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Asbestos – be careful, very very careful

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Steve has written in asking the following:

Hi, a piece of land that I’ve just purchased has an old shed on it. I think it’s a Nissen hut from back in the day. I’m told these are made of asbestos, so I need to know the best way to deal with it. Thanks.- Steve

Steve, thanks for the question. There’s no subject that has as much misinformation about it as asbestos. OK, here’s my opinion:

  1. Asbestos is NOT dangerous unless it is flaking/falling apart.
  2. Asbestos is best left alone unless it is in disrepair.

OK, so assuming your shelter is asbestos (most Nissen huts were corrugated iron) – here’s what you need to do;

  1. Get yourself a good mask and pair of plastic gloves
  2. Check the state of the asbestos parts of the hut.

If the asbestos is in good condition, there is no need to do anything further except to make regular inspections (I suggest fully inspecting the building every six months or so).

If the asbestos is in poor condition, it MUST be removed by a licensed contractor. It is important that you do NOT attempt to remove it yourself. These licensed contractors will be aware of all laws regarding asbestos removal and will have specialist techniques and equipment.

You can find a list of all the licensed contractors in your area by using the HSE Asbestos website. The contractor will be able to determine the exact state of your problems and let you know whether or not further action needs to be taken.

In general – LET THE EXPERTS DEAL WITH IT.

Hope this helps you out a bit, Steve.

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