It may be liquid, such as dielectric oils or solid when mixed with mastic in expansion joints. It can also be mixed in paints as an elasticiser.
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ALL THE QUESTIONS
What form does PCB take?
What scope must the pre-work asbestos and PCB diagnosis cover?
The pre-work diagnosis must cover all of the areas affected (or likely to be affected) by the work activity and be issued without reservations, but there is for example no need to analyse the whole apartment if work is just being carried out in the bathroom.
What should I do if I just want to drill a small hole in tiling?
Either avoid drilling the hole by using a suction cup, or get a specialist company to drill the hole using a drill with a dust collector vacuum attachment. Training is available to allow standard companies to perform this type of minor work.
Which works are problematic?
All work activity that creates dust from materials that may contain asbestos. Beware, simply handling dusty asbestos materials produces dust that is invisible to the human eye.
Why is there lead in paint?
It was used due to its hydrophobic and waterproofing characteristics. It also increases the opacity of paints (meaning less coats are needed) and is therefore not only present in gloss paints.
Will glass wool not pose the same problems as asbestos?
No, even if the material may appear similar, glass wool is made up of fibres with a larger diameter than those that make up asbestos. They also do not have the same level of toxicity and can be eliminated by the body.
I live in a flat from the nineteen-eighties in which a water leak has been detected. . A company appointed by the property manager has carried out repair work in my bathroom that produced dust in my home when breaking part of the tiling.
a. What are the health risks for me and my family?
The presence of asbestos in buildings built before 1991 cannot be excluded without an analysis. If the tiling adhesive contained asbestos, asbestos fibres will have been released during the work. The health risk increases with exposure to asbestos fibres (unless the tiler took the appropriate measures, otherwise it should have been a specialist company)
b. What should I say to my property manager?
The Service de toxicologie de l'environnement bâti (Built Environment Toxicology Department) for the State of Geneva will contact your property manager to determine how to handle the situation (performance of pre-work diagnosis, the potential presence of asbestos, decontamination of the accommodation).
What are the minimum requirements for an asbestos removal company from Vaud to carry out work in Geneva?
The minimum requirements for carrying out work in the Canton of Geneva are:
- The company must be registered on the SUVA lists.
- The company must refer to the "Removing asbestos directive" (directive amiante assainissement) issued by the STEB (see the legal databases on www.ge.ch).
Does the STEB systematically inspect worksites?
The STEB occasionally inspects worksites before work begins. Worksites are selected according to criteria such as the surrounding environment, the type of worksite, and the nature of the work activity. The STEB also intervenes in the event of complaints.
I intend to remove a floor covering containing asbestos following the instructions on the SUVA sheet. Can I apply this method in Geneva?
No, (or yes in part), the SUVA requirements only cover protecting workers and do not take into account protecting the population and the environment. "Removing asbestos directive" (directive amiante assainissement) issued by the STEB must be applied in addition to the SUVA sheet.
