1. Identifying Asbestos

2. Aim
The aim of this Training Tool is to provide you with the following information to ensure the safety of your workforce:
What is asbestos?
Facts
Where is asbestos found?
What does asbestos look like?
How can you identify asbestos?
Hidden killer – diseases
Asbestos training legal requirements
Working with asbestos

3. What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that has been a popular building material since the 1950s. It is used as an insulator (to keep in heat and keep out cold), has good fire protection properties and protects against corrosion.
Because asbestos is often mixed with another material, it's hard to know if you're working with it or not.
But, if you work in a building built before the year 2000, it's likely that some parts of the building will contain asbestos.

4. 8 joiners 6 electricians 4 plumbers
Facts
Each week approximately
8 joiners
6 electricians
4 plumbers
die from asbestos-related diseases.
Each year approximately 4000 people die from asbestos. That’s more than are killed on the roads.
Each week approximately 20 tradesmen die from this hidden killer.

5. Where is Asbestos found?
Sprayed coating
Found as fire protection on structural supports (e.g. columns and beams). It is a high hazard asbestos product and can generate very high fibre levels if disturbed.
Pipe Insulation
Asbestos thermal pipe lagging is a high hazard asbestos product.
Asbestos Insulating Board (also referred to as AIB) ceiling and door panels
AIB is a high hazard asbestos product and can generate high levels of fibres if the board is cut or drilled.
AIB window panels
Like other AIB, this is a high hazard asbestos product, and if in good condition should be left undisturbed.
Floor tiles
Vinyl (PVC) or thermoplastic tiles contain asbestos.
Asbestos cement roof sheeting
Asbestos cement sheeting is often found on industrial building roofs and walls.
Textured decorative coating (such as Artex)
Textured coatings contain a small amount of asbestos. The asbestos is well bonded and fibres are not easily released. However, it is still an asbestos product, and as such, needs to be worked with safely.
Others:
Ceiling tiles
Boilers
Board around windows, radiators, fireplaces, building columns and pillars
Soffit boards
Inside fire doors
Gaskets and sealants on pipe joints
Fuse boxes and electrical switch gear

6. Asbestos house & where it can be found
1. Water Tank
2. Pipe Lagging
3. Property Insulation
4. Textured coating (e.g. artex)
5. Soffit Board (roof overhang)
6. Toilet cistern
7. Wall panelling
8. Fuse box
9. Heater cupboard
10. Floor tiles
11. Rainwater items such as roof gutters and down pipes
1. Water Tank: Is usually made of asbestos cement and is often found in older properties (pre 1980).
2. Pipe Lagging: Asbestos insulation on pipes. Used to keep heat in or cold out. Often painted over or protected by outer coating so not obviously asbestos.
3. Property Insulation: Loose asbestos can be found as insulation in wall and floor cavities and in lofts.
4. Textured coating (eg artex): Can be found throughout property on ceilings and sometimes walls.
5. Soffit Board (roof overhang): Soffit board sits behind fascia at eaves level. Board can be made from asbestos cement or asbestos insulating board.
6. Toilet cistern: Toilet cisterns can contain asbestos-reinforced resin composite materials.
7. Wall panelling: Asbestos can be found as external wall cladding and as internal wall panelling both particularly around windows.
8. Fuse box: Often found in hall or under stairs. Each fuse wire has an individual asbestos flash guard. Panel behind fuse box can be asbestos.
9. Heater cupboard: Heater cupboard around domestic boiler often contains asbestos insulating board.
10. Floor tiles: Vinyl and thermoplastic floor tiles can contain asbestos. The tile backing may also contain asbestos paper.
11. Rainwater items: Roof gutters and down pipes can often be made of asbestos cement.

7. What does asbestos look like?
Pieces of AIB
Asbestos Fire Blanket
AIB ceiling tiles in a corridor
Asbestos cement downpipe
Damaged asbestos panelling
Asbestos containing floor tiles
Asbestos cement roof
Torn asbestos pipe lagging
Wall with trowelled loose asbestos

8. What does asbestos look like?
Pipe insulated using asbestos lagging and rope
Sprayed 'limpet' asbestos on underside of an asbestos cement roof
AIB window panelling
AIB window sill
Asbestos soffit
Asbestos cement drainage downpipe
Asbestos cement external building panel
Asbestos panelling around gas meter
Asbestos textured coating

9. How can you identify asbestos?
Because asbestos is often mixed with another material, it's hard to know if you're working with it or not.
Asbestos materials in good condition are safe unless asbestos fibres become airborne and then inhaled, which happens when materials are damaged.
If you are unsure whether you are working with asbestos materials where you are working… stop and check.
People in charge of workplace buildings have a legal duty to provide you with up-to-date information on the location and condition of asbestos before you start work.

10. The “Hidden Killer” Exposure to asbestos can cause four main diseases:
Mesothelioma – cancer of the lining of the lungs; it is always fatal and is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos
Asbestos-related lung cancer – which is almost always fatal
Asbestosis – a scarring of the lungs which is not always fatal but can be a very debilitating disease, greatly affecting quality of life
Diffuse pleural thickening – a thickening of the membrane surrounding the lungs which can restrict lung expansion leading to breathlessness.
It can take years for any symptoms to develop after exposure, so these diseases will not affect you immediately but may do later in life. You need to start protecting yourself against any exposure to asbestos now because the effect is cumulative.

11. Asbestos training – legal requirement
If you plan to disturb asbestos, e.g. by drilling a hole in textured coating or removing an asbestos ceiling tile, then as well as awareness training, you will need job-specific, non-licenced asbestos training. This will give you the skills to:
Use and fit a face mask
Use safe work methods
Deal with asbestos waste
Safely carry out non-licenced tasks – such as painting undamaged asbestos insulation board, cleaning light fittings attached to asbestos insulating boards and cleaning guttering on an asbestos cement roof.

12. Don’t start work if…
You are not sure if there is asbestos where you are working
The asbestos materials are sprayed coatings, board or insulation and lagging on pipes and boilers – only licenced contractors should work on these
You have not been trained to do non-licenced work with asbestos. Basic awareness training is not enough.

13. You should only continue work if…
Work has been properly planned and the right precautions are in place (e.g. you have the right equipment)
The materials are asbestos cement, textured coatings and certain other materials which do not need a licence
You have had training in asbestos work and know how to work with it safely.

14. If you work with asbestos…
Use hand tools – not power tools
Keep materials damp – not too wet
Wear a properly fitted, suitable face mask, (e.g. disposable FFP3 type). An ordinary dust mask will NOT be effective
Double bag asbestos waste and label the bags properly
Clean up as you go – use a special (Class H) vacuum cleaner, not a brush
After work, wipe down your overalls with a damp rag or wear disposable overalls (Type 5)
Always remove overalls before removing your mask
Wear boots without laces or disposable boot covers
Put disposable clothing items in asbestos waste bags and dispose of them properly
Don’t carry asbestos into your car or home
Don’t smoke, eat or drink in the work area
Don’t take overalls home to wash.

15. More information
The HSE has a range of Asbestos Essentials task sheets that will show you how to carry out a range of non-licenced tasks safely.
They are free to download at
For a fantastic range of PPE, Asbestos Safety Signs, Tapes and Training Aids, go to
Source:
Contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive and licensed under the Open Government Licence v1.0.