Asbestos has been mined in South Africa since 1930 and was a popular material used in over 3000 different products in the building and engineering industries over more than a century. Asbestos exposure resulted in many deaths as a result of diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Although the use of asbestos in new work has been banned in South Africa since 2008, there are many asbestos containing materials (ACMs) that are still in use today.

Employees may unknowingly be exposed to asbestos during maintenance, decorating, renovating or even demolishing of redundant plant equipment and buildings. Injudicious disturbance of asbestos may contaminate workplaces, which may present a serious health risk to employees, occupants or even members of the public.

Asbestos may, for example, be present in fibre cement products, roof sheeting, gutters, water tanks, decorative textured coating on ceilings, in boiler and pipe lagging, or as thermal, acoustic or fire retardant insulation.

AirCHECK is an Approved Asbestos Inspection Authority with over 30 years’ experience to manage any type of asbestos project. We provide independent supervision during asbestos removal and demolition projects, which reduces the risk of potential exposure and building contamination.

We offer the following asbestos services to ensure that asbestos projects are completed within the shortest time possible and that costs are kept as low as possible.

• Drafting of written safe work procedure for type 1 asbestos work.
• Drafting and approval of asbestos plan of work for type 2 and type 3 asbestos work in terms of Regulation 15 of the Asbestos Abatement Regulations.
• Notification of the Department of Employment and Labour as required in terms of Regulation 10 of the Asbestos Abatment Regulations.
• Background or reassurance sampling.
• Leak testing / perimeter sampling.
• Personal sampling to assess the suitability of respiratory protection.
• Clearance indicator sampling for site reoccupation certification.