Throughout the 20th century asbestos containing products made it into hundreds of thousands of homes, offices and schools and judging by this 1950's promotional video in the U.S. it almost made it onto our wardrobes as well - talk about killer heels!...
Oh the irony - a 'protective asbestos suit' - they're still being worn these days by our asbestos removal experts, only they're now used to protect them from the asbestos!
Check out this interview about Steve McQueen - it seems even our heros aren't safe from the dangers of asbestos:
If only asbestos removal was as keenly sought back then as it is now.
Here at TopAsbestosRemoval.com, we're seeing daily changes in the asbestos removal industry as people become more and more aware of the dangers posed by asbestos. But it's not always been this way...take a look at this 1950's poster from the US, used to promote asbestos building materials:
http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
How times have changed a? Thankfully we now know asbestos isn't quite the saviour it was made out to be in this advert!
We at TopAsbestosRemoval.com know only too well the positive difference asbestos removal can have on the lives of those facing the dangers of asbestos. It's for this reason we fully back the ongoing HSE 'hidden killer' campaign which will make a real difference to current and future generations.
Unfortunately, there are thousands of individuals who've already suffered because of asbestos in the workplace and it's not just those exposed to it that are the victims, it's their partners and family as well.
So it's great to hear that those Companies responsible for asbestos contaminated buildings are being challenged about it, the latest is Royal Mail who recently agreed on a 6 figure out-of-court settlement with the widow of an ex-employee. Get the full story here.
As part of our specialist asbestos removal service, TopAsbestosRemoval.com offer a complete schedule of accredited and industry recognised asbestos training to help you stop the 'hidden killer'.
Whatever asbestos training you need:
- Licensed
- Non-licensed
- Asbestos Awareness
You'll get it in accordance with all legislative guidelines and accredited by established asbestos management organisations: HSE, CIEH, BOHS, UKATA & IOSH.
To get more information on your asbestos training; call us on FreePhone 08000 82 80 85 and book yourself a place or if you're not sure which course is right for you, simply ask us!
Courses include:
- New Operative
- Operative Refresher
- New Supervisor
- Supervisor Refresher
- Non Licensable Works
- Asbestos Awareness
- Risk Assessments
- Managing Safely
- Working Safely
- P402
- P402 Refresher
- P405
- P406
...And More
Upon completion, you'll be able to provide qualified asbestos removal in your area of expertise, helping thousands of people live a longer and healthier life.
Call FreePhone 08000 82 80 85 and speak to a member of our expert asbestos training team about becoming a qualified and recognised asbestos removal professional.
Make A Difference with Asbestos Training from TopAsbestosRemoval.com
If you're a regular at the TopAsbestosRemoval.com asbestos removal blog, you're probably also aware of the HSE's current Asbestos 'hidden killer' campaign. It's targeting tradesmen and highlighting the asbestos danger they face everyday.
To help get the message across; a well known face from the world of football has got in-front of the camera to lend a hand. Let's hope he helps get the message of safe asbestos removal across, especially when you consider how real the asbestos danger is, just check these figures out:
- 6 Million Tonnes : Amount of asbestos in schools, hospitals, ships, offices and factories in the UK
- 5000 : Number of people dying each year from asbestos related diseases in the UK
- 10000 : Estimated number of people in the UK that will die from asbestos related lung cancer by 2010
Makes grim reading doesn't it? So inject a spot of fun by guessing who's the star of the video, then see if you're right here
Here at TopAsbestosRemoval.com, as the name suggests; we perform a lot of asbestos removal. So imagine our surprise when we were asked to carry out some asbestos insertion!
I know...crazy.
Yesterday we received a call from a gentleman asking us to supply some Chrysotile (white asbestos) panels to replace the broken ones he had in the kitchen. Not only has this been illegal since the ban in 1999 but more importantly it's a very dangerous situation to be in.
Putting aside the danger of simply having asbestos in your building, if that asbestos containing material is damaged, it could be releasing fibres in to the air. With advice and safe removal, we helped him find a replacement for his asbestos kitchen panels.
This highlights the need for more information about asbestos; in the public domain, which hopefully the HSE's current 'hidden killer' campaign will provide.
Here at TopAsbestosRemoval.com we deal with asbestos everyday as part of our asbestos removal service and one thing we come across time and again...is popcorn.
During the 1960s and 70s, construction companies discovered that they could lower overall building costs by spraying on a coating over plasterboard. This coating was used purely as an acoustic barrier at first but soon made it onto bedroom, hall and dining room ceilings and walls.
Because of its unattractive, often bumpy texture it was referred to as 'popcorn' and was frequently used to cover up poor workmanship. This wasn't the only problem, the 'popcorn' coating contained asbestos which as we now know, is a seriously unwelcome house guest.
So if you're renovating parts of your building, be sure that you find out beforehand whether you have an asbestos 'popcorn' ceiling, or indeed any asbestos containing materials.
Thankfully, the importance of asbestos removal is becoming increasingly recognised by the UK public with the release of more information on the dangers of asbestos. However, those most at risk from asbestos are the tradesmen that come into contact with asbestos fibres on a regular basis.
To combat this, the HSE are running a campaign throughout October and November targeted at tradespeople (primarily plumbers, electricians, joiners as well as others) who are at great risk from exposure to asbestos.
The campaign will follow on from the success of a previous pilot campaign in the North West with the primary aim to raise awareness amongst tradesmen that they are more at risk than they think from asbestos.
The campaign will include:
- National radio adverts
- Adverts in national press
- Distribution of campaign material to plumbers, electricians, joiners and other tradesmen
- Case studies being developed nationally
- PR activity, including the use of case studies
- Articles in trade press magazines
The HSE hope to encourage tradesmen to find out more about asbestos and the precautions they should be taking, no doubt highlighting the fact that six joiners die every week from this hidden killer.
The campaign launches 13 October; running until the end of November and potentially longer if it proves successful.
With Asbestos related illnesses now taking more lives in the UK than road accidents it's especially important that this campaign gets its message across.
If you've got any questions about asbestos in your property or have an enquiry regarding asbestos removal, you can get in touch with us at www.topasbestosremoval.com/contact-us.php
Asbestos plasterboard can release asbestos fibres when disturbed