An Overview of Asbestos and The Risks that Exposure Poses

16 Mar 2018

An Overview of Asbestos and The Risks that Exposure Poses Occurring naturally as a soft, fibrous mineral, asbestos is the most deadly substance existing in the modern built environment. Able to be manipulated and resistant to chemical corrosion, electricity and extreme heat, it was once used on such a large scale that there is still a vast amount still present in many commercial buildings.

The fact that asbestos companies are so busy right now, is testament to that fact.

But what exactly makes it so dangerous?

The term ‘asbestos’ refers to a group of minerals, rather than one individual mineral and when disturbed, it releases invisible airborne particles that only have to be inhaled once to be fatal. Mesothelioma is a nasty form of cancer that can occur months, years or even decades down the road and it happens when these deadly fibres become trapped in the lungs, causing illness over time. These fibres never degrade and can cause scarring and irritation from the moment they enter the body.

Many Types

In the numerous asbestos regulations in existence, there are two general types of asbestos. There is the Serpentine variety that refers to Chrysotile asbestos and the Amphibole kind that covers amosite, tremolite, actinolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite asbestos.

What makes asbestos so deadly is the fact that not only can it not be seen, but it also can’t be smelt or tasted. There are no instant symptoms and an individual can be completely unaware that anything has happened until much, much later.

It truly is an insidious and silent killer

At OHSS Safety Consultants, we have extensive experience in asbestos surveying, asbestos management and its safe removal and disposal. If you would like to know more about our full range of occupational hygiene and safety services and the comprehensive training we provide, visit our website www.ohss.ie or call one of our team now on 01 6905907.

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