Key facts
- Barns, sheds and livestock buildings often have asbestos cement roofs.
- Old roofs can be fragile. Falls through them are a well-known cause of serious injury on farms.
- Asbestos waste cannot be burned, buried or dumped on the farm.
Where asbestos is found on farms
- Corrugated cement roofs on barns, grain stores and machinery sheds
- Wall cladding on livestock buildings
- Cement water tanks, flues, gutters and downpipes
- Roofs of old outbuildings and workshops
The roof may be fragile
Old asbestos cement sheets can become brittle with age and weather. Never walk on the roof or lean a ladder on it. Using proper access and edge protection is part of every job we plan.
Livestock, feed and the working area
- Animals and feed should be moved away from the building before work starts.
- The work area is marked off so people stay clear.
- Stored machinery and materials can be covered or moved out.
Legal waste disposal
Asbestos waste must go to a permitted site. Burning, burying or dumping it on the farm is not an option. The sheets are wrapped, labelled and carried away by a licensed carrier, and you receive the paperwork.
Replacing the roof
After removal, a new roof is often fitted straight away so the building is weatherproof again. Ask for the removal and the new roof to be priced together.
Your duty as a farm business
Farm buildings are non-domestic, so the duty to manage asbestos applies. Knowing where it is and its condition helps you plan the work before a roof fails.