When dealing with asbestos, health and safety should be at the pinnacle of all practices where it is involved. In Ireland, there are many legal requirements around the handling of asbestos that must be met to prevent the danger of exposure from asbestos and any asbestos containing materials, such as the Chemicals Regulations 2011.

With the early uses in building materials throughout Ireland as insulators, and their known advantage to resist heat and offer protection from fires, asbestos containing materials are popular in most buildings older than the year 2000.

Asbestos containing materials have not been used on construction sites in Ireland since they were banned in the year 2000. However, due to countless past applications in many different building materials, special consideration is always needed when it comes to disturbing, removing, and disposing of any building substance that was made prior to this time period.

As an aggressive form of cancer nearly exclusively caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibres, Mesothelioma is a lethal disease and extremely difficult to treat. In learning how to prevent Mesothelioma, the best course of action is in prevention itself. In other words, the best preventative measures mean avoiding asbestos exposure altogether.

In Ireland, it is a requirement that workers exposed to asbestos on a regular basis be trained in the identification and the handling of all materials that potentially contains asbestos.

Inside every building in Ireland, there is an ecosystem of its own. Whether you live in a home with pets, or plants, or a large family, the air quality of your home environment affects every living thing in your house. It can be shocking how much indoor air quality can impact your health.

In Ireland, and throughout Europe, the risk of asbestos exposure is an ongoing issue. Contact with asbestos is the leading cause of Mesothelioma cancer, a type of cancer that aggressively attacks the lungs and abdomen. Illnesses caused by asbestos exposure most commonly occur in a work environment, and even as a result of secondhand exposure.

Renovating your home in Ireland can be an exciting time, but it also comes with a load of responsibilities. The planning you put into the project will help you to be prepared for potential obstacles, like unforeseen expenses. Keep in mind there are also many other hindrances that can arise, like unreliable tradesman, inclement weather, or discovering hazardous materials like asbestos. It’s wise to have a contingency plan in place for unpredictable situations that may occur.

Asbestos is still very much a relevant issue for many businesses in Ireland. In recent news, following an incident where people were unnecessarily exposed to asbestos in November of 2013, and it was reported to the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI), the company was fined £1,000 plus costs of £800.

Asbestos must be properly managed to prevent exposure and any future threat of asbestos related diseases. In relation to asbestos companies and their duty in Ireland, there are various levels of responsibility. If you are accountable for maintenance and repair for any non-domestic premises, you directly have a legal duty to manage the risk from asbestos.