Asbestos

What is asbestos?

The term ‘asbestos’ refers to a group of six fibrous, naturally occurring minerals. It has many qualities including being durable, flexible, a natural insulation product, great at absorbing sound and having resistance to fire, heat and electricity.

The three main types of asbestos are:

• Chrysotile or ‘white asbestos’ - known for its long, curly fibres and was the most common type to be used commercially
  
• Amosite or ‘brown asbestos’ - has brown or grey coloured fibres and was the second most commonly used type
  
• Crocidolite or ‘blue asbestos’ - with its straight blue needle-like fibres was mostly used for thermal insulation spray or fireproofing.  

Other less used types are Tremolite, Anthophyllite and Actinolite. 

Please note: all of these can harm you if you breathe in dust containing the fibres.

Uses of asbestos:

Is asbestos dangerous?

Yes, asbestos kills around 5,000 workers each year. Around 20 tradesmen die each week as a result of past exposure.

It is not necessarily dangerous when in the home, unless it is disturbed or damaged as this causes fibres to be released into the air. Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause serious diseases, including mesothelioma cancer which is a rare cancer that forms within the lining of the lungs. You will not notice you are affected immediately as these diseases take a long time to develop, but once diagnosed, it is often too late to treat. 

You can find out more about the fatal and serious diseases that asbestos can cause on the Health and Safety Executive website. More information about mesothelioma cancer is available on the NHS Choices Website.

What should I do if I have asbestos?

• Don't panic. It’s best to leave asbestos alone, especially if it is in good condition and unlikely to get damaged. Check it from time to time to make sure it hasn’t been damaged or started to deteriorate.
  
• Slightly damaged asbestos-containing materials can sometimes be repaired by sealing or enclosing them. You should contact a professional trained to carry out non-licensed asbestos work to do this.
  
• Any badly-damaged asbestos-containing materials that cannot be protected should be removed by a contractor licensed by the Health and Safety Executive. 
  
• Make sure you do not sand, drill or saw asbestos materials while carrying out any DIY work in the home, and always inform any builders, maintenance workers or contractors that there are asbestos materials in your home before they start any work. 

More guidance is available on the Health and Safety Executive website.

How can I get possible asbestos in my home tested?

Asbestos contractors or asbestos surveying companies will be able to help, you may wish to search on the internet for local companies.

You may wish to check that any contractors you approach hold a valid asbestos license and that they are a member of a trade body such as ARCA (Asbestos Removal Contractors Association).

I am concerned that my neighbour is removing asbestos and may not be taking adequate precautions. What should I do?

Private properties

If asbestos removal work is underway and in the vicinity of your property, then you should close your doors and windows and remove any laundry that may be outside whilst the work is in progress.

If the work is being undertaken on a private property and you are concerned that the asbestos is not being removed in a responsible way, then in the first instance you should discuss the matter with your neighbour/person undertaking the work. There is a lot of advice on the Health and Safety Executive's website on how to undertake this work in a safe way:

HSE - Managing asbestos (external website)

If the work is being undertaken by a contractor, you can raise this concern with the Health & Safety Executive:

HSE Concern Form (external website)

If it is your neighbours who are undertaking the works themselves and it is not possible to resolve this with your them, then you may wish to raise your concerns with the council in an email (pollution.control@eastriding.gov.uk). However, it is worth noting that in most instances the activity giving cause for concern will have ceased by the time the council may be able to allocate any resources to investigate.

Commercial properties (shops/offices/industrial units)

If the asbestos removal work is underway and in the vicinity of your property, then you should close any doors and windows whilst the work is in progress.

If you are concerned that asbestos removal work is not being undertaken in a responsible way then you should report the matter to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) by using their online form or by telephone 0300 003 1647. It is worth noting that the HSE do not operate an emergency response service, and do not investigate all reports received:

HSE Concern Form (external website)

Farms and other agricultural properties

If the asbestos removal work is underway and in the vicinity of your property, then you should close any doors and windows whilst the work is in progress.

Many older farm buildings were constructed using asbestos cement and asbestos insulation board products. If you are concerned that asbestos removal work is not being undertaken in a responsible way then you should report the matter the health and Safety Executive by using their online form (link below) or by telephone on 0300 003 1647.

HSE Concern Form (external website)

It is worth noting that the HSE do not operate an emergency response service, and do not investigate all reports received.

Can farmers and others bury asbestos waste on their land?

This is a common question we are asked, and the simple answer is NO!

Asbestos can only be disposed of at a licensed tip which meets stringent environmental control standards. If you think that someone is burying asbestos waste illegally then you should report this directly to the Environment Agency by telephoning 0800 80 70 60.

Where can I dispose of asbestos?

Small amounts of household asbestos, such as up to the size of a single domestic garage and no more than 25 sheets, can be taken to an asbestos bank available at the following household waste recycling sites:

Airmyn

Carnaby

Humberfield, Hessle - Please note this site is currently unable to accept asbestos on Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Preston

Wrap your asbestos cement waste in thick polythene sheeting (two layers). Seal all the joints with tape to make a parcel, and don't to forget to put some extra protection on the corners of asbestos sheets. This will stop the sharp edges puncturing your parcel. For the health and safety of others do not break up the asbestos!

For larger amounts of household asbestos, or if you are a business who needs to dispose of asbestos, please contact a specialist contractor. 

Where can I get professional advice about asbestos?

How can I find a licensed contractor to remove my asbestos?

You can find a list of contractors that are licensed to work with asbestos on the  Health and Safety Executive website.

What should I do with asbestos cement sheets found buried in my garden?

You should seek professional advice before handling any asbestos.

If it’s a small amount, it is possible to dampen the asbestos with water to suppress any loose fibres. 

It would be advisable to always wear gloves and an FFP3 face covering if handling and place them in a plastic bag. They can be taken to one of the household waste recycling sites that accepts asbestos waste.

Will the council dismantle or collect an asbestos garage for me?

We do not offer an asbestos removal and disposal service.

Please note asbestos containing materials are classified as Hazardous waste and cannot be disposed of with household waste.  The person who does this work should be competent to work with asbestos. There is a good range of information on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website where task sheets provide safe working methods:

HSE - Asbestos essentials (external website)

For details of which Household Waste Recycling Site can accept asbestos from a household please see Where can I dispose of asbestos?

Can you recommend a local asbestos contractor?

The council cannot recommend individual contractors.

We would recommend you check that any contractors you approach, hold a valid asbestos license and that they are a member of a trade body such as ARCA (Asbestos Removal Contractors Association).