Q: I've heard 'one fibre can kill' - is this true? A: This is a phrase attributed to John Selwyn Gummer in an address to parliament in 1983 and is not strictly true. However, there is no known safe dose of asbestos exposure. If someone is susceptible then it is theoretically possible that a single fibre could cause illness:
Q: Is asbestos still used today?
A: The importation of white asbestos into the UK has been banned since 1999. Brown and blue asbestos imports ceased in the 1980s. However significant quantities still remain in-situ within buildings.
Q: I'm not sure if I have asbestos in the place where I work, what do I need to do?
A: The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (Regulation 4) places an explicit duty on those who are responsible for a property to manage the asbestos within it. The first thing you should consider is to have a survey undertaken which will identify exactly where asbestos materials are located and which will also assess the risk from these materials.