Asbestos safety
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a term for a group of minerals made of tiny fibres. The use of building materials containing Asbestos was common between the mid-1940s and late 1990s.
Asbestos is now banned in the UK, but buildings and properties constructed before the year 2000 may still contain it, most likely to be found in insulation, flooring, roofs, ceilings and walls
Why is asbestos safety important?
Asbestos is not a danger to your health if it is in good condition and is left undisturbed.
If it is damaged or its condition deteriorates, then you and others may be at risk. Worn or damaged asbestos materials may release fibres into the air, which could cause lung damage if you breathe them in.
What does Mansfield District Council do to keep you safe?
To identify whether a building has asbestos, MDC are required by law to survey communal areas within a block. We do not survey individual homes unless we’re carrying out works in that property as a repair or to re-let an empty property. Items containing asbestos are regularly inspected to ensure they remain in good condition.
Any items of Asbestos found to be in poor condition will be appropriately repaired or removed in a controlled manner.
All Asbestos removal works are carried out by qualified and licenced contractors under controlled conditions, ensuring there is no risk posed to customers.
MDC staff and contractors are Asbestos Awareness trained so that they can identify any potential Asbestos materials and assess its condition.
Before any major refurbishment works are carried out (e.g., roof, kitchen & bathroom replacement) an intrusive Asbestos survey is carried out to ensure items are not disturbed during the works. This may result in removal of Asbestos before refurbishment.
All empty properties that contain asbestos will have it removed before it is re-let
What can you do to keep safe?
You may have materials containing Asbestos in your home. Unless damaged, these materials are unlikely to pose any harm, though extra care should be taken when doing DIY.
You must not carry out any alterations, improvements, or additions to the property without first obtaining our written approval. (This is a condition of your tenancy agreement.) If you want to carry out any home improvements, you must contact your Housing Management Officer and request permission. You must get permission before you start. We will not permit you to carry out any work on asbestos-containing materials because this could put people’s health at risk
Do not drill, cut, scrape or sand materials if you suspect they may contain Asbestos. Bear in mind Asbestos can be found in textured paints, floor tiles, boarding and many other materials.
If you are unsure, are concerned about asbestos or want to ask permission to carry out home improvements call 01623 463463
Over the next few years MDC plan to undertake surveys to each of your homes to identify any asbestos inside your home
For information regarding any known items of Asbestos in your home or to request a survey of your property contact the Housing Management Officer for your area or email asbestos@mansfield.gov.uk. You can also download the Asbestos in your home leaflet for further advice and guidance.