Asbestos - Friend or Foe

Disturbed or unmanaged asbestos containing materials present a high risk to building occupants. Although the use of asbestos in new applications is banned in South Africa, the high-risk substance remains part of many commercial or domestic buildings that were built or refurbished before the year 2000.

AirCHECK’s asbestos experts warn that precautions must be taken to ensure that people do not put themselves or others at risk by disturbing asbestos. For best practical advice, read on about solutions in managing asbestos on-site.

Where is asbestos found?

Common examples in many buildings and structures:

• Asbestos-cement building products (roofs, walls, facias, gutters etc).
• Lagging (on pipes and boilers).
• Water tanks and toilet cisterns.
• Asbestos insulating board.
• Loose asbestos fibres in ceiling voids and wall cavities.
• Sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls and beams / columns.
• Vinyl floor tiles.
• Textiles and composites.

Who is at risk?

The presence of asbestos  in a building should not be a cause for concern.  Asbestos only becomes a risk to our health when it is released into the air and breathed in. The people considered most at risk of exposure to deadly asbestos fibres are artisans and maintenance workers who disturb the fabric of buildings during the course of their work.

Those who are responsible for the maintenance or repair of commercial premises are required by law to actively manage asbestos in their buildings. AirCHECK provides a vital service in the identification of asbestos containing materials in buildings and assists building owners to prioritise and properly plan the actions needed to manage  the asbestos health risk.

What does the law require?

Asbestos is strictly controlled by the Asbestos Regulations, OHSAct (85 of 1993). Legislation requires that employers must identify any asbestos at their premises and take steps to control the risk. Work on asbestos-containing materials requires, inter alia, risk assessments, laboratory identification and work plans, all of which require the expertise of a Department of Labour Approved Asbestos Inspection Authority.

What is the health risks?

 Exposure to asbestos may cause potentially life-threatening diseases such as:

Asbestosis: Scarring of the lungs - not always fatal, but a debilitating disease, affecting quality of life.

Lung cancer: Almost always fatal.

Mesothelioma: A cancer of the lining of the lungs - fatal and exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos.

Diffuse pleural thickening: A thickening of the membrane surrounding the lungs that can restrict lung expansion leading to breathlessness.

Asbestos-related damage to the lungs takes years to develop and becomes visible on chest X-rays.  It can take anywhere between 10 to 40 years after exposure for symptoms to develop, so these diseases will not affect an individual immediately but emerge after a long latency.

Think you’ve been exposed? 

People who believe they may have been exposed to asbestos are understandably anxious and concerned about the possible effects on their health.  Although the type of asbestos involved and duration of exposure may be known, there may be little reliable information about the level of exposure.

These factors are important in determining the health risk. The more fibres that are released, and the longer the work activity lasts, the greater the cumulative exposure to asbestos fibres.  Many cases of inadvertent, short-term exposure to asbestos will most likely have led to minimal exposure to fibres, with little likelihood of any long-term ill health effects.

Asbestos at work or home?

If you think you may have asbestos at work or at home do not try to repair or remove any materials yourself if you don’t have the necessary training. Seek advice.  It is often best to leave materials where they are - especially if they are in good condition and unlikely to get damaged.

Trained experts will often repair slightly damaged asbestos-containing materials by sealing or enclosing them. You should check the condition of the materials annually to make sure they have not been damaged or started to deteriorate.

We can help you manage your asbestos?

 AirCHECK is a Department of Labour Approved Asbestos Inspection Authority.  We offer:

• Asbestos Identification (24-hour turnaround time).
• Air Monitoring and Asbestos Fibre Counting.
• Medical Surveillance.
• Asbestos Work Plans and Safe Work Procedures.
• Asbestos Building Surveys.
• Asbestos Training for Contractors, Building Owners and HSE Professionals.

Please contact Piet Marais at 082 444 8713 or email us at piet@aircheck-aia.co.za.  

Visit our website at www.aircheck-aia.co.za.