One problem.... asbestos kills people
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About 4000 people die every year in Great Britain - That's more people than are killed in road accidents
- You can't see it, taste it or smell it
- You won't know you have been exposed to it
Asbestos is difficult to identify. Often referred to by colour, this refers to its raw mineral state and you cannot generally tell the type of asbestos by simply looking at it.
For building use, asbestos is usually mixed with another material, for example, board, insulation or coatings, which often look similar to other materials. In addition, asbestos-containing materials are often covered or placed behind other building materials, so it's hard to know if you're working with it or not. But, if you work in a building built before the year 2000, it's likely that some parts of the building will contain asbestos.
