Preventing the risk of asbestos during renovations
Asbestos is found in many buildings in Switzerland. If this is released in an uncontrolled manner during renovation work, it can pose a health risk. The "Together against asbestos" initiative aims to prevent this by providing information and ultimately by ensuring that all those involved act responsibly.
Buildings built before 1990 are likely to contain asbestos. This applies to three quarters of properties in Switzerland, according to the Forum Asbestos Switzerland writes. This is because asbestos was used in a variety of ways until it was banned in 1990 and is still used in many houses today, sometimes even concealed. Due to the age of these buildings, they are increasingly in need of renovation. Climate policy is also promoting energy-efficient building renovations. Repair work after a storm or planned renovations of older facilities could also lead to asbestos-containing material that was previously safely installed being worked on. This means that refurbishments are increasingly becoming the focus of asbestos prevention.
Asbestos assessment is mandatory
An asbestos assessment is therefore mandatory prior to conversion and renovation work in older buildings. However, during unannounced spot checks of construction work on site, Suva found that in many cases these investigations had not been carried out, according to the Forum. An investigation is necessary in order to know whether and where asbestos is present. Only then could the necessary protective measures be taken. If asbestos remains undetected, it could lead to an uncontrolled release of asbestos fibers and pose a health risk to tradesmen and DIY enthusiasts. According to the forum, contamination of the premises could also expose tenants and homeowners to an asbestos risk. Even today, more than 150 people die every year in Switzerland as a result of asbestos exposure. If asbestos is not recognized, this also leads to incorrect disposal of building rubble.
Protection against asbestos begins with planning
According to the forum, health hazards caused by asbestos can be avoided with the right planning. In order for this to succeed, all parties involved in a renovation are responsible. Through their actions and transparent communication, all those involved can help to ensure that materials containing asbestos are handled correctly, according to the forum. With the "Together against asbestos" initiative, Forum Asbestos Switzerland and other partner organizations (Swiss Homeowners Association, Swiss Federal Office of Energy, etc.) want to raise awareness among the various stakeholders of the risk of asbestos exposure and encourage them to act correctly. The most important information on the topic and what to think about when renovating can be found on forum-asbest.ch to find. According to the information provided, the site also lists recommended contact addresses for asbestos investigation and remediation by location (building pollutant diagnosticians, analytical laboratories, asbestos remediation companies).
