Hazards

Asbestos Hazards

What Is Asbestos?

The fibrous form of the mineral silicates belonging to any one or a combination of the serpentine and amphibole groups of rock-forming minerals, including actinolite, amosite (brown asbestos), anthophyllite, crocidolite (blue asbestos), chrysotile (white asbestos) or tremolite, or
any material or object, whether natural or manufactured, that contains one or more of the mineral silicates referred to in paragraph (a) above.

Friable Asbestos

Friable asbestos products are generally quite loose and, when dry, can be crumbled into fine material or dust with very light pressure, such as crushing with your hand. These products usually contain high levels of asbestos (up to 100% in some cases), which is loosely held in the product so that the asbestos fibres are easily released into the air. If disturbed, friable asbestos products are dangerous because the asbestos fibres can get into the air very easily, and may be inhaled by people living or working in the area.

Bonded (non-friable) asbestos products that have been damaged or badly weathered (including hail damage), may also become friable.

Non-Friable Asbestos

Non-friable (Bonded) asbestos products are are made from a bonding compound (such as cement) mixed with a small proportion (usually less than 15%) of asbestos. These materials are rigid, and cannot be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure. The asbestos fibres are tightly bound in the product and are not normally released into the air.

Common names for bonded asbestos products are 'fibro', 'asbestos cement' and 'AC sheeting'. When these materials are in good condition, they do not normally release any asbestos fibres into the air. They are considered a very low risk for people who are in contact with them, as long as appropriate safety precautions are used when they are disturbed.

However, when bonded asbestos products are damaged or badly weathered (including hail damage), they may become friable.

Other Hazards

Lead

Lead is a toxic substance that can affect people of any age. It is especially harmful to children, pregnant women and unborn babies. Lead accumulates in your body, so even small amounts can pose a health hazard over time.

PCBs

Polychlorinated Biphenyls – are a group of man-made compounds that were used, from around the 1920s until they were banned at the end of the 1970s, in electrical equipment, surface coatings, inks, adhesives, flame retardants and paints. PCBs are made of carbon, hydrogen and chlorine atoms, and because these atoms can be combined in many different ways, a total of 209 different PCB molecules can be formed.

Crystalline Silica

Inhalation of extremely fine (respirable) silica dust (e.g. from concrete and brick cutting, or as may be found in siliceous filtering materials such as diatomaceous earth) must be avoided.

Prolonged exposure can cause silicosis or lung cancer. Dust suppression and/or personal protective equipment are recommended.