Commercial and domestic asbestos removal by Licensed contractors...

Asbestos for Dummies

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material and has been a popular building material since the 1950’s.

It’s likely that some parts of any building will contain Asbestos in any building that was built or refurbished before the year 2000.

Asbestos is found in many products, it’s most common uses being;

• Roof gutters & downpipes – these can often be manufactured using asbestos  cement
• Water tanks – pre 1980 were usually made with asbestos cement
• House insulation – loose insulation can be found in lofts or wall/floor cavities
• Textured coating e.g. Artex – used mainly on ceilings
• Toilet cisterns – toilet cisterns could contain asbestos-reinforced resin
• Wall panelling – Asbestos can be found as external wall cladding and internal wall panelling, particularly around windows
• Soffits – these can contain asbestos cement or AIB (Asbestos Insulation Board)
• Heater cupboards – the heater cupboard that contains a domestic boiler can often contain AIB (Asbestos Insulating Board)
• Fuse boxes – the panel behind a fuse box can contain asbestos
• Garages – garage roofs can often be manufactured using corrugated asbestos cement

There are three main types of Asbestos

• Chrysotile (white)
• Amosite (brown)
• Crocidolite (blue)

Blue & brown asbestos were banned in 1985 white asbestos wasn’t banned until 1999.

The most common Asbestos related diseases are;

• Asbestosis- symptoms include an extreme shortness of breath and there is an increased risk of lung cancer. Asbestosis is not always fatal but extremely debilitating.
• Mesothelioma- symptoms include shortness of breath, cough and chest pain. Mesothelioma is always fatal with a life expectancy of 6-24 months from diagnosis.
• Lung Cancer-  symptoms include shortness of breath and coughing up blood. Lung Cancer is nearly always fatal.
• Pleural Plaques- this occurs when fibres become lodged in the lung tissue & and damage the inside of the pleural membrane which causes inflammation and scarring.

Asbestos normally presents no problem as long as the asbestos is in good condition and is not disturbed or misused.

Asbestos is only dangerous when it’s deteriorated to the point where its tiny fibres can be released into the air and inhaled. If the material is solid (in appearance and to touch) and maintained in good condition, it presents no problem.

If you are concerned that any products in your home may contain Asbestos then please contact Midlands Asbestos Solutions and we would be happy to offer advice & a free quotation for the removal of any Asbestos that may pose a risk.

Midlands Asbestos Solutions Ltd successfully completed the removal of a licensed asbestos material which was a badly damaged insulation board ceiling in an outbuilding of a Public House, Derby last week. The asbestos work was completed on time and within budget.

Midlands Asbestos Solutions Ltd are a member of ARCA. Here are Five reasons why you should use an ARCA accredited Asbestos Removal Contractor:

1. Stringent Rules of Membership exist to ensure that only those companies who can demonstrate high standards of workmanship and health and safety management are admitted into membership of arca.

2. All ARCA members are independently audited at least twice a year to ensure that the high standards of workmanship and health and safety management are maintained.

3. ARCA ensure that all members maintain appropriate levels of asbestos insurance for the work that they undertake.

4. ARCA members benefit from the latest information and guidance provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the associations own Technical Committee.

5. ARCA members can call upon a wealth of experience and expertise from within ARCA.

Darren attended the ARCA Regional Meeting on Wednesday 23rd November at the new ARCA headquarters in Burton upon Trent. The agenda covered such topics as the ALG meeting Revision of the Asbestos Regulations 2006, Handling asbestos waste, Draft guidance on AIB soffit removal and ATaC update.

Midlands Asbestos Solutions have just completed a licensed asbestos removal project at Greenhill Methodist Church. This job involved the removal of asbestos insulation residue in the boiler house and a full environmental clean. This was completed on time and a certificate of reoccupation was issued at the end of the job.

Midlands Asbestos Solutions would like to welcome our youngest recruit, Harry to our asbestos removal business in Nottingham and Derby. I’m sure he will be soon taking down asbestos cement garages for our customers in Nottingham and Derby!

Seriously though, congratulations to Tara and Phil on the birth of their new baby, Harry.

Asbestos removal Sheffield is about to meet its match in the the form of Midlands Asbestos Removal. The Ilkeston based company is expanding its area to cover asbestos removal in Sheffield and the surrounding areas. ” Darren Skinner of MAS said

“We’ve had lots of interest from people in the South Yorkshire area so, asbestos removal Sheffieldseemed like a good idea!”

If you’re looking for asbestos removal in Sheffield then contact MAS today on 0115 9326521.

Midlands Asbestos Solutions would like to introduce another new addition to our team… please welcome Sarah Shelton our new Asbestos Technical Adminstrator!

Sarah has now joined us to help expand and progress with the ever- growing work load! Her expertise will bring a great wealth of knowledge and 12 years experience within the Asbestos Surveying, Air monitoring, Asbestos Training, Auditing, Management Plans and much more…

We expect great things from Sarah and are very happy she decided to join us here at Midlands Asbestos Solutions!

Midlands Asbestos Solutions recently had a Office and Site Audit by ARCA (Asbestos Removal Contractors Association).

We can proudly announce that both went very well and are now awaiting our accreditation which we will show on our website soon! Becoming members of ARCA is an excellent way of showing that we are a competant licensed asbestos contractor “Requirements and conditions of membership still apply in order to satisfy the associations Governing Body that are meticulously maintained”.

We also have all Midlands Asbestos Solutions Supervisors, Operatives and Managers Training at ARCA which is the UK’s leading provider of asbestos training.