Awareness about asbestos surveying has grown significantly, and for a good reason. Once a widely-used building material hailed for its durability and heat resistance, asbestos is now known to cause serious health risks when disturbed. For this reason, accurate and thorough asbestos survey plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of individuals and compliance with regulatory guidelines.
If understanding asbestos surveying feels daunting, you’re not alone. This article dives into the essentials of asbestos surveying, including its key benefits and why it’s a critical step for any property owner or manager.
Why Is Asbestos Surveying Important?
Asbestos, a natural mineral, was commonly used in construction materials until it was banned or heavily restricted in most countries. When asbestos fibers are disturbed, they can become airborne and pose a serious health hazard if inhaled. Conditions like asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer have all been directly linked to exposure.
For businesses, homeowners, or contractors, understanding asbestos risks is not just about safety—it’s also about compliance. Legislation in many jurisdictions mandates asbestos surveys in older buildings to protect occupants and workers. Ignoring these surveys can lead to legal repercussions and hefty fines.
Benefits of Conducting an Asbestos Survey
1. Ensures Health and Safety
The most immediate and critical benefit of asbestos surveying is the safeguarding of human health. Professional asbestos surveys identify potential exposure risks, ensuring steps can be taken to control or eliminate them. This is vital when renovating, demolishing, or performing routine maintenance in buildings that may contain asbestos. By identifying hidden threats, you greatly reduce the likelihood of airborne fiber contamination.
2. Compliance with Regulations
Regulatory bodies require asbestos surveys under certain conditions, such as before construction, demolition, or renovation projects begin. Hiring professionals to carry out these surveys ensures you adhere to local laws, minimizing your liability. Compliance is particularly important for business owners, building managers, and landlords who have a duty of care to their employees or tenants.
3. Prevents Costly Errors
The discovery of asbestos mid-way through a project can lead to delays, additional costs, and potential fines if proper protocols haven’t been observed. Conducting a survey beforehand allows for well-informed planning and risk mitigation, saving both time and money.
4. Preserves Property Value
For property owners, skipping an asbestos survey can have long-term financial consequences. Undiscovered or unaddressed asbestos issues can decrease a building’s value and make it less appealing to future buyers or tenants. An asbestos survey offers transparency and peace of mind for everyone involved.
5. Supports Environmental Protection
Beyond individual health and safety, asbestos surveying also helps protect the environment. Improper handling or disposal of asbestos materials can lead to contamination that affects ecosystems. Surveying ensures that proper methods are used to safely contain and dispose of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
Types of Asbestos Surveys
There are typically two main types of asbestos surveys:
Management Surveys
These are routine surveys designed to assess asbestos in buildings where no immediate work is planned. The goal is to manage and monitor asbestos safely over time, ensuring it does not pose a risk to occupants.
Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys
These surveys are required before any renovation or demolition work. They identify the presence of ACMs in areas that might be disturbed during the process, ensuring safe handling and disposal.
When Should You Get an Asbestos Survey?
Ideally, an asbestos survey should be conducted before purchasing or leasing a property, during a major renovation, or prior to demolition. Building managers and landlords should also carry out periodic inspections to monitor known asbestos and ensure it remains undisturbed.
