What Happens If Asbestos Survey Tells You It's Low Risk In Sussex

If you own a building in Sussex, a vital step to take is to conduct an asbestos survey to ensure that the property doesn't have any asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). The purpose of the survey is to identify if there are any ACMs present, assess the risk of exposure, and advise on the appropriate management or removal procedure.

If an asbestos survey tells you that asbestos is low risk in Sussex, you may assume that there's no need to worry. However, it's crucial to remember that asbestos remains hazardous even if the survey identifies it as low risk. In this article, we'll discuss what happens if an asbestos survey tells you it's low risk in Sussex.

About Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex

At Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex, we are a professional asbestos survey company situated in Sussex, South East England. Our focus is to provide reliable and cost-effective asbestos surveys to help mitigate the risks associated with ACMs. We understand that asbestos is a severe concern and that it has significant health risks. We're here to provide guidance and support during the management and removal of asbestos-containing materials.

Understanding Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that possesses unique heat-resistant and insulating properties. These qualities made asbestos a popular building material over the last century. Asbestos is present in various building materials such as roofing, insulation, boards, and pipes.

Unfortunately, asbestos exposure is known to cause severe health problems such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. The risk of health complications is the reason why the UK banned the use of all types of asbestos in 1999. However, buildings constructed before 2000 may still have ACMs. Therefore, it's crucial to identify and manage asbestos appropriately.

What Is an Asbestos Survey?

An asbestos survey is a comprehensive examination of a building to determine if ACMs are present. The process of an asbestos survey involves taking samples of building materials and analyzing them under a microscope. The survey assesses the condition, location, and type of asbestos. If asbestos is identified, the survey also evaluates the associated health risks.

There are two categories of asbestos surveys:

Management Survey

A management survey is a survey carried out to identify asbestos-containing materials that are likely to be damaged or disturbed during normal occupancy or maintenance activities. The survey's purpose is to ensure that the building occupants, maintenance personnel, and contractors are not exposed to asbestos fibres.

Refurbishment or Demolition Survey

A refurbishment or demolition survey is a survey carried out before any refurbishment or demolition work to identify all the asbestos-containing materials present in the building. A refurbishment or demolition survey aims to ensure that all asbestos-containing materials are either removed, encapsulated, or made safe before any building work takes place.

What Happens If Asbestos Survey Tell You It's Low Risk In Sussex

If your asbestos survey result indicates that your property is low risk in Sussex, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's safe. It merely implies that the ACMs identified in the survey aren't hazardous in their current state. However, the risk of exposure increases when you disturb or damage ACMs, which is why proper management procedures are necessary.

Low-risk asbestos-containing materials, such as asbestos cement sheets (roofing), are not harmful if they remain undamaged and are left in place. The asbestos fibres are only released if the material is disturbed. Therefore, it's essential to undertake a detailed risk assessment before carrying out any activity that may damage asbestos-containing materials. Disturbing low-risk ACMs, such as drilling, sanding, or cutting, increases the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres.

It's crucial to understand that legal obligations under the Control of Asbestos Regulation (CAR) require those identified as responsible for the building to ensure that ACMs in the premises do not pose any risk to anyone who could be exposed to them. Therefore, you must put in place an asbestos management plan to manage the asbestos on your property adequately.

Asbestos Management Plan

An asbestos management plan is a written plan that outlines how any ACMs located within the building will be managed to prevent exposure to asbestos fibres. It's a legal requirement to have an asbestos management plan if you own a non-domestic building built before 2000.

An asbestos management plan should include identifying where ACMs are and who may come into contact with them, assess the risk of exposure, put in place methods of control, such as labeling and regular monitoring, training staff, contractors, and external service providers. The asbestos management plan should also outline how any ACMs will be removed if it is felt necessary.

Asbestos Removal

Asbestos removal is the process of removing or reducing the hazard associated with asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos removal is a highly specialized field and should only be carried out by licensed contractors.

If your asbestos survey tells you it's low risk in Sussex, it may be that the best course of action is to leave the asbestos in place and manage it appropriately. However, if construction work is planned, the removal of any asbestos-containing materials would be mandatory.

Conclusion

An asbestos survey telling you it's low risk in Sussex is promising news. However, it's critical to understand that it doesn't mean that your property is asbestos-free or that you don't need to take any further actions.

It's essential to develop an asbestos management plan to ensure that any ACMs present are managed appropriately. Failure to correctly manage asbestos can undoubtedly lead to a high risk of exposure, which can cause severe health issues.

At Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex, we are here to help you through the asbestos management process. We offer asbestos surveys, management, and removal services to ensure that your property is safe and fully compliant with UK regulations. Don't hesitate to contact us at 01273 978238 or email us at [email protected] to discuss your asbestos requirements, or visit our website at affordable-asbestos-removal-sussex.co.uk.