There are several different types of asbestos, including blue, brown and white. White asbestos, also known as chrysotile, is the most common form – in the past it was often mixed with cement to make building materials.
Pure white asbestos is less dangerous than blue or brown, but if you disturb it, it can release fibres which may damage the lungs if inhaled.
How to recognise white asbestos
In most circumstances, white asbestos is hardened and fibrous. It’s usually light grey or off-white in colour. If you’re working on insulation boards, roof sheeting or older vehicles, and see flaking or powdering where unpainted surfaces are worn, cracked or damaged, this could be white asbestos.
Where on farms white asbestos can be found
You may find white asbestos has been used on your farm:
as an insulating material around pipes or boilers, or in panels between wallboards
as a friction pad in brake linings – e.g in old farm vehicles
in corrugated sheeting material, e.g in a roof
in products made from asbestos cement
Work that could disturb white asbestos
You could expose or disturb white asbestos if you’re:
repairing or replacing mechanical parts, like clutch or brake linings on an old vehicle
removing or working on hot water systems with insulated pipes or boilers
drilling or sawing roof or wall panels, eg if you’re rewiring or installing fans or heaters
demolishing old buildings, roofs or walls
drilling, cutting or breaking asbestos cement
Containing white asbestos when it’s on your farm
You should take special care when moving, sawing, drilling or breaking any structures which contain white asbestos.
You can reduce the risk of releasing hazardous fibres by:
using hand tools instead of power tools
handling asbestos carefully and not breaking it, where possible
making sure anyone working with asbestos wears a face mask and disposable overalls
cleaning up waste after the work is finished avoiding the use of a sweeping brush when cleaning up – it may spread the fibres
Find out more about using asbestos safely at your workplace
What to do if you expose asbestos
Making an asbestos management plan
If there’s any type of asbestos in a property on your premises that isn’t your home, you must make an asbestos management plan. http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/managing/index.htm This should show how you intend to control the risk posed by the asbestos. Asbestos waste must be treated as hazardous waste.
Containing asbestos fibres
You may have to have repairs done to stop white asbestos fibres being released. For example, you could replace an old roof or brake lining with a new one that doesn’t contain asbestos, or use a sealant on a cracked piece of sheeting.
Transporting asbestos
If you want to move any type of asbestos waste for disposal, you must use a registered waste carrier, or register as a waste carrier and move it yourself.
Moving asbestos waste yourself
Find out how to register as a waste carrier. https://www.gov.uk/waste-carrier-or-broker-registration If you dump asbestos waste illegally, you can be taken to court, prosecuted, and fined or jailed.
Hiring someone to move asbestos waste
If you hire someone to move waste asbestos, you must make sure that they are registered as a waste carrier. To do this, you can:
check to see the original copy of their registration certificate
talk to the Environment Agency to get an authorised copy card
check the Environment Agency’s public register to see if they have a valid registration
You must also make sure that they take the waste to a site that has a permit to receive it. You’ll be held responsible if your contractor doesn’t dispose of waste asbestos legally.
Paperwork you need
You must complete a consignment note and make sure it travels with any hazardous waste that’s taken away from your premises. Your consignment note must record the details of the waste you’re sending for disposal. The consignment note has 5 parts and the different people or businesses involved in moving the waste must fill these in. Find out how to fill out consignment notes. You should also classify your waste in a document that travels with it.
How to package dangerous asbestos for transport
Some asbestos waste can be dangerous when you transport it, for example if it’s shedding loose fibres. You must make sure any asbestos you’re moving is packaged in a way that doesn’t pose a risk to humans or the environment.
Disposing of asbestos
You can only dispose of asbestos at a waste transfer facility that has a permit or a landfill site with dedicated asbestos disposal areas. If you’re disposing of construction material that contains asbestos at a landfill site for non-hazardous waste, the site must have a permit to receive, store and dispose of the waste.
Recycling or treating asbestos waste
If you want to treat or recycle asbestos waste, you must get an environmental permit.
