Blog

Following a number of recent incidents whereby rail workers have come close to unintentionally disturbing asbestos containing materials (ACMs) within buildings and rolling stock, it is essential that sufficient information regarding the potential location of asbestos is recorded prior to any demolition, repair and refurbishment works taking place. With this in mind, it is equally important for rail workers to know what to do if an ACM is disturbed, while also being aware of the health risks associated with the inhalation of asbestos fibres.…

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As a key accounts administrator, Nichola Hayes is instrumental to the smooth running of SOCOTEC’s Asbestos team, ensuring that the business unit consistently delivers a high standard of service to its clients. In this blog, Nicky discusses how working for SOCOTEC has broadened her level of expertise within the asbestos sector, and how effective time management and showing good initiative are considered key attributes for the role.…

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Denis Morgan has worked as a divisional technical manager within SOCOTEC’s Asbestos team for the last 18 years. In this blog, he discusses the various challenges he faces in his role, as well as outlining some of the highest profile projects he has worked on during the course of his career.…

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This five-piece series will offer an overview into some of the key roles within SOCOTEC’s Asbestos division and how they work within the business.…

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While the use and production of new asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) has been banned in the UK since 1999, a large proportion of railway infrastructure still contains the fibrous mineral. Used in the construction and maintenance of trains and locomotive components, the fire retardant and insulating properties of asbestos made it an ideal material for lining carriage walls, lagging pipe work, brake pads, packing piston cylinders, boilers and heating systems. Prior to any planned building work on trains/buildings, duty holders are required to undertake a management, refurbishment or demolition survey, dependent on the nature of the construction taking place. These often require samples of ACMs to determine the extent of the risk of asbestos exposure. Specific procedures have therefore been put in place to ensure that each sample is analysed as accurately and precisely as possible.…

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The risk of asbestos goes beyond the presence of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) in buildings. Due to its strength and heat resistant properties, asbestos has been widely used in many products and objectives for hundreds of years.…

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Up until its ban in 1999, asbestos was used widely for its insulating and fire resistant properties - with use in the rail industry no exception. Buildings in the rail sector as well as the train rolling stock were – and continue to be - commonplace for asbestos containing materials.!…

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Cheap, durable and flexible with excellent insulation and fireproofing agents, asbestos was used extensively throughout the 1900s until its ban in 1999. Due to its popularity, asbestos containing materials (ACMs) can still be found in a wide range of locations, including those you may not even think of.…

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With the HSE estimating that at least 5,000 people die every year from an asbestos-related cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibres at work, raising awareness about asbestos exposure is still – if not more - as important now as ever before.…

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The ports and docks of Great Britain have always been an important entry point for the materials and products that helped to build the country. Since 1940, it was through these docks and ports that saw the import of over 5,000,000 tonnes of raw asbestos fibre into the country.…

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