Asbestos in the soil isn’t something that can’t be ‘buried’ or hidden, in fact it needs urgent attention. Asbestos was once a commonly used building material in New Zealand. After it was discovered to be incredibly harmful to human health, its use was restricted. Importing the most hazardous types of asbestos (blue and brown) was…
How much asbestos is used worldwide? While it is no longer used in much of the Western world, countries such as India and China still include it in various products, using hundreds of thousands of metric tonnes each year. Inevitably, sometimes asbestos-containing products are shipped to Western countries. And just because it’s banned doesn’t…
What is Asbestos Friability? Friability is the tendency for asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) to break down, chip or crumble under pressure or as a result of abrasion. ACMs that are more likely to be damaged, and release inhalable asbestos fibres as a result, are known as ‘friable’. These materials can easily be crumbled or reduced to…
Asbestos is the name for a group of natural occurring mineral fibres which are strong and both heat and chemically resistant. Due to these properties, asbestos was commonly used in the past as insulation and fireproofing. It was also used as a component in other building materials. There are three main types of asbestos found…
When working in an environment with asbestos, we will feel various symptoms, including chest tightness, shortness of breath, dry cough, and more. The signs get worse when the exposure to this fibre is prolonged, and may even result in respiratory complications and cancer. That’s why we must wear the right face shield to prevent…
What is personal protective equipment (PPE)? Personal protective equipment (PPE) is any clothing or equipment that provides protection to the wearer from a potential risk. What PPE must be worn when asbestos is or may be present? If asbestos is or may be present, PPE must include: respiratory protective equipment (RPE) –…
When did asbestos first show up in real estate? Asbestos has been used in housing for thousands of years. Builders back in the times of the Roman empire used it, mostly in the insulation of the buildings. Mixing it with cement can also create a type of flooring that is very durable. The material was…
What is asbestos? Asbestos are naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals found in rock formations and were used to be mined in great quantities in our country. Australia has an extensive history of asbestos use. We had the highest per capita rate of asbestos in the world from the 1950s to the 1970s. If…
What Is Asbestos? Asbestos. The name has its origin in the Greek word for inextinguishable. A highly-effective and inexpensive fire-retardant material and thermal and acoustic insulator, asbestos was used extensively in home construction from the early 1940s through the 1970s. Is Asbestos Harmful to My Health? Yes. We now know that prolonged exposure to…
Asbestos, the name for naturally occurring heat-resistant minerals, is an unwelcome material to encounter in your house. Both the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognize asbestos as a health hazard and have set strict regulations around it.1 Also unwelcome is the prospect of paying for an…