Cancer causing fibers
These are very dangerous fibers, they are in fact like fish hooks that are impossible to retrieve from lung tissue, so once you breathe these fibers into your lungs you are set on the road to getting lung cancer.
Unbeknown to you, you could be walking or jogging innocently along the road and these fibers could be floating in the air due to degrading asbestos roofs in your area.
Worse yet, your kids could be exposed to these dangerous fibers at school because most schools have had asbestos roofs installed many years ago.
As the sun, rain and wind deteriote the integrity of the roof sheeting, loose fibers fly into the air and can cause terrible consequences.
Factory workers are not shielded from this danger either, or farm workers, or government buildings etc. That is why this new law has been implemented.
Download a copy of the Government Gazette here.
Watch video on cancer danger of Asbestos here...
Asbestos Roofing
If your house was built using asbestos sheeting then you stand to be at risk and the wise and lawful action is to ensure that it does not contribute to health hazards for you, your family or your neighbours. It is dangerous, no matter the date your roof was installed.
In this video (left) you can see a few demonstrations of what the asbestos roof looks like. As advised by anyone who is working to solve the asbestos roofing or asbestos tiling problem it is better to allow professionals to safely remove the asbestos sheeting because it can cause more damage to your health if you attempt to remove them yourself.
Dangers of inhaling Asbestos Fibres
As more and more information is being provided to the public about the dangers of having asbestos roofing, asbestos sheeting or simply applied in vents at schools as part of sealants we begin to understand just how potent these tiny fibres really can be.
If you have never seen the scientific explanation as to what really happens, here is a quick video to show you the effects of such a tiny asbestos fibre.
Where can I find Asbestos?
We have complied a short list of various places you could potentially have asbestos in your home...
- Attic and wall insulation produced containing vermiculite
- Corrugated roofing or sheeting
- Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives
- Roofing and siding shingles have also been known to contain asbestos
- Textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings
- Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets
- Hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape
- Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets with asbestos insulation
- Heat-resistant fabrics
- Gutters
What locations in South Africa would we find Asbestos Roof Sheeting?
Other places you could find asbestos is:
- Schools - the school roof tends to be a well documented location as well as vents, gutters and base boards that circle around the roof
- Residential areas like homes, housing complexes, apartments and granny flats
- Industrial areas like warehouses, office buildings and other storage facilities
- Old abandoned homes are the most likely to have damaged or broken asbestos roofs or walls that pose an immense health hazard to the neighboring residents.
Remember...
Do NOT attempt to remove any asbestos sheeting, roofing, walls or gutters by yourself. Get a professional Asbestos Assessor and contractor to come assess your residence and determine the best course of action to take.
How do we fix this problem?
AsbestoKote has been formulated to fix this problem at a reasonable price with maximum efficacy.
We have over forty years of intense experience in the protective coatings field and have invented major solutions to the many problems faced by industry in this country.
AsbestoKote is a major breakthrough formulation to seal and encapsulate a fibrous surface such as asbestos roof sheeting and many other materials of a similar nature.
There is a very specific protocol when treating an asbestos roof and we know exactly how to help you achieve legal approval for your roof.
See also our primary website on this matter at this link KOTE
