Auntie Asbestos meets Tony Birchall….

Auntie asbestos meets Tony Birchall

Well darlings, here I am with Mr Tony Birchall, Health & Safety Manager here at Fibre and I have to say, what a dresser. One assumes Health & Safety peps are a little boring but judging by Mr Birchall’s bright patterned shirt, he’s not afraid of colour.

Ok, I’m going to ask you a few questions so my followers can get to know you a little better., let’s go, don’t worry I don’t bite, darling…

What is your favourite drink?

Water, but if it’s alcohol it has to be San Miguel.

What is your favourite biscuit?

I don’t do biscuits I’m afraid.

How did you get to work in the asbestos industry?

My parent’s started their own asbestos stripping business in 1984 and I used to answer the phone during the summer holidays whilst still at school.

Name one interesting fact that you don’t think I would know about asbestos? 

If you were an ugly baby, asbestos would have been applied to your face instead of your bum (talcum powder). 

Is asbestos still a relevant problem?

Asbestos is an escalating problem with an increasing amount of people dying each year as a result of exposure to asbestos.

If you could change into anyone for the day who would that be?

Kate Winslet’s boyfriend! Only joking, to be honest I’m fine as I am. 

Do you like fish? 

I ate it raw in Iceland (and I don’t mean the Supermarket).

How long have you been in the asbestos industry?

I have worked in the asbestos industry for 16 years now. I have been an asbestos removal operative, Supervisor, Analyst and Operations Manager in a Supervisory Licence capacity. I did all this as I was studying health and safety management at more senior level.

Have you ever met anyone with more knowledge than you about asbestos?

Yes, my father Ron Birchall.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

New Zealand.

Tony on his way now, he left quite quickly really, was hoping we could of had a nice brew together. Well I feel I know Tony so much better now, what a pleasure I had meeting him, maybe he’ll take me for a drink as I think I look a little like an older Kate Winslet too with better teeth!

Goodbye for now peps, next I’m onto Mr Mitton.

One’s Royal Asbestos Problem

As the Queen celebrates her jubilee this weekend, her asbestos nightmare is probably far from her mind, yet this is a current and real problem for The Queen due to the asbestos located in Buckingham Palace.

 

Asbestos in Buckingham Palace!

Many of you would never consider that asbestos would be a problem for the Queen, yet Buckingham Palace is one of many properties build before the asbestos ban was introduced and therefore much of the material used in the construction and refurbishment of buckingham Palace contains asbestos.

Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma, the deadly cancer that kills thousands of people each year. It can take anywhere from 10-50 years after exposure before symptoms appear. It normally attacks the lining around internal organs.

The £15 million annual grant from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, for maintenance of the royal residences, which was set in the 1990s, was frozen in 2008.

In 2008 it was detailed that Buckingham Palace had a £32 million backlog of essential repairs  which includes rewiring Buckingham Palace, replacing the roof at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, removing potentially dangerous asbestos from Buckingham Palace and redecorating most of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace for the first time since the Queen came to the throne in 1952. The only State Rooms at Windsor Castle which have been redecorated were the ones damaged by the fire in 1992.

Asbestos was also a problem for the younger Royals, when work began in 2011 at Kensington Palace on the future home of Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The last major renovation at the Palace in London was in 1960, at a time when asbestos use was at its peak. It was used for insulation, in floor and ceiling tiles, and throughout the aging Palace.

The palace originally was known as Nottingham House and has been in the Royal Family since 1689.  The residence was last used by Princess Margaret, who died in 2002.  A Palace official told People Magazine that William and Kate are not expecting to move in until the summer of 2013.

“Early indications suggest that large quantities of asbestos will have to be removed, as well as work on the heating and hot water systems and electrical wiring,” said the statement to People. “The extent of the work needed to turn the apartment back into a home is not yet known.”

The asbestos issue at the Palace is a positive for those wanting to raise awareness concerning the lethal substance, and the importance of abatement, the process of removing or containing asbestos.

The mineral, once considered so wonderful because of many heat and fire retardant properties, remains prevalent throughout products manufactured before 1980 and construction completed throughout the 20th century.

For more information about asbestos in homes or to speak with one of our expert, please contact our head office on 0113 3856640 or visit our website for further information www.fibreservices.co.uk.