Building inspectors
Building inspectors are at asbestos exposure risk as they have to often work in construction and renovation sites. There are numerous building inspectors in the country who have been suffering from various health issues caused by asbestos exposure. Thousands of tones of asbestos had been used in buildings in the past. Much of this is still present in those buildings and it is not easy to identify it from its appearance. In old buildings, asbestos was used as fire breaks in ceiling voids, thermal insulation of pipes and boilers, fire protection in ducts, firebreaks, panels, soffit boards, partitions around structural steel work and in ceiling panels. It was also used in cement products. The danger comes from cutting, drilling, sanding or disturbing materials made from asbestos and breathing in the dust. Almost all buildings built before 1990 are likely to have some asbestos in them. Before starting a renovation job in these buildings, premises will need an examination by a trained professional. If asbestos is present anywhere, it should be cleaned up by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. This is very important because if a building with asbestos is demolished, massive quantities of asbestos fibres become airborne. The fibres are very slight and easily inhalable. They have high resistance to chemical dissolution and so they will endure for a long time. Harmful effects only appear after decades of latency.