Roofline Roundup

There are many Health and Safety issues regarding roofline installation, but none more dangerous than asbestos. In this month’s column I’ll be looking at what to do when you come across asbestos on a property, how to tell whether it’s asbestos and which types are hazardous. This isn’t just a fuss about nothing. Three thousand five hundred die each year in the UK from mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung conditions from past exposure to asbestos, and this number is predicted to rise in the next decade. Asbestos produces a fibrous dust that can become lodged in the lungs and can lead to asbestosis, fibrosis or lung cancer.

 Asbestos was used as a building material from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. And, although some has been removed over the years, many thousands of tonnes remain in buildings. There are three types of asbestos, white (chrysotile), brown (amosite) and blue (crocidolite). Blue and brown are the most hazardous. Asbestos was used as fire protection and can be found in ceiling tiles, asbestos cement roof and wall sheets and loft insulations. As a roofline installer, asbestos soffits and asbestos cement gutters and drainpipes are common places to find asbestos.

 When asbestos is suspected on a property there needs to be a risk assessment and method statement. There are implications to installers for the removal, transportation and disposal of asbestos under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 and the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983. This covers the removal and disposal, air monitoring procedures and control measures, and includes personal protective equipment. The detection, handling, removal and disposal of asbestos MUST be undertaken by approved and authorised contractors. The regulations allow the enforcing authority to monitor any work carried out with asbestos based materials to minimise contamination of the air and landfill sites.

Asbestos handled badly can cause long term health problems. As a roofline installer making sure asbestos is handled correctly using the guidelines and regulations is vital to protect installers and homeowners. The Health and Safety of asbestos is a subject that’s too big to cover in one column, I’ll be coming back to cover other aspects in later issues.