Asbestos is a significant health and safety risk – and it’s one your organisation can’t afford to ignore. You have a duty to ensure that any asbestos in buildings you own is properly managed.
And with asbestos-related illnesses continuing to claim the lives of more than 5000 people each year, it’s vital that this duty is taken seriously.
At ACT, we are committed to helping businesses across the Manchester area to tackle their asbestos challenges. With 25 years of experience and a range of industry accreditations, we have the knowledge you need to protect your organisation from the risks of asbestos.
Asbestos: An ongoing risk
Asbestos is a versatile and robust building material, with excellent insulating properties and fire resistance. For this reason, it was widely used in construction projects across the UK from the 1870s onward. However, asbestos is a highly toxic substance that can cause life-changing and even fatal illnesses, including asbestos-related lung cancer.
Though asbestos was banned fully in 1999, a significant number of public and commercial buildings still contain it in significant quantities – some estimates suggest the number could be as high as 1.5 million.
In 2012, the government introduced the Control of Asbestos Regulations in order to tackle this significant threat to public health. These regulations require organisations to manage the risks asbestos may pose. That includes taking reasonable steps to find out if your buildings hold any asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and developing an asbestos management plan to mitigate health risks.
Manchester’s unique asbestos challenges
While many public and commercial buildings across the UK still contain asbestos, the Manchester region faces some specific risks.
As the birthplace of the industrial revolution and the centre of the global textile industry, Manchester is home to a large number of old factories and mills. Many of these buildings used asbestos as part of their construction for fire-proofing. More generally, the city is home to many historic buildings that long predate the introduction of more stringent asbestos regulations in the 1970s.
The Greater Manchester region also played a tragic role in the history of asbestos regulation. The region was home to a great many asbestos mills, in which raw asbestos fibre was spun into yarn. In 1924, Rochdale-born mill worker Nellie Kershaw died as a result of pulmonary asbestosis, and the parliamentary enquiry into her death led to introduction of the firs regulations to help protect workers from asbestos inhalation.
Given this history, it is essential that businesses with premises in the Manchester area take proactive steps to manage the risks of asbestos for their staff, clients and customers. And that means working with a trustworthy and reputable asbestos removal firm.
Your Manchester asbestos removal experts
The safe removal of asbestos is a complex and sensitive process. Given the health risks involved, as well as the legal implications of failing to take proper precautions, it’s vital that you work with fully accredited and experienced asbestos removal professionals.
Here at ACT, we’ve helped organisations of all sizes to tackle their asbestos challenges. From world-recognised pharmaceutical companies to local government bodies, from iconic public buildings to universities, we’ve helped a wide range of organisations to safeguard their staff and meet the latest asbestos regulations.
Compliance is at the heart of what we do, and you can have full confidence that we will put safety at the forefront of all our services. We’re fully licensed for asbestos removal by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as well as being full members of ARCA (Asbestos Removal Contractors Association) and ACAD (Asbestos Control & Abatement Division).
Our asbestos services
Asbestos encapsulation
Asbestos disposal
Reinstatement works
Industrial cleaning
Emergency call-outs
Manchester Case Studies
Supporting the North West’s water and waste network
We’ve provided asbestos removal and abatement services to United Utilities for over nine years.
Irwell Valley Homes
The client appointed us as an asbestos remedial specialist to manage, a textured coating Artex programme within three residential blocks.
Find out how we can help your business
FAQs
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It comes in a variety of types, but all are excellent insulators for both heat and electricity, as well as being fireproof. As a result, asbestos began to be mined extensively in the 1870s for use in construction. Over the subsequent 100 years, it was used in a wide variety of building materials, including pipe and ceiling insulation and drywall fireproofing.The toxic effects of asbestos inhalation became gradually apparent from the 1920s onwards, leading to its use being increasingly restricted. It was fully banned in the UK in 1999.
What are the risks of asbestos?
Asbestos poses relatively little threat if left undisturbed. However, if it is damaged or disrupted, it can release fibres that pose serious health risks when inhaled. Asbestos exposure is associated with a range of illnesses, including:
- Asbestosis. This chronic lung disease can lead to shortness of breath, a persistent cough and extreme tiredness.
- Mesothelioma. This highly aggressive cancer affects your lung tissue, and is almost exclusively tied to asbestos exposure.
- Pleural thickening. This thickening of your lung tissue can lead to breathlessness and chest pains, and is currently untreatable.
At present, it is estimated that 5000 people die from asbestos-related illnesses in the UK each year – accounting for some 20% of all work-related deaths.
How do I know if my building contains asbestos?
Unfortunately, asbestos is generally not clearly visible to the naked eye. Trained professionals can often identify materials likely to contain asbestos (ACMs), but the presence of asbestos is usually determined by testing.
Nevertheless, there are some risk factors you should consider – principally the age of your building. If your building was constructed prior to 1999, there is a strong possibility that ACMs were used. As the Health and Safety Executive advises: “If the building was built or refurbished before 2000, assume that there is asbestos in it.”
It’s important to remember that every non-domestic building must have a dutyholder responsible for ensuring that the risks of asbestos are managed appropriately. That includes taking reasonable steps to find out if asbestos is present and producing an asbestos management plan.
Why was asbestos used so extensively in Manchester?
Manchester is rightly world-famous as the first industrial city. It has played a central role in the UK’s economic development over the past two hundred years, with a particularly central part to play in both textile manufacturing and shipbuilding.
Unfortunately, this proud history also means that Manchester saw extensive usage of asbestos in the many factories, mills and other large buildings constructed in the region over the past 150 years. The city was also a central hub for the importing and processing of asbestos itself.
Finally, as an industrial hub, Manchester was a key target of bombing raids during the Second World War. As a result, the post-war period saw an extensive reconstruction project in the city, with asbestos used extensively throughout.
Where might I find asbestos in my building?
One of the main reasons asbestos was so popular as a building material was its versatility. Unfortunately, this means that there are many different places you may find asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in your building.
Among the most common uses for ACMs was in:
- Insulating boards
- Lagging on pipes and boilers
- Linings for walls and ceilings
- Roofing sheets and tiles
If you feel there may be a risk of yourself, your employees or other visitors to your site coming into contact with asbestos, you should take precautions to ensure their safety. This includes testing for and removing any ACMs that may be disturbed as part of renovations or are deteriorating for any reason.
Why do I need an asbestos management plan?
An asbestos management plan is essential not just to protect yourself, your employees and the public from the risks of asbestos, but also in order to meet the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to fines or, in extreme cases, imprisonment.
Your asbestos management plan should include details of where asbestos is located in your building and the condition it is in, as well as risk management plans for if the asbestos is disturbed. The plan should be updated on a regular basis.
Does asbestos always need to be removed?
While the common assumption is that asbestos must be removed as soon as possible from any buildings it is found in, this is not always the best option.
In fact, asbestos encapsulation can be used to prevent the asbestos from being damaged or disrupted. This involves applying a special protective layer around the asbestos. In some cases, this can be a less invasive approach than asbestos removal, while offering the same safety benefits.
Nevertheless, given the risks that asbestos can pose, the decision as to whether removal or encapsulation is the best approach should be taken in consultation with asbestos specialists.
Can I remove asbestos myself?
Because of the risks involved, most asbestos removal activities require a licence from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). While some minor forms of asbestos removal may be undertaken without a licence, you will still need to notify the HSE before doing so.
Generally speaking, unless you are fully confident that the removal does not require a licence and that you have the tools and equipment to undertake it safely, it is far better to work with asbestos specialists who can guarantee the material is dealt with in a responsible manner.
What areas does ACT cover for asbestos removal and abatement?
ACT is based in the North West and has conducted extensive asbestos removal and abatement work across the region over the past 25 years. We cover a range of areas across Greater Manchester and the North West region more broadly, including:
- Liverpool
- Wirral
- Rochdale
- Salford
- Altrincham
- Bolton
- Oldham
Though we are proud to have our home in the North West, we are a national company and can tackle the most complex asbestos abatement projects, wherever you’re based. Get in touch today to discuss your needs with one of our asbestos management experts.