Asbestos
Information about Poole Housing Partnership's responsibilities.
Mention asbestos and the majority of people begin to worry. It is a well known fact that asbestos-related diseases can kill, but did you know that as long as it is in good condition and is not disturbed or damaged there is no risk to your health?
In fact, the people most at risk from asbestos are not our residents, but those who will have to disturb it as part of their work activities (e.g. plumbers, electricians etc).
The reason Poole Housing Partnership have employed both AA Woods and Ethos Environmental is that many of our properties do contain asbestos in some form an other.
At Poole Housing Partnership, we take seriously our responsibilities for identifying, assessing and managing the risks from asbestos in your home and all of our properties across Poole.
Asbestos materials can most commonly be found in housing stock constructed during the period 1950s to 1980s.
Common locations can include:
Decorative textured coatings (old artex materials)
Floor tiles
Panelling/boarding
Roofing slates and felts
Bin chutes
Its not just the building fabric either - asbestos can crop up in acoustic sink patches and even in toilet cisterns!
We need to safely remove any asbestos materials that may be present in your home, so that the rest of our contractors are not at risk when they come to install new kitchens, bathroom and doors, etc.
Although asbestos can cause alarm, it is important to remember that it is usually present in a house without presenting any real health risk to the occupants.
What's going to happen?
Ethos Environmental are responsible for taking samples from areas that may be disturbed by other works that are due to happen at your home. So, if you're getting a new kitchen, a surveyor from Ethos will make an appointment to come to your home and take tiny samples from areas that may be affected when the kitchen fitters come in.
The sample is then analysed in a lab to see if it contains any asbestos-related materials. If the result comes back as positive, we will ask AA Woods to make an appointment to undertake removal works at your home. The work will involve their team of qualified removal experts coming in to carefully remove the asbestos that has been found.
We will try to minimise the disruption to you whilst carrying out the works however, you're your own safety, you will not be able to go into the rooms that AA Woods are working in whilst the asbestos is being dealt with. Chrissie Quin, AA Woods' Tenants Liaison Officer, will discuss this with you when booking an appointment.
If the test result comes back as negative, it means that no asbestos is present in that area of your home, and the works can take place without involving AA Woods.
Meet The Team At AA Woods
AA Woods have been operating throughout the UK since 1994. We are specialists in the field of asbestos abatement works which quite simply means that we can deal with all of your needs with well trained and dedicated members of staff.
Kevin Harkin
Contracts Manager
Kevin is responsible for organising the works for you. He will make sure that all the works in your home run smoothly.
Meet The Team At Ethos Environmental
Ethos Environmental Ltd is licensed by the UK Health and Safety Executive and will be maintaining a full-time presence in the Poole area during the 5-year re-investment programme. You should therefore be assured as to the steps PHP are taking - over and above regulatory requirements - to ensure the safety of tenants at all times during the re-investment programme.
Roy Davis
Area Manager
Roy co-ordinates the asbestos works across the Borough and liaises with AA Woods for asbestos works.
Glenn Bancroft
Surveyor
Glenn will come to your home to take samples, prior to any other contract works taking place.