Asbestos Sampling and Identification
Asbestos Sampling and Identification
Asbestos sampling is crucial to identify materials containing asbestos, which can release harmful fibres when disturbed, posing serious health risks like lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. At the peak of asbestos usage, it was estimated over 3000 different items contained asbestos fibre.
Sampling for presence of asbestos ensures safety during construction or renovation, enables compliance with legal regulations, and allows for accurate identification and proper management of asbestos-containing materials. By confirming its presence early, asbestos sampling helps protect workers, occupants, and the environment while facilitating safe and cost-effective handling or removal.
Not everyone can identify asbestos because it is not always visually distinguishable from other materials. Asbestos is often mixed with other substances in building materials like insulation, ceiling tiles, flooring, and cement, making it impossible to confirm its presence without specialized testing. Certified professionals use techniques like polarized light microscopy (PLM) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to analyse samples in a laboratory. This expertise ensures accurate results and safe handling, as disturbing materials without confirmation can release hazardous asbestos fibres into the air, posing significant health risks.
Asbestos Containing Materials:
HAZCON can provide asbestos identification services from a NATA accredited asbestos laboratory. Non-friable asbestos samples can be collected and delivered to HAZCON in sealed labelled containers for analysis. Samples should be approximately half the size of your palm. We do not recommend the taking of friable asbestos samples, such as pipe lagging, due to the increased level of risk involved.
Download an asbestos sampling procedure HAZCON’s Chain of Custody (COC) form which you can use when providing samples to HAZCON for identification.
Asbestos in Soil:
It is not uncommon for asbestos to have been left behind in soil after demolition or renovation work. HAZCON can also provide asbestos sample identification services for soil samples. We can also provide advice on a contamination remediation plan.
If you would like more information or a quote for a HSE Consultant to visit your site and take a sample, or conduct a visual clearance inspection please Contact Us
Contact Us for a QuoteDownload the Asbestos containing material sampling procedure and HAZCON’s Chain of Custody (COC) form which you can use when providing samples to HAZCON for identification.
