Asbestos Surveys for Office Premises

Asbestos Surveys for Office Premises

Background to asbestos

Asbestos has also been classified by the World Health Organization as a Group 1 category carcinogenic agent with overwhelming evidence showing that there is a significant cancer risk to humans when exposed it, in any form. It is no wonder then, that global efforts are being made to eliminate this major health hazard.

The term asbestos is typically used to refer to six naturally occurring silicate minerals. All are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fibre being composed of many microscopic 'fibrils' that can be released into the atmosphere by abrasion and other processes. However, inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to various serious lung conditions, including asbestosis and cancer.

Asbestos is an excellent electrical insulator and is highly heat-resistant, so for many years it was used as a building material, hence for this reason it is commonly found in older types of office buildings. The WHO estimate that around 125 million people are exposed to asbestos in the workplace (2018)[1], therefore much more needs to be done in order to protect people in occupational settings from asbestos worldwide. As a result of this, asbestos has been made illegal in many countries and increased efforts are being made to eliminate the material in residential and industrial environments.

Countries where asbestos is banned

As of August 2021, 55 countries have banned asbestos globally, as shown in the map and table below:

Algeria Egypt Japan Oman Croatia
Czech Republic* Israel New Caledonia Sweden Honduras
Iceland Mozambique South Africa Germany Lithuania*
Malta* Slovakia* Belgium Kuwait Qatar
Saudi Arabia Austria France Poland United Kingdom
Argentina Estonia* Jordan Switzerland Cyprus*
Denmark Italy Norway Chile Hungary*
Ireland Netherlands Spain Greece* Luxembourg
Mongolia Slovenia Brunei Latvia Romania
Seychelles Bahrain Gabon Portugal* Uruguay
Australia Finland Korea (South) Turkey Croatia

Potential containing Asbestos Risk

Acoustical ceiling texture or “popcorn” Asphalt flooring Base flashing/mastic
Blown-in insulation  Boiler/tank insulation  Breaching insulation
Brick mortar  Built-up roofing  Caulking/putties
Ceiling tiles/panels/mastic  Cement board/transite  Cement pipes
Cement roofing shingles  Chalkboards  Construction mastics
Duct tape/paper  Ductwork flexible connections  Electrical cloth
Electrical panel partitions  Electrical wiring insulation  Elevator brake shoes
Erkot roofing material   Fire blankets Fire curtains/hose
Fire doors  Fireproofing  Furnace insulation
Gray roofing paint  High temperature gaskets  HVAC duct insulation
Incandescent light fixture backing Joint compound/wallboard Laboratory hoods/table tops
Laboratory fume hood  Mudded pipe elbow insulation  Nicolet (white) roofing paper
Packing materials Paper fire box in walls  Paper on backside of fiberglass insulation
Pipe insulation/fittings  Plaster/ wall joints Poured flooring
Rolled roofing  Roofing shingles  Sink insulation
Spray-applied insulation  Stucco  Sub flooring slip sheet
Textured paints/coatings  Vapor barrier  Vinyl floor tile/mastic
Vinyl sheet flooring/mastic Vinyl wall coverings Window glazing
Any suspicious asbestos containing material Packing/gaskets of machines/equipments  

Reference regulation

UK HSE HSG264
HSE HSG247
HSE HSG248
US AHERA
EPA:ASBESTOS INSPECTOR
EPA:ASBESTOS REMOVAL DESIGNER
China GBZ/T 193-2007: 石棉作业职业卫生安全管理规范(Criterion of control and prevention for occupational hazard in processing asbestos)
GBZ2.1-2007: 工作场所有害因素职业接触限值化学有害因素(Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace Chemical hazardous agents)
GBZ/T 192.5-2007 . 工作场所空气中粉尘测定 第5部分:石棉纤维浓度(Method for determination of dust in the air of workplace,Part 5:Asbestos fiber concentration)
Australia Safe Work Australia: HOW TO SAFELY REMOVE ASBESTOS (Code of Practice)
Safe Work Australia: HOW TO MANAGE AND CONTROL ASBESTOS IN THE WORKPLACE (Code of Practice)

Process

What we do

CTI-Maritec offer a comprehensive asbestos survey programme designed for companies operating within the maritime sector who need to step up their efforts to eliminate asbestos in the workplace.

We use three types of asbestos testing machines in order to ascertain whether asbestos is present in office locations.

Get in touch

If you have any questions or comments please don't hesitate to contact us