Asbestos – The Hidden Killer

As property professionals we should all now be familiar with our obligations under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, but that only applies to Non-domestic properties – so what about your home???
Almost half (47 per cent) of homeowners in the UK who do DIY are unaware that asbestos was used as a building material until the 1990s, new statistics from the British Lung Foundation indicates.
The charity carried out the survey as part of Action Mesothelioma Day on the 2nd July 2010, discovering that 65 per cent of people are not confident about identifying asbestos.
On top of this, one in ten (11 per cent) of survey respondents said they would try to dispose of asbestos if they came across it in their home.
Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, a form of cancer that kills one person every five hours in the UK.
British Lung Foundation Chief Executive Dame Helena Shovelton said: "Despite such a devastating illness, the general public knows very little about mesothelioma.”
"There's definitely more work that needs to be done to ensure people are asbestos aware."
Almost 14 million homes were built in the UK while asbestos was being used in construction, the charity notes.
Exposure to large amounts of asbestos fibres can also cause lung cancer, asbestosis and diffuse pleural thickening, according to the Health and Safety Executive.
Further information on Asbestos can be found on the HSE’s own website http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/
Or if you are unsure about your duties under the legislation for non-domestic properties whether you are a Landlord/tenant/owner please contact us and we will gladly advise you.

Nigel Rummey - Senior Surveyor
nrummey@dohertybaines.com