November 2014 © ISQ
The problematic issue of asbestos
Is the asbestos in private buildings less harmful than that in public buildings? Are the diseases caused by this chemical agent only harmful to workers directly exposed to materials containing asbestos?
ISQ attended the 4th Asbestos Forum and 2nd Hazardous Substances Forum which took place on the 23rd October at ISLA in Vila Nova de Gaia. At the forum issues were discussed such as the existing differentiation in legislative terms with regard to the compulsory identification of materials containing asbestos in public vs private buildings and the need to broaden this identification requirement and subsequent risk assessment to all buildings within the national territory.
The existence of illnesses caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres such as malignant mesothelioma are not associated with the level of occupational exposure but merely with exposure. It is necessary to carry out an exhaustive inspection of every building to collect solid samples of materials suspected of containing asbestos in their composition and, in the case of the presence of asbestos fibres, to classify their potential for releasing fibres and to carry out air sampling for their respective quantification. Only after this study has been carried out will it be possible to establish intervention priorities and select the best solutions to be adopted, between conservation and maintenance (with the respective regular control of fibres in the air) or even the removal of the materials.
ISQ has experience in this area of risk assessment of exposure to asbestos, both in public buildings (such as schools) and private buildings, and in monitoring removal works of materials containing asbestos (before, during and after the works performed).
