Should you be concerned about asbestos?

asbestos through a scope

Blunt question – Should you bother with asbestos or be concerned about asbestos?

Asbestos is an emotive word, it brings some people out in cold sweats and other say it’s all a load of fuss about nothing.  Regardless of your current opinion let’s look at whether you should deal with any asbestos issues you may have.

Are you responsible for maintenance or repair of  a commercial property?

YES – If the answer is yes then you should be concerned about asbestos. As the responsible person you are considered the duty holder in the eyes of the law and have full responsibility not only for yourself, but for anyone in your employment and also visitors to your site.  Under the control of asbestos regulations 2012 you must manage your asbestos. This is usually by way of asbestos survey, asbestos management plan, risk assessment and control.

Still don’t feel you should be concerned about asbestos or dealing with your asbestos issues?  What would happen if you turn a blind eye to this scenario? 

The Health and Safety Executive have the power and regularly use it to issue improvement notices, prohibitions notices fines and take people and businesses to court regularly because they have failed in their duty to manage or identify asbestos.  Fines can range from hundreds of pounds all the way up to millions of pounds accumulated from fines and court costs.

Are you working on your own site or someone else’s site?

YES – Again you have a duty to yourself and others at the site to ensure you are not going to expose them to asbestos.  Your work must be planned accordingly to take into consideration any asbestos that maybe affected as part of your work, you or your employer should identify this prior to your works proceeding.

Still don’t feel you need to be concerned about asbestos or necessary to identify asbestos?

Asbestos can cause several diseases that are incurable.  The period from exposure to the disease appearing can range from 10 to 50 years.  These diseases are on the increase within the population. Following the recent death statistics released the total number of people dying each year has reached to over 5000. This is taking into consideration mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer deaths combined.

Shockingly, most people upon seeing their doctor and being diagnosed with mesothelioma are usually given three to eighteen months on average to live.

Consideration

Hopefully upon reading this you may have changed your mind regarding dealing with asbestos, either from a legal, monetary or moral standpoint.

At Acorn, we can help you with regards to any aspect of asbestos management whether you are a duty holder, a tradesperson or if you have concerns regarding your domestic home.  Feel free to get in touch with us for free advice or a quotation either by telephone 01604 648928 or our online quote form which can be found here.

Neil Munro

I work in a dual role at Acorn Analytical Services focused primarily on growing and leading the business from our Northampton office base. My focus is on overseeing all sales, marketing and financial activities from Northampton. I assist clients with high-level asbestos management strategies and training. Together with Ian Stone I host our weekly podcast – Asbestos Knowledge Empire and I'm Co-author of Asbestos The Dark Arts and Fear and Loathing of Health and Safety.

Need Help? Request a Call Back

Request a call back from one of our expert Asbestos Consultants who will help you identify what you need

More Asbestos Articles

Asbestos consultancy, Acorn Analytical Services, will be raising money for Mesothelioma UK

Asbestos consultancy gears up for 24-hour fundraising challenge

FOR many years the team at Acorn Analytical Services has been an avid supporter of Mesothelioma UK, the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting people affected by this deadly disease. Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibres and shockingly still kills around 5,000 people each year in the UK – … Read more

Asbestos Surveyors

The Ultimate Guide to Asbestos Surveyors: Why Your Safety Depends on It

Asbestos, once a ‘miracle material’, now poses severe health risks. Uncover the significance of asbestos surveys in the UK and why your safety depends on it.

Asbestos: Having the right consultancy in your corner has never been more important

‘Having the right consultancy to help you manage asbestos has never been more important’

A REPORT written by asbestos expert and director of Acorn Analytical Services, Ian Stone, has highlighted the worrying state of asbestos in the UK. The Annual Asbestos Industry Review provides a unique insight into the industry and a snapshot of the work being done by Acorn Analytical Services – one of the largest independent consultancies … Read more

Management of asbestos in schools

Management of Asbestos in Schools: A Comprehensive Analysis

In this blog post, we delve into the critical issue of asbestos management in UK schools, the recent HSE report, and the role of Acorn Analytical Services in ensuring safe learning environments.

Asbestos: Dispelling 3 common myths

Is your business fully compliant with the latest asbestos regulations?

HOW much do you really know about asbestos? If your building was built before 1999, have you ever had it checked? If you know it’s there, do you know for sure that you’re compliant with the latest rules and regulations around asbestos management? If the answer to either of these questions is ‘no’ it’s time … Read more

Asbestos in fire

Act Now: Uncover the Silent Perils of Asbestos in Fire-Damaged Buildings – A Deep Dive into the Brighton Hotel Incident

Asbestos in fire situations poses significant health risks. Understand the dangers, especially in textured coatings, and the need for expert remediation.

Acorn Analytical Services director Ian Stone has worked in the asbestos industry for 20 years.

#ActNowOnAsbestos: How our FREE training sessions will help raise awareness

ASBESTOS is firmly in the headlines once again and we’re delighted to see an open and very frank discussion finally taking place about the material itself, the risks around mesothelioma and the steps we should all be taking to protect ourselves. At Acorn Analytical Services it’s something we’ve been talking about for years and as … Read more

Asbestos: Having the right consultancy in your corner has never been more important

‘Supporting #ActNowOnAsbestos is the right thing for us to do’

Last weekend The Sunday Times launched #ActNowOnAsbestos, a hard-hitting campaign which urges the Government to take urgent action to protect people from the UK’s asbestos epidemic. The campaign makes important recommendations to help protect members of the public from the hidden dangers of asbestos, which poses a serious threat to our health and wellbeing more … Read more

Ian Stone, director of asbestos management consultancy, Acorn Analytical Services

‘We finally have hope – hope that those in authority will take notice, take action and save lives’

Media statement in response to the launch of the Sunday Times Campaign, Act Now on Asbestos: Ian Stone, Director of Acorn Analytical Services, said: “For ten years Acorn Analytical Services has been on the front line of the UK’s battle with asbestos, banging the drum for change and fighting to raise awareness of the sheer … Read more

Using our success to highlight the dangers of asbestos

How we’re using our success to drive home the dangers of asbestos

The whole team at asbestos consultancy Acorn Analytical Services was over the moon to walk away with not one, but two awards at the prestigious Northamptonshire SME Awards earlier this month. Directors Neil Munro, Paul Knights and Sam Savage were in Daventry for the event which celebrates the work of businesses across Northamptonshire and their … Read more