There was a time when asbestos was one of the most commonly used building materials. It seemed like a very cost-effective building material as it was cheap, strong, and flame-resistant. That’s why it ended up becoming a widely-used construction material for anything from homes, buildings, and everything in between.
But it was later found out that asbestos wasn’t such a great building material as it was actually a health hazard. It was discovered that the asbestos found in materials used for insulation, roofing, flooring, and the like could cause a number of illnesses that could lead to cancer and, even worse, death. Since the material can come loose easily and also be easily inhaled, the contact and exposure to it can happen more frequently. This makes it even more hazardous. Thus, a ban on asbestos was eventually implemented in the United Kingdom.
While the ban has stopped people from using asbestos in any more structures being built from that moment onward, there are still a lot of homes and buildings that have asbestos-containing materials in them. For example, in places such as Manchester, there are still several houses and buildings that have materials with asbestos in them. As one of the United Kingdom’s largest and most developed cities, the chances of asbestos being abundant in structures all over the city is relatively high. This makes the risk of coming into contact with asbestos high as well, which can definitely be unsafe.
What You Can Do If You Suspect Asbestos in Your Building
While the risk of exposure to asbestos is a rather frightening thought to have, especially if you’re worried about your health. But, while it is true that exposure to it may be higher in cities such as Manchester, especially with all the buildings and homes built before the implementation of the ban, there is still a way to help mitigate and even minimize exposure to asbestos. There are services that offer asbestos testing Manchester being one of those places where these such things are available. It is through testing that you can find out if you are at risk of asbestos exposure, and this can then be the first step in mitigating and reducing your exposure to it.
Sampling and Surveying
There are several companies like asbestos-sampling.com that can help you test if there is indeed asbestos in your building or home. When you employ their help, what usually happens is you’re sent a testing kit, which comes with instructions and the materials to help you find and collect samples of asbestos safely. You can then send the asbestos samples to them, where they will be processed. If there are traces of asbestos found in the samples you collected, you will then be informed.
Sometimes you might not be sure about whether or not there is asbestos in your building. If you are unsure about doing the testing yourself, companies can also assist you in having the structure concerned surveyed for asbestos. Should you decide on this option, what will happen is you will be referred to another company that handles surveying. Then, just like with the asbestos sampling, you will be informed if there is asbestos in the structure you had surveyed.
The Next Step: Removal
Asbestos testing is only the first step, though, of dealing with exposure to the hazardous material. The next step would be to go about removal. While the companies themselves mostly offer testing and sampling of asbestos, they can help connect you with another company that specializes in its removal. This can then help make things safer in your home or building and help lessen the risk of asbestos exposure.
While the United Kingdom’s ban on asbestos-containing building materials has been in effect for decades now, there is still a high risk for exposure to the hazardous material, especially in large cities such as Manchester. While exposure can indeed happen easily, it can also be put to a stop just as easily. All it takes is for testing and sampling of buildings to take place to help people know where there are high exposure risks to the material. Once this is done, removal of it can take place. Companies that offer asbestos sampling are readily available, making it easy to start with the first step of knowing if you are exposed to it or not. At this point, there should be no reason for you not to get these testing services done, especially if health and safety is a priority to you.