Asbestos and Survey Information

The Dangers of Asbestos

Every year in the UK, thousands of people die from asbestos-related poisoning. The main types of asbestos illnesses can surface as lung cancer due to prolonged asbestos exposure, or mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer in which cells overdevelop in the mesothelium layer (a lining which covers a lot of the body’s internal organs) and the most common place for this cancer to develop is in the outer lining of the lungs, also called the pleura. This will typically lead to shortness of breath, chest pain, weight loss and general illness.

Why have a survey?

It is a requirement of the Law to have any premises you occupy, own, manage or otherwise have responsibilities for, surveyed for asbestos. It is a legal obligation you have in order to protect your life and the lives of those that operate within those premises. If you choose not to have your property surveyed for asbestos, then the penalties for failing to do so can be severe indeed. You may be fined either £20,000 or an unlimited amount, depending on whether you’re an individual or a company, respectively. Individuals may also be imprisoned for up to a maximum of two years. If the party in question happens to be a company, the site of said company may be closed. These laws are in place to protect human life, so they should not be overlooked.

What does a survey involve?

An asbestos survey is similar to most other types of surveys with regards to the fact that one of our qualified surveyors will visit the property that needs surveying and make a general assessment of the well-being of the property and what needs to be done in order to fulfil all the obligations needed to make a complete asbestos survey. Following this initial survey, a more thorough survey will be conducted by a team of qualified asbestos surveyors to fully search for any asbestos-related hazards that may endanger anyone working on the premises. At the end of the complete survey, you will be supplied with a comprehensive report of the outcome, along with what action needs to be taken and how to properly remove any asbestos from the premises, if any happens to be located or deemed to be a risk to staff or building occupants.