How can you recognize and remove asbestos?

Until 2001, asbestos was widely used as a building material because it is fire-resistant and strong. The chance that asbestos can be found in buildings that were constructed before that year is therefore high. However, new insights show that the presence of asbestos is not without danger. It is therefore important that risky asbestos is removed. An asbestos laboratory or expert can help you with this, but you can also check for asbestos yourself.

What is asbestos?

• In bonded or solid asbestos, the fibres are firmly fixed in the carrier material. A typical example is slates made of asbestos cement. If they are not damaged, they are harmless.
• In the case of non-bonded or loose asbestos, the fibres can easily be released. Material with loose asbestos, such as insulation material around heating pipes, is therefore much more dangerous.

What contains asbestos?

Ironing boards, corrugated iron, brake pads, carpeting, laboratory equipment, pipes, liquid filters, gas masks, insulation material…: these are just a few examples of the thousands of products in which asbestos was processed until the end of the last century. There is no need to panic. Looking at or even touching asbestos is not dangerous. If the material is in good condition, the fibres are usually very firmly attached. Danger only occurs when, for example during a renovation, you process and “damage” the asbestos. Then you can loosen the fibres and inhale them. In most cases, you will not be able to judge with the naked eye whether something contains asbestos.

Also read: Is asbestos in tap water dangerous?

Why is asbestos dangerous?

Asbestos is harmful to your health. The chance of getting sick is greater if you have inhaled a large amount of loose asbestos fibres on a regular basis. Smoking in combination with inhaling asbestos increases the risks even more.

Also read: How dangerous is asbestos for your health?

Signs that indicate asbestos

Asbestos Removal

If the material or product is in good condition and does not really need to be removed, then leave it alone. That is the safest option. Make sure that people who will have to work on it later are warned. An employer of a company that comes to carry out work at your company is also obliged to identify the materials that are suspected of containing asbestos before starting the work. If the material or product is in poor condition or needs to be removed, for example for a renovation, then thorough precautions must be taken. In doing so, it is especially important to ensure that as few fibres as possible end up in the air, and that no fibres are spread that stick to clothing or skin.

Also read: What disinfects your hands best: soap or disinfectant gel?

Want to remove asbestos yourself?

According to the labour legislation, certain activities may only be carried out by a company that is recognised for this purpose. The addresses of these companies can be found on this website. Some work with a limited risk of exposure may be carried out by the company's own staff. There are strict regulations for this: for example, the employees concerned must be registered on a list and receive training and written instructions on all precautions in advance. If you are a private individual who has to deal with asbestos, you must assess whether you are able to carry out the job safely. A specialised company certainly offers two major advantages. On the one hand, the risks are avoided as much as possible because the employees are trained to handle asbestos-containing materials, have the appropriate tools and use proven procedures, and on the other hand, the waste is disposed of correctly.

Asbestos to container park?

To find out exactly what you must/may do, it is best to contact the environmental department of your municipality or the regional government institutions that are responsible for this.

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