What does asbestos look like?

Until it was deemed dangerous to health, asbestos was commonly used in a variety of building construction materials but where can it be found and what does it look like?

Last Updated on July 11, 2024 by Dan

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistant properties, until it was discovered that when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed by repair, remodeling or demolition activities, microscopic fibers become airborne .

When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases which are responsible for around 4000 deaths a year. There are four main diseases caused by asbestos: mesothelioma (which is always fatal), lung cancer (almost always fatal), asbestosis (not always fatal, but it can be very debilitating) and diffuse pleural thickening (not fatal).

Asbestos can be found in various places and here is a list of the various materials which can contain asbestos:

You are mostly at risk when:

If you work in any of the following occupations, and are working on a building built or refurbished before 2000, you may come in to contact with asbestos:

Here at Armco Asbestos we are able to cater for all your training needs. We provide Asbestos Awareness, Works with Non-Licensed Asbestos Containing Materials and Respiratory Face Fit Testing.

The ½ day Asbestos Awareness Training covers: the history of asbestos; the properties of asbestos and its effects on health; the types, uses and likely occurrence of asbestos in buildings and plant; and the general procedures to be followed to deal with an emergency.

The Works With Non-Licensed ACM’s Training is made up of the Asbestos Awareness ½ day session in the morning and followed by an afternoon session of working with ACM’s. Point covered include how to make suitable and sufficient assessments of the risk of exposure to asbestos; the control limit, the appropriate choice and use of respiratory and personal protective equipment, decontamination procedures, work which requires an HSE license, ·emergency procedures and waste handling procedures.

Armco’s training sessions are held by fully qualified and time-served surveyors whom deliver the class as an oral presentation with power point slides and written material. The candidates are presented with a certificate which lasts a year and Armco also provides the necessary yearly refresher training session.  Please contact the office for a list of our competitive prices and availability on 0161 763 3727 or email info@armco.org.uk

Source for pictures: https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/gallery.htm

Published Nov 28, 2011