and affiliated products? Any asbestos content in these products is always white asbestos and does not pose a measurable risk to health in these products. Occasionally it is claimed that other types of asbestos may be present but do not let anyone tell you this becomes a problem. The asbestos content is too small to pose any measurable risk to health.
Do you need to remove your asbestos containing linoleum and associated products by law? There is no measurable risk to health from the asbestos content in your linoleum tiles and any contractor who tries to force you to remove it based on this is trying to exploit your ignorance. Similarly, there is no law demanding that you remove the linoleum tiles so don’t let anyone tell you this is a legal requirement.
If you are selling your house, can you property become devalued if asbestos linoleum is present? A common scam if you are selling your house is for a surveyor to suggest you need to remove your asbestos containing linoleum; threatening you with devaluation of your property if you fail to comply. You are under NO legal obligation to remove asbestos containing linoleum from your property and anyone threatening devaluation of your property under the pretext of the new buyer having to remove them once they move in is fraud. The prospective buyer of your property will not be under any legal obligation to remove them either.
Does the presence of asbestos containing linoleum in a house you are about to buy Any surveyor condemning a house you are intending to purchase because of the presence of asbestos containing linoleum tiles is providing you with incorrect information. Neither the current homeowner nor you are under any legal obligation to remove the linoleum. The presence of the linoleum tiles, or associated products, does not reduce the value of the property or pose any measurable risk to health; the best thing you can do is leave them alone.
If you want to your asbestos containing linoleum removed for other reasons, do you need a specially licensed contractor? Asbestos containing linoleum tiles and associated products are not licensable products; you do not require a specially licensed asbestos removal contractor to do the work. Any competent jobbing contractor can do the work for you; we suggest ringing around a few local contractors for quotes. This will be cheaper than unnecessarily hiring a specially licensed asbestos contractor.
If you want to remove asbestos containing linoleum from your domestic property yourself, can you? If you feel you are competent enough to remove your asbestos linoleum tiles yourself, the product is not licensable, so you are able to carry out the work yourself. As with all such work, we urge you to take care handling materials and observe appropriate safety procedures. The HSE suggests you kit yourself out with all the necessary precautionary safety equipment (mask, gloves, etc) and treat the asbestos tiles with respect. If you need to break them up, do so carefully and double bag them ready for disposal.
If you do remove the tiles, should they be disposed of in a special tip? Although posing no measurable risk to health, and not needing to be handled by licensed contractors, asbestos containing linoleum tiles and associated products do still need to be taken to a specially licensed tip. Some local councils provide a domestic asbestos waste collection service; we suggest telephoning your local council to see if you live in an area where this is available. If they do not More factsheets: Asbestos cement in your domestic property Artex (and other textured decorative coatings) Asbestos insulation boards Loose asbestos fibre lagging Some general tips to help arm yourself against exploitation What are Asbestos Insulation Boards (AIB) and where are they found? Asbestos Insulation Boards (AIB) are low density panels often containing a mix of white, brown and blue asbestos. They were primarily used as insulation panels on boilers, garage walls, ceilings, soffits, on the back of airing cupboard doors and the backs of other doors, to name but a few.
Are there any health risks associated with Asbestos Insulation Boards (AIB)? AIB contains the more dangerous types of asbestos (blue and brown), but it is important to remember that if AIB is in good condition, and not being abraded, it will not be releasing any dangerous quantities of fibres. In general, the amount of exposure possible in a domestic environment cannot be considered a measurable hazard. Please do not worry unduly if you find AIB in your property it is highly unlikely you have put yourself, or others, at risk. It is, however, sensible to monitor the condition of your AIB.
Do you need to remove you Asbestos Insulation Boards (AIB) by law? There is no law demanding that you remove the AIB from your domestic property and any contractor who tries to force you to remove it citing legal obligations is trying to exploit your ignorance. In domestic situations there is rarely any measurable risk to health from AIB but some people do feel more comfortable taking measures to prevent any fibre release. It is important to remember there are always options to consider before complete removal, which can be disruptive and costly. Encapsulation is one option that will coat the AIB panels in a special
If you are selling your house, can your property become devalued Asbestos Insulation Boards (AIB) are present? A common scam if you are selling your house is for a surveyor to suggest you have to remove your AIB; threatening you with devaluation of your property if you fail to comply. You are under NO legal obligation to remove the AIB materials and if the AIB is in good condition, anyone threatening to devalue your property under the pretext of the new buyer having to remove the AIB once they move in is fraud. Should the AIB be in poor condition, though not legally required, it would be sensible to have it rendered stable before selling your property; this protects you, your family, and prospective buyers from any potential fibre release, as well as protecting yourself from exploitation by the surveyors. This can be done with approved coatings and does not involve costly removal.
Does the presence of Asbestos Insulation Board (AIB) in a house you are about to buy condemn it? Any surveyor condemning a house you are intending to purchase because of the presence of AIB is providing you with incorrect information. Neither you nor the current owner is under any obligation to remove the AIB. The presence of AIB in good repair does not reduce the property’s value; any surveyor trying to tell you different is either ignorant of the legislation, or trying to If the AIB is in disrepair, on moving into the property, it can be rendered inert by encapsulation with a special encapsulating paint which need not be a costly affair.
If you do want the AIB structure removed do you require a specially licensed contractor? AIB is a licensed material and only specially licensed asbestos contractors can remove it if the work is to take longer than one hour. If the work is of substantial nature, you will need a specially licensed contractor to carry it out. Be thorough in deciding whether you really want the AIB removed and wary when employing contractors; make sure you get a range of quotes to compare rates. Remember removal is not the only option; encapsulation with a suitable paint is often the most cost effective and efficient solution. However, the asbestos regulations do not apply to domestic property and with professional advice you are allowed to remove the AIB yourself.
If you have Asbestos Insulation Board (AIB) ceilings or walls, can you use power tools on them? AIB is a licensable material, but any work that takes less than an hour in duration can be done by a competent individual, following the HSE’s guidance protocols. For adding light fittings, picture hooks, or similar by drilling or making holes, this will take less than an hour and therefore you can legally do this yourself, with no measurable risk to health. If you do this work it is advisable to damp down surfaces before drilling or making holes, and wearing a mask to prevent inhalation of any dust in general. The use of power tools such as sanders, or abrasive scrapers, on AIB, however, is not advised. Power sanders create large volumes of dust (irrespective of any potential asbestos content) and should not be used on asbestos containing materials. What is fibrous lagging and where is it found? Loose fibrous asbestos lagging is where raw asbestos fibres (of any type; blue, brown or white) are sprayed onto structures such as pipes for insulation purposes. In domestic properties it is usually found insulating heating pipes in old houses.
Is there any risk to health from loose asbestos lagging? Sprayed asbestos coatings are very friable (crumbly) and unlike the hard encapsulated products (such as asbestos cement) or products where the asbestos content is so low to be immeasurable to health, loose asbestos fibre lagging can be hazardous to human health.
Do you need to remove your loose asbestos lagging by law? There is no law demanding that you remove the loose asbestos lagging from your domestic property and any contractor who tries to force you to do so by citing legal obligations is trying to exploit your ignorance. However, as loose asbestos lagging can be hazardous to human health it is sensible to actively have a plan to manage your lagging; many people are more comfortable removing it all together. It is important to remember there are options to consider before complete removal, which can be disruptive and costly. Encapsulation may be one option; this will coat the asbestos lagging preventing future release of fibres, or alternatively sealing the space containing the lagging may be a possibility.
If you are selling your house, can your property become devalued if loose asbestos lagging is present? A common scam if you are selling your house is for a surveyor to suggest you have to remove your lagging; threatening you with devaluation of your property if you fail to comply. You are under NO legal obligation to remove the asbestos lagging. What you may find, however, is some surveyors advise buyers not to complete on a house with such asbestos present, citing health reasons and expensive removal costs once they were to move in. Although you are not legally obliged to remove or encapsulate your lagging, nor would the buyers once they moved in, you may find yourselves having to manage your lagging to ensure a sale. The health risks associated with loose asbestos fibres may put off potential buyers.
Does the presence of loose fibrous asbestos lagging in a house you are about to buy condemn it? Any surveyor condemning a house you are intending to purchase because of the presence of loose fibrous asbestos lagging in a house is providing you with incorrect information. Neither you nor the current owner is under any obligation to remove the loose fibrous asbestos lagging. As asbestos lagging does have a measurable risk to health, surveyors may advise you not to complete on a house citing health risks and possible expensive removal costs. This should not condemn the property, it is not always the case that expensive removal of asbestos lagging is required, other ways of managing the lagging and preventing fibre release, such as encapsulation, should be assessed properly. Solving the asbestos lagging problem need not be a costly affair resulting in condemned or devalued property.
If you do have the loose fibrous asbestos lagging removed, do you require a specially licensed contractor? Loose fibrous asbestos lagging is a licensable material and removal of it should be conducted by a specially licensed contractor. However, the regulations do not apply to domestic property so you can remove the lagging yourself, though this should always be done with professional advice. Be thorough in deciding whether you really want the loose lagging removed and wary when employing contractors; make sure you get a range of quotes to compare rates and remember removal is not the only option.
A few general rules of thumb for differentiating between asbestos producttypes Differentiating between different types of asbestos products can sometimes be tricky without removing part of the product for identification, but there are some general ‘rules of thumb’ which usually apply. If a product has been used outside and survived for a number of years it is likely to be asbestos cement. If a product has been used for insulation, or fire protection, it is likely to be a low density asbestos material, such as AIB or loose asbestos lagging. If a product is moulded in shape it is likely to be asbestos cement (with a few exceptions such as some half round pipe covers). If a product was supplied before 1985, it is certain to be asbestos containing or asbestos cement; AIB was withdrawn in 1980. If a textured coating such as Artex has been applied after 1984, it is likely to be nonasbestos containing.
One fibre does NOT kill There are many asbestos fibres in the ambient air and in drinking water; one fibre certainly does NOT kill. It takes significant inhalation of loose asbestos fibres to result in one of the tragic asbestosrelated diseases. This should not make us complacent, but instead be used as a benchmark for practical risk assessment. It is highly unusual for asbestos products in domestic properties to release significant levels of fibre that could be considered a health risk. Any surveyor who propagates the one fibre kills mantra is likely to be attempting to exploit your ignorance.
Surveyors and surveys If a home surveyor has visited your property and claims a product ‘may contain asbestos’ or ‘some materials may contain asbestos’, do NOT accept his report until he specifies to which material(s) he is referring and why he believes them to be asbestos containing. The survey report also needs to specify whether the material he suggests to be asbestos containing is affected by the regulations. In almost all circumstances, domestic properties are not affected by the regulations, and the most appropriate course of action is to leave the materials in situ and monitor them. If your surveyor does suggest a material is affected by the asbestos regulations, make sure he stipulates in what way the material comes under the regulations, eg. Will it need a licensed contractor or not? 90% of all asbestos containing materials in domestic properties do not require specially licensed contractors; your surveyor will know this, so make sure he explicitly tells you what does and doesn’t need a licensed contractor. As a general rule of thumb, if your surveyor claims white asbestos products are a danger to your health, he is either ignorant of the different of the difference between risks associated with loose fibres and those fibres used in products, or just trying to make a profit by scaremongering.
Insurance / Loans / Mortgages on asbestos containing properties If your property has been quoted vast sums of money for either contents insurance, loans or mortgages due to ‘asbestos containing products’, this may unfortunately be the result of a local agent acting in cooperation with asbestos removal companies. The majority of asbestos containing products in domestic properties (primarily being made from asbestos cement) do not require a licensed contractor to undertake the work. As such, any work required on most asbestos products would cost no more than work undertaken on alternative materials. As such, loans, mortgages and insurance premiums do not need to be increased merely due to the presence of asbestos containing materials. If anyone tries to increase premiums, ask them for a breakdown of which materials they are most concerned about. ALU operates a permissioning regime that issues licences to carry out work with higher risk asbestos containing materials as defined in regulation 3(2) of The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.[1] In order to be granted a licence you will need to demonstrate that you have the necessary skills, competency, expertise, knowledge and experience of work with asbestos, together with excellent health and safety management systems. A licence acts as a 'permit to work’ with asbestos following a successful licence assessment interview. This system is in place because asbestos is the greatest single cause of work related deaths in the UK from diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. It is a potent carcinogen and as such, work can only be carried out with very strict controls in place to minimise the risk of exposure. Holding a licence incurs serious responsibilities, particularly at a senior management level. Applying for a licence to work with asbestos (or renewing a licence) requires: * thorough preparation; You are strongly discouraged from applying for a licence if you cannot meet all of the above requirements Licences are issued for a fixed period of time, after which they need to be renewed. At renewal, performance as recorded following inspections by HSE inspectors and local authority officers will also be taken into account. A fee is charged for the assessment process required for new licence-holders and on licence renewal. The fee is not returnable.
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