DAMAGE MANAGEMENT BREATHE EASY
Discovering asbestos on your property can set the alarm bells ringing for many a building manager, but have no fear – Sarah Southworth, Managing Director of Specialised Cleaning Services, tells us what to do
if you find asbestos, and explains more about SCS’s new asbestos removal operation.
SCS provides a range of asbestos removal services to suit each client’s specific requirements. The firm is expanding its asbestos removal operation, taking steps to launch a standalone business that will operate alongside the established SCS business.
“Whilst health a safety remains a priority at
every one of our jobs, the threat when working with asbestos is all too real.”
As with the wider expansion of our business, the move into asbestos removal came as we identified opportunities within the market place. We carry out a range of domestic repair services, largely for housing associations, private landlords and contractors and the asbestos removal was a natural bolt on.
Whilst health a safety remains a priority at every one of our jobs, the threat when working with asbestos is all too real. As well all know, asbestos is potentially incredibly dangerous and we have to ensure our staff are trained to the highest standards possible to protect both themselves and the people we work with.
Breathing in air containing asbestos fibres can lead to asbestos-related diseases. Past exposure to asbestos currently kills 3,000 people a year in Britain. Only by preventing or minimising exposure to asbestos will asbestos related disease eventually be wiped out.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used in a range of building materials to make them more rigid and fire resistant. It has also been used in household products such as ironing boards and oven gloves. Asbestos was used extensively as a building material in Britain from the 1950s through to the mid-1980s, and
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can typically be found in gutters and pipes, floor tiles, garage and shed roofs linings for walls, ceilings and doors, storage heaters insulation panels, bath panels, central heating flues and loose asbestos packing between floors and in partition walls
Most asbestos-containing material, if in good condition, is safe. Asbestos is only dangerous when it’s in a loose form, damaged, disturbed or worked-on as this can release the asbestos fibres into the air. Many of the homes and properties that we work in were built from the 50s to the 80s, and therefore the threat of asbestos is considerable. Where our clients identify an area where asbestos has been damaged or disturbed, they react immediately and that’s where our role begins.
SCS carry out non-licensed asbestos removal work, partnering with licensed removal specialists when jobs are presented. It’s important to understand the difference between the licensed and non-licensed asbestos removal as this dictates the process followed and the wider approach:
NON-LICENSABLE ASBESTOS
REMOVAL Examples of non-licensable asbestos removal work include the removal of asbestos cement products (e.g. on roof sheeting, tiles and rainwater goods, asbestos-containing thermoplastic and vinyl floor tiles, plastic paint coatings, PVC floors, panels and sealing compounds, and large-scale removal of textured decorative coatings using steaming or gelling methods.
LICENSED ASBESTOS
REMOVAL SCS work alongside fully licensed contractors to carry out any asbestos jobs where the risk assessment clearly demonstrates licensable work. Typical examples of licensed asbestos
removal include asbestos insulation board (AIB), loft lagging and cement based products. Much licensed asbestos removal works focus on the commercial sector, notably large industrial units and public sector buildings including schools.
At SCS we have invested heavily in our staff, taking on new recruits with existing experience whilst retaining and upskilling existing team members from within SCS. Our operatives are all trained to site supervisor (SSSTS) standard and ongoing training is carried out throughout the year.
“Where our clients identify an area where asbestos has been damaged or disturbed, they react
immediately and that’s where our role begins.”
We pride ourselves on our ability to be reactive as often asbestos can surface and the threat must be dealt with immediately. We work closely with our clients who act as tenant liaison, ensuring tenants are not within the property when work is carried out. Processes employed are stringent including the use of specific PPE and masks, while all waste is placed in colour-coded bags, removed and destroyed using specialist wate removal companies.
There is a lot to consider when working with asbestos but we know that we have a fantastic working model, a brilliant team and client feedback is incredibly positive. We’re working with housing associations throughout the North West but are keen to expand further within the region, supporting social landlords with their asbestos removal issues in a safe, controlled a professional manner
www.specialisedcleaningservices.co.uk.
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