Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material which was regularly used in buildings from the 1950s until the late 1990s due to its ‘miracle’ properties. It is still found today in many buildings, including domestic and non-domestic premises, schools and hospitals.  

Asbestos is classified as a category 1 carcinogen – if disturbed; it can be deadly. 

The three main common types of asbestos are blue (crocidolite), brown (amosite) and white (chrysotile) asbestos, which were used in countless building products. As it was often mixed with other materials it can be hard to identity. 

Inhaling loose asbestos fibres is known to cause several serious and even fatal diseases – there was no surprise when it was finally banned in 1999. 

You may often come across asbestos while you are working, but so long as the asbestos is well maintained and not disturbed or disintegrating it doesn’t present an immediate risk to your health. 

For more information about asbestos, please visit https://www.ukata.org.uk/library/about-asbestos/ 

This information has been produced in partnership with the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA).  

Imported into the UK from countries such as Canada and South Africa, asbestos started to be widely used in the Industrial Revolution during the late 1800’s.  

Uses for asbestos were being invented regularly due to its resistance to chemicals, heat, water and electricity, which also made it an excellent insulator for steam engines, turbines, boilers, ovens and electrical generators.  

The shipbuilding industry also used large amounts of asbestos-containing material to insulate pipes, boilers, and incinerators. Due to its wide use, people who worked in the industry were those most affected by asbestos-related diseases.  

Post war, it was a cheap commodity and used to rebuild Britain and therefore, asbestos can be found in many buildings built before 1999. 

For more images of asbestos in-situ, click here.