Defra has published advice for farmers on how to remove and dispose of white asbestos, and what you must do if you find it on your farm or on your land.
White asbestos, also known as chrysotile, is the most common form - in the past it was often mixed with cement to make building materials.
Pure white asbestos is less dangerous than blue or brown, but if you disturb it, it can release fibres which may damage the lungs if inhaled.
How to recognise white asbestos: In most circumstances, white asbestos is hardened and fibrous. It’s usually light grey or off-white in colour.
If you’re working on insulation boards, roof sheeting or older vehicles, and see flaking or powdering where unpainted surfaces are worn, cracked or damaged, this could be white asbestos.
You may find white asbestos has been used on your farm: As an insulating material around pipes or boilers, or in panels between wallboards.
As a friction pad in brake linings - eg in old farm vehicles.
In corrugated sheeting material, eg in a roof.
In products made from asbestos cement.
The advice includes what work that could expose or disturb white asbestos and how to reduce the risk of releasing hazardous fibres .
For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/white-asbestos-how-farmers-should-handle-and-dispose-of-it
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