If you work in a trade such as demolition and those in the refurbishment, maintenance and similar trades where it is foreseeable that your work will disturb the structure of the building, asbestos awareness training for all staff is essential!
Here at Envirochem we can provide full awareness training courses at both our premises. Find out more:
For more information call us on 01329 287 777 or fill out the form below;
Lead in paint your home – what you need to know
Was your home built before 1978? If so there is a good chance it has lead-based paint. Lead paint is still present in millions of homes and sometimes under layers of newer paint. Here’s what you need to know if you find lead paint in your home.
Lead paint is usually not a problem, providing that the paint is in good shape. Deteriorating lead-based paint – for example peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, damaged or damp – is however a hazard and will need immediate attention.
Where is it found?
As well as being found under layers of newer paints, it can also be hazardous when found on surfaces that get a lot of wear-and-tear. For example windows and window sills, doors and door frames, stairs, railings, banisters, skirting boards and porches.
Lead is naturally occurring, and can be found in high concentrations in some areas for example soil, gardens and playgrounds.
In a well-maintained home, lead in dust can still be an issue. When lead-based paint is scraped, canned or heated during DIY activities lead dust can form.
Lead can also be found in many products including, painted toys, furniture, toy jewellery, food or liquid containers, cosmetic and plumbing products.
Drinking water can also be affected by lead, it can enter drinking water through corrosed pipes.
Who’s at risk?
Children and adults, including pregnant women, are at risk from lead poisoning. Lead is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do. Children’s brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.
A pregnant woman’s exposure to lead is of particular concern because it can result in exposure to her developing baby.
How to lower the risk from lead paint and make your home safe
There are many simple steps that will go a long way in preventing lead exposure, for example:
How Envirochem can help with lead paint
It is important to have your home tested for lead if it was built before 1978. There are two ways to get your home checked, the first is a paint inspection.
We have 25 years experience in assessing chemical risks in buildings. When our team conducts a paint inspection, they are able to tell you the lead content of every different type of painted surface in your home. However from a paint inspection we are unable to tell you if the paint is a hazard. This test is appropriate when you are buying or renting a homeland before you do any DIY, and will help you to determine how to maintain your house for lead safety.
The second test that our team can carry out for your home is a risk assessment. This test allows our team to tell you if there are any sources of serious lead exposure such as peeling paint and lead dust. We will then provide you with information on what actions to take to address the hazards.
Get in touch with our team today to discover how our services can help keep you safe.
Workers were not informed about the presence and dangers of asbestos during the refurbishment of a property in the Salisbury area. This resulted in a combined fee of approximately £15,000 due to the exposure. HSE have stressed that asbestos is still a very real threat killing thousands a year.
For the full story click here
If you have any questions about Asbestos or Envirochem’s services please fill in the form below
Two Northamptonshire companies have been fined for asbestos related safety failings, after an HSE inspection revealed they did not have an up to date asbestos register, or a refurbishment/demolition survey carried out prior to starting building work. In doing so they put employees at risk of asbestos exposure for some time, work on site was immediately stopped to prevent any further damage.
For the full story click here
Envirochem undertake Management and Major Refurbishment/Demolition Asbestos Surveys in accordance with our UKAS accreditation based upon HSE Guidance Note Asbestos: The survey guide (HSG 264). We also undertake Re-inspection Surveys of buildings which have previously undergone Management Asbestos Surveys.
For a quotation, or for more information, please contact us below, or call us on 01329287777
