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Asbestos in the workplace is seen by many as the ‘dormant devil’.
As there is often a delay of 15 to 60 years from the time of exposure to the onset of the asbestos related disease – Government, safety experts and businesses all recognise the need to manage asbestos with the upmost care.
Asbestos regulations explained
The EU Asbestos Worker Protection Directive generated new “Control of Asbestos Regulations” in the UK, in November 2006.
• The "Control of Asbestos Regulations" combines three previous pieces of legislation:
• The Control of Asbestos and Work Regulations 2002 (CAW)
• The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 (ASLIC)
• The Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992 (Prohibitions Regulations)
The new regulations have introduced a new lower control limit. The regulations now require mandatory training in the handling of and exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos Safety – issues to consider
There are several important issues when assessing asbestos hazards and performing asbestos risk assessments.
Asbestos Surveying Explained
A core part of asbestos auditing is the asbestos survey. All premises managers/landlords are required to have formal documentation produced by a 'competent' person to prove the existence and location of asbestos containing materials.
These are split into 3 types of asbestos survey:
Type 1 Asbestos Survey: Location and assessment survey (presumptive survey)
The purpose of the survey is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect asbestos containing materials (ACM) in the building and assess their condition. This survey essentially defers the need to sample and analyse for asbestos (or the absence thereof) until a later time. Any material which can reasonably be expected to contain asbestos must be presumed to contain asbestos, and where it appears highly likely to contain asbestos, there should be a strong presumption that it does. All materials which are presumed to contain asbestos must be assessed.
Type 2 Asbestos Survey: Standard asbestos sampling, identification and assessment survey (sampling survey)
The purpose and procedures used in this survey are the same as for Type 1, except that representative samples are collected and analysed for the presence of asbestos. Sampling can take place simultaneously with the survey, or as in the case of some larger surveys, can be carried out as a separate exercise, after the Type 1 survey is complete.
Type 3 Asbestos Survey: Full access sampling and identification survey (pre-demolition/major refurbishment surveys)
This type of survey is used to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all ACMs in the building and may involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach. The survey is designed to be used as a basis for tendering the removal of ACMs from the building prior to demolition or major refurbishment so the survey does not assess the condition of the asbestos, other than to note areas of damage or where additional asbestos debris may be expected to be present
Do you need to review your existing asbestos surveys?
The dutyholder shall ensure that the assessment is reviewed if:
(a) there is reason to suspect that the assessment is no longer valid; or
(b) there has been a significant change in the premises to which the assessment relates.
Safety for Work offer independent* asbestos audits – click here to enquire
Asbestos Awareness Safety Training
The important thing for an employer is to ensure that workers who may be exposed to asbestos have received appropriate training.
Asbestos Awareness training courses would be beneficial to are:
• Managers responsible for buildings and facilities
• Health and Safety representatives
• Building trade workers (including plumbers and electricians etc.)
• Maintenance engineers and Caretakers
• People who work with asbestos containing materials
Safety for Work offer asbestos training solutions – click here to enquire
*Why independence is important for asbestos surveys
Many asbestos companies conduct surveys as a ‘hook’ for potential asbestos removal or remedial work. Here at Safety for Work, we do not have any removal services nor do we recommend anyone. That way, you can be sure that we have no other agenda in mind and our surveys will be truly independent.
• Type of asbestos
• Location of the asbestos containing material (ACM)
• Likely disturbance or abrasion of the material
• Personnel who could come into contact with the asbestos fibres or dust
In general, undisturbed asbestos may not be a major issue, but any disturbance, abrasion or work could put asbestos dust or fibres into the air.
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