ISQ can help reduce the risk of asbestos in the business sector

In Portugal there are about 3739 public buildings containing asbestos, a highly carcinogenic product, which every year kills more than 100,000 people worldwide. THE ISQ is distinguished as one of the few national companies that contributes to the reduction of the impact of this problem, due to its technical knowledge in carrying out the inspection and measurement of the asbestos removal process. ISQ assesses the risk of exposure of this material, both at the level of public buildings (including schools) and in private buildings, by monitoring works to remove asbestos materials – before, during and after the work carried out. ISQ has extensive technicians with extensive experience to support public, private, insurance and private companies in assessing the risk of asbestos in materials, surfaces and air through accredited sampling and testing. Maria Manuel Farinha, Head of the Department of Environment and Safety of ISQ stresses that ISQ "also supports in the process of asbestos removal in the following phases: preparation of the specifications, analysis of proposals, preparation of documents for ACT (Authority for Working Conditions) in the definition of the sampling plan for the presence of asbestos in the Work, monitoring and supervision of the work in order to ensure compliance with legal requirements." According to the WHO, exposure to asbestos can cause lung diseases such as pleural plaques, asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, as well as ovarian cancer, laryngeal cancer or gastrointestinal cancer. According to the Ministry of the Environment, only 13% of the 3739 public buildings with asbestos are considered a priority. Between 2017 and 2018, some 296 buildings were intervened. For 2019, interventions are planned in 416 buildings, with an investment estimated at 33.89 million euros. However, it has already been proven by the World Health Organization (WHO) that asbestos is a carcinogenic product for humans and there is no safe limit to its exposure. And although the European Union banned the use, manufacture and marketing of all asbestos fibres in 2005 due to their carcinogenic effect, the removal of what is already applied was not defined as mandatory. Asbestos is a natural fiber with good physical and chemical properties, such as mechanical resistance to high temperatures, good insulating quality, durability, indestructibility and ease of being worked as a fabric, in addition to the low cost. This component has been incorporated into about 3,000 different materials and even today we can find it in traditional construction roofs, false ceilings, various materials in fiber cement such as flushing or water supply pipes, carpets, wallpaper, or even in common appliances such as toasters and hair dryers. It was a component widely used also as thermal and acoustic insulation namely in trains, ships, heating boilers, in factories, schools, hospitals, museums, courts.