How to identify the presence of asbestos at a job site?

What is Asbestos? How You Can Identify It

Asbestos is a group of mineral fibres (6 in total) that are known for their fire and chemical resistance. This group of minerals has caused many serious diseases, but before this was widely known, it was used in many practical materials.

Where Is It Found?

Pre-1990, this material was used everywhere, in almost everything, including (but not limited to):

• Cement and tiles used on roofing

• Floor tiles, vinyl tiles, adhesives, and carpet underlay

• Furnace pipes, plumbing, and ducts

• Electrical wire casing

• Building insulation

• Fencing

• Automotive parts in older vehicles

• Gaskets, electrical panels, and sealants

Why Is It Harmful?

These fibres are known to cause lung cancer due to their carcinogenic nature. However, other equally severe diseases root in asbestos exposure. One of them is Mesothelioma, a type of cancer that develops in the outer layers of major organs. In this case, mesothelioma originates in one or both lungs. 

Another is asbestosis. It is the scarring of the inner walls of the lungs due to the abrasive nature of these fibres. It is chronic, causing shortness of breath, wheezing, a persistent cough, and, in severe cases, alveolar inflammation.

If you’ve encountered asbestos and are worried about your exposure to it, read our blog on Symptoms to Look Out For or find out What To Do If You’re Exposed.

Testing Asbestos with NATA-Accredited Lab

One way to know if your area can potentially contain these fibres is by assessing the situation. You should always evaluate the age and time of build of your job site before carrying out any construction work. If it’s built before 1990, assume there will be asbestos present. If it’s built after then, your safety is more likely, but always be calculative and never reckless in the work. Ask yourself these questions:

• Does your job site predate 1990?

• Is there construction scheduled to take place?

• Has an assessment been done on the materials used in the infrastructure?

• Will there be a lot of dust and materials involved in the construction? 

If you answered yes to any of the above, then there is a big possibility that there are microscopic fibres around to harm your respiratory system.

However, to know for certain whether your area contains these fibres, have a Rynos asbestos specialist send a material sample to a NATA-accredited laboratory, where a professional in the field will test for the presence of asbestos fibres. When tested, professionals use transmission electron microscopy, a technique that employs microscopes capable of producing highly magnified images. So, you can be certain that your job site is safe to carry out work.