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SES Training Solutions can offer online and classroom based training for Asbestos Awareness.
Types Of Asbestos
3 Most Common Types Of Asbestos Found Domestically And Commercially
Amosite – Brown Asbestos
This mineral has a fibrous form (fibre like texture) and is also known as Brown Asbestos. Due to the natural coloration of the fibres. Asbestos, being the name given to the collection of minerals grown in a fibrous manner.
Amosite had such a wide range of applications is due to the properties the mineral offers:
High tensile strength
Very flexible
Heat durability
Thermal, electrical, and sound adsorption
Chemical, biological, and thermal degradation resistance
Amosite is the most commonly found Amphibole type of asbestos. More course and stronger than Chrysotile fibres – Amosite was widely used in rigid boards such as asbestos insulation boards (AIB).
But is often used as part of mixture with Chrysotile. Brown Asbestos is also found in cement sheets, pipe insulation, break pads, and other roofing materials.
Like all types of asbestos. Any level of exposure to this substance can cause serious health conditions. Such as Asbestosis, Pleural disease, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
Particularly Asbestos in the amphibole mineral family. Typically known to be the most dangerous, with very sharp barbed fibres. If inhaled the fibres are resistant to the bodies chemical dissolving mechanisms. Once embedded in the lungs the fibres removal is not an option.
Chrysotile – White Asbestos
This mineral has a fibrous form (fibre like texture) and is also known as White Asbestos. Due to the natural coloration of the fibres. Asbestos, being the name given to the collection of minerals grown in a fibrous manner.
Chrysotile white asbestos is the most common type used throughout the world. Having a hardness similar to a human fingernail. However, it is known to crumble very easily into fibrous strands composed of smaller bundles of fibrils.
Other properties of Chrysotile include:
High tensile strength
Very flexible
Heat durability
Thermal, electrical, and sound adsorption
Resistant to Chemical, biological, and thermal degradation
Being very durable it was spun into thread and woven into cloth. As well as, roofing products, insulation materials, cement, and break pads.
Likewise with other types of asbestos, any level of exposure to this substance can cause serious health conditions. Such as Asbestosis, Pleural disease, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Although, compared to amphiboles (amosite and crocidolite) a lot less cases have been reported linking Mesothelioma to white asbestos.
Crocidolite – Blue Asbestos
This mineral has a fibrous form (fibre like texture) and is also known as Blue Asbestos. Due to the natural coloration of the fibres. Asbestos, being the name given to the collection of minerals grown in a fibrous manner.
Crocidolite has many useful properties. Which is why it had such a wide range of industrial applications. These include:
- High tensile strength
- Very flexible
- Heat durability
- Thermal, electrical, and sound adsorption
- Chemical, biological, and thermal degradation resistency
Because of these properties blue asbestos was commonly used as an insulator. Such as pipe insulation, spray-on coatings, plastics, as well as cement products. Also found in insulating boards, ceilings, tiles, and was even used to insulate steam engines.
Like all types of asbestos. Any level of exposure to this substance can cause serious health conditions. Such as Asbestosis, Pleural disease, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
Particularly Asbestos in the amphibole mineral family. Known to be the most dangerous as the fibres are very sharp and also barbed. If inhaled they are resistant to the bodies chemical dissolving mechanisms. Once embedded in the lungs the fibres removal is not an option.
Asbestos awareness
Information, instruction and training for asbestos awareness is intended to give workers and supervisors the information they need to avoid work that may disturb asbestos during any normal work which could disturb the fabric of a building, or other item which might contain asbestos. It will not prepare workers, or self-employed contractors, to carry out work with asbestos-containing materials. If a worker is planning to carry out work that will disturb ACMs, further information, instruction and training will be needed.
Examples of those affected are listed below. There will be other occupations where asbestos may be disturbed in addition to those listed.:
- General maintenance workers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Joiners
- Painters and decorators
- Plasterers
- Construction workers
- Roofers
- Shop fitters
- Gas fitters
- Heating and ventilation engineers
- Demolition workers
- Telecommunication engineers
- Fire/burglar alarm installers
- Computer and data installers
- Architects
- Building surveyors
All our Asbestos Awareness training complies with the HSE Requirements and is independently audited on behalf of the Awarding Body.
Key Facts About Asbestos
Widely Used Building Material
Asbestos was a critical building component in the military, used in virtually every naval ship from the 1930’s to 1980’s. It was also used in most construction trades during this period.
Used for Thousands of Years
Asbestos has been used since before 3,000 B.C. Records show ancient Egyptians pointing to a related illness that afflicted those who worked with the mineral.
Naturally Occurring
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was often used in manufacturing for its fire-resistant and insulating qualities. It is still widely used in some countries across the globe.
Mesothelioma, which is contracted through past exposure to asbestos and is one of the few work-related diseases where deaths can be counted directly, killed 2446 in Great Britain in 2018. This is slightly lower than the average 2550 over the previous five years.
The current figures are largely a consequence of occupational asbestos exposures that occurred before 1980. Annual mesothelioma deaths are expected to fall below current levels for years beyond 2020.
Asbestos – Amosite
Amosite, also referred to as grunerite, is used in cement sheets, insulation boards, thermal, plumbing, electrical and chemical insulation, roofing products, fire protection, gaskets and tiles.
If you find yourself wondering, ‘does my house have asbestos like Amosite’, call an asbestos removal specialist like Northern Rivers and find out now. Amosite asbestos exposure can leave you vulnerable to Mesothelioma, Asbestosis and Lung Cancer which is why ensuring that your home is asbestos free is of the utmost importance.
Asbestos – Chrysotile
With over 90% of applications, Chrysotile is the most frequently used type of asbestos.
Commonly known as the ‘white asbestos’, chrysotile can be found in roofs, walls, floors and ceilings and can still be just as lethal with prolonged exposure as other, more threatening types of asbestos.
Asbestos – Crocidolite
Of all the types of asbestos, Crocidolite is the most common cause of illness. This is because its very thin fibers are easily inhaled and drawn into the lungs causing significant threats to the respiratory system.
Commonly referred to as ‘blue asbestos, the crocidolite mineral was used in many instances from wires, chemical insulation and cement sheets to storage battery casings and thermal insulation of gaskets.
Below is some useful information from initiatives to raise awareness of asbestos containing materials “acm’s”
beware-asbestos-reference-cards
