Asbestos

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames does not provide a service for sampling, stripping, or disposing of asbestos waste.

Any work involving asbestos must be carried out by a licensed contractor. Visit the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association website for more information. Never take your own asbestos sample without professional advice.

After removal, any asbestos must be disposed of at an approved site. Special Waste Regulations 1996 and Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991 apply. See our page on the appropriate disposal of asbestos waste.

Further information can be found in our asbestos fact sheet(pdf, 55KB). Please note that inclusion of a private company on this list does not constitute a recommendation by the council. Always check that a lab or contractor's credentials are current before you employ them. You can check their UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accreditation is current. Telephone UKAS on 020 8917 8400.

For more advice please ring the Residential Housing Team on 0208 891 7893

What is asbestos?

• It is a naturally occurring fibrous material, found in rock
• There are three common forms: Chrysotile (white), Amosite (brown), Crocidolite (blue)
• It is found in Canada, South Africa, Russia and elsewhere
• Characteristics: heat and chemical resistant
• It is regarded as one of the most significant causes of occupational disease over the past 125 years
• It was used in construction, manufacturing industry and car components, for example brake linings
• Asbestos is now banned throughout the UK with a focus is on managing the legacy of past usage
• Hazard: fibres are inhaled and penetrate deep into the lung
• Latency period: up to 30 years after exposure. For this reason deaths from Asbestos related disease will continue to rise until 2010
• Diseases: Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer
• Affects smokers more
• There is no treatment available to reduce the risk of future disease

Law was changed in 2002, making it a duty of all employers to assess the risk to the health of all employees. It is also a duty under Regulation 4 to know the location of any asbestos in the building or be able to demonstrate that there is none present. A risk assessment must be performed and records kept. If a decision cannot be reached a building survey must be performed to determine if any Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM's) are present.

Before work is carried out within a commercial premise a method statement must be submitted to the enforcing authority at least 14 days before the work is due to start. The enforcing authority will give approval for the work to commence.

Where is it found?

• Corrugated roofing on garages, boiler lagging, partitioning and ceiling tiles, vinyl and thermoplastic floor tiles.