The UK news headlines regularly feature fears about building materials and their impact on the health of people who live or work inside the structures. The Grenfell Tower tragedy was a particularly horrific example of this.
However, even the House of Commons faced a health scare earlier this year. According to a Whitehall spokesperson at the time, the historic seat of power was the subject of “potentially lethal” levels of asbestos integrated into the ventilation system. It led to the air conditioning being turned down while the issue was investigated.
Around the same time, the former headteacher of a school in Sunderland described how pupils had to be “hosed down” and “fumigated” by the emergency services. The incident happened after the alarm was raised about high-risk asbestos fibres in the deteriorating school building.
Incidents such as this bring the services of Pass Consulting into the spotlight. The team of asbestos surveyors has been conducting specialist asbestos surveys and disposal projects for three decades.
Heightened awareness of the need to check building materials and construction is important – especially for many public and residential buildings – according to Pass Consulting. However, the firm is keen to avoid a sense of panic about asbestos.
The best way to deal with the issue, according to Pass Consulting, is using experienced, skilled staff and tackling the problem calmly. Surveys can be carried out quickly, and asbestos can be removed and disposed of simply, with the minimum of disruption to the building’s use.
The key though is to ride the current wave of heightened awareness. Pass Consulting believes that public and private-sector bodies – and even householders with concerns – should act now.
While funding and a spirit of cooperation are available, it is the best possible time to check for the presence of asbestos and remove it without delay.
Pass Consulting hopes that anyone responsible for buildings with potential asbestos components – and householders with concerns about garages, outhouses or their own older properties – ensure that the “issue” of asbestos doesn’t turn into a “crisis”.