www.asbestos.com
Kent Surveys - Established 1986 - P402 Qualified Asbestos Surveyors
Kent Surveys - P402 / MDHS100 / HSG264 Qualified Asbestos Surveyors / Fully insured with PL and PI
29 St Lawrence Ave Ramsgate Kent
Phone: 01843 592243 - Mobile 0771 2068424 Email for quick quote or specific help: enquiries@kentsurveys.com
Email for quote or specific help: asbestossurveys-kent@yahoo.co.uk
Asbestos Risks / Asbestos Diseases
The Bad News
Asbestos fibres can cause cancer if inhaled - Asbestos fibres were used in over 3000 building materials - More than 2000 people die each year from asbestos related diseases (this number is expected to increase to 20,000 by 2020) - Asbestos materials can be found in buildings built up until 1999 (HSE figure) - Prosecution for an asbestos related breach of the regulations (incident leading to exposure) can lead to unlimited fines and/or up to 2 years in prison - All non-domestic buildings require an asbestos survey carried out by competent persons (CoAR 2006). in the revised regulations there are now three implicit duties* on those responsible for buildings (see below).
The Good News
Asbestos management is a lot easier than you might think. Kent Surveys offer you a reassuring solution to a widespread problem, you don't have to become an asbestos expert to manage your asbestos materials. You should not remove asbestos materials if they are in a safe condition and unlikely to be disturbed, as most are, they will simply require an annual or regular inspection to make sure they remain safe. Most asbestos materials are safe already because the fibres are tightly trapped within other materials (cement sheeting, vinyl floor tiles, plastic products etc) and simply require an annual inspection. Even high risk asbestos materials likes pipe insulation and AIB can be managed without the need for removal. Many asbestos materials only have a low asbestos content reducing the risk even further.
Asbestos Diseases
The following information has been kindly provided by the folks over at the Mesothelioma Center (www.asbestos.com) where there is a huge amount of useful resource material on asbestos related diseases. If you have concerns over previous asbestos exposure their site is a good place to start getting some answers.
Health Risks Associated with Asbestos Exposure
There are a number of health conditions that can result from asbestos exposure, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer. The latter is a rare cancer almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos and typically develops in the form of pleural mesothelioma. Other types of mesothelioma include peritoneal and pericardial mesothelioma, but these are less likely to occur.
Symptoms of Asbestos-Related Disease
Mesothelioma has a long latency period, and symptoms may take up to 50 years to arise from the time someone was initially exposed to asbestos. Symptoms may include chest pain, harsh breathing sounds, reduced chest expansion, wheezing and shortness of breath. If you believe you were exposed to asbestos and would like to be tested for related illnesses, you can find a specialist using the Doctor Match Program.
What is the Typical Prognosis for a Patient with Mesothelioma?
A mesothelioma patient’s prognosis is influenced by numerous factors. Since a diagnosis often occurs after the cancer has progressed to later stages of development, the life span is typically short. If a patient is diagnosed before the cancer has spread, the prognosis may improve. Factors that may influence prognosis include the stage of a patient’s mesothelioma, type of mesothelioma, size of the tumor, location of the tumor and whether it may be surgically removed, and the age and overall health of the patient.
Where You May Find Asbestos
Asbestos exposure most often occurs while handling asbestos-containing materials. Before the United States placed regulations on the use of asbestos, the toxic material was incorporated into thousands of products used throughout a variety of industrial settings.
Because asbestos provides insulating and fireproofing capabilities, products that often contained asbestos included insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, roofing materials, pipe covering, drywall and cements. Those most at risk for developing mesothelioma include previous shipyard, construction, automotive, electrical and power plant workers. These industries provided the highest risk of experiencing asbestos exposure.
Exposure may also occur within the home, and products that contain asbestos are not easy to identify on sight. If you are concerned that your home contains asbestos building materials, you can hire an asbestos surveyor, licensed contractor or home inspector for an assessment. Samples of the building materials will be sent to a laboratory where testing will verify asbestos content and/or contamination.
Call Jerry for a quote 01304 614647 - 07712068424
