| Asbestos starts life as a mineral found in certain rocks, | | | | or not asbestos is present in a material, but laboratory |
| mainly in South America. It is fibrous in nature and has | | | | analysis is the only way to be certain. This is |
| fire retardant properties. Asbestos has been widely | | | | expensive, and many employers will have to be |
| used as a building material for over 100 years. It can be | | | | cajoled into having an asbestos survey carried out. |
| found in cement pipes and sheets as a reinforcing | | | | If asbestos is found then the removal is very |
| agent. These asbestos cement products can be found | | | | expensive. Employers sometimes employ |
| in many schools, factories and homes. Asbestos was | | | | non-specialists to rip out the offending material, before |
| also used to make floor tiles and as insulation lagging | | | | even testing for asbestos. The old floor tiles or pipes |
| on hot water pipes. | | | | can then just be dumped, without the extra expense |
| Over the past 20 -30 years researchers and medical | | | | of taking it to a licensed asbestos disposal site. While |
| opinion has united against any asbestos use at all. | | | | all this is happening, if asbestos is present, the air in the |
| Asbestos containing materials let asbestos fibers off | | | | building is full of tiny asbestos fibers, all getting into the |
| into the air. These fibers lodge in the lungs of people | | | | lungs of people working there. |
| working and living in the building and cause a disease | | | | There are regulations governing what kind of bags can |
| called asbestosis, or mesothelioma. | | | | be used to dispose of asbestos waste and where |
| Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer of the lung. It only | | | | those bags are taken. All workers must be fully |
| takes one asbestos fiber in the lung to cause | | | | protected from asbestos fibers while working. The |
| asbestosis. Asbestos workers are the people most | | | | affected parts of the building will be sealed while the |
| affected by asbestosis and mesothelioma. People | | | | work is in progress. |
| who worked in construction and ship building in the | | | | Asbestos has been replaced as a building material, and |
| 1950s and 1960s are also commonly affected. | | | | as a filler or reinforcing agent, by glass fiber and rock |
| The detection and removal of asbestos from buildings | | | | wool. Both materials have many of the properties |
| is a specialized task, which must only be carried out by | | | | asbestos has, but are generally considered less |
| licensed contractors. | | | | harmful. |
| The untrained individual may have suspicions whether | | | | |