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Asbestos has been widely used as a building material for many years, particularly during the period 1950 to1985 and can be found in a wide variety of forms, being used in all aspects of the construction process. In some cases asbestos containing materials (ACMs) were in use up until 1999.
The long term risks associated with coming into contact with the various forms of asbestos represent serious health risks and accordingly the Health and Safety Executives issued The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 that identifies the legal requirements applicable to asbestos related works and which provides guidance on how to manage the risks associated with asbestos containing materials. Background information The use of asbestos materials in construction products is severely restricted today, due to the long-term legacy of illness associated with exposure to asbestos fibres.
There are many forms of asbestos, the main types being: - white asbestos (Chrysotile)
- brown asbestos (Amosite)
- blue asbestos (Crocidolite)
Although all types of asbestos are dangerous, both blue and brown asbestos are considered more hazardous and the permitted exposure levels to these types of asbestos are significantly less than for others.
Asbestos can be found in any number of places within a building. High risk areas where asbestos is likely to exist include (but is not limited to): ceilings and ceiling voids, risers, cupboards, flooring, floor ducts and fire door panels, walls and wall voids and often contained within moulded fixtures and fittings (e.g. toilet cisterns and seats etc). Where asbestos is known or suspected to exist, a risk assessment should be carried out to ensure adequate controls are in place.
There are a number of problems associated with exposure to asbestos namely:
- asbestos fibres are not detectable to the naked eye
- the health effects can result in fatal illness
- the onset of symptoms is often delayed for decades after exposure
- there is widespread public concern over exposure
- asbestos was widely used in the construction industry and will be found to some extent in most pre-1980 buildings (although not exclusively)
- it is not possible to determine that a material contains asbestos by visual examination (sampling and laboratory analysis are required)
- exposure has to be rigorously controlled and monitored
It is not possible to identify asbestos by its colour as the age of the product and its combination with other products can alter the appearance. The legislation relating to the control of asbestos in the workplace is extensive and is supported by a number of Approved Codes of Practice (ACoPs) and HSE Guidance Notes.
This policy provides a general overview of how to manage asbestos in the workplace but does not provide guidance as to the safe treatment or removal of asbestos due to the specialist nature of the work and its applicability to a minority of employers, who by the very nature of their business have to be fully aware of the legislative requirements.
We recommend that a specialist asbestos survey should be undertaken in all situations where it is suspected that asbestos containing materials may be present, and the introduction of effective management regimes for any asbestos containing materials located (that are to remain in place and not be removed) in accordance with the requirements of the legislation.
Asbestos survey results can be used as an efficient tool for the effective management of asbestos containing materials. Options for management include:
- removal of damaged or friable asbestos (only by competent and licensed personnel) or
- encapsulation of damaged or friable asbestos and applying appropriate signs/marking or
- physical protection of vulnerable areas of asbestos by boarding over etc
- applying the appropriate signs/marking to asbestos containing materials
- the introduction of appropriate controls to ensure that employees and contractors are made aware of the location of asbestos containing materials and do not work on asbestos containing materials unless all the necessary precautions have been taken.
Following an asbestos survey a decision can be made as to the remedial action required. Tasks should be assigned to a ‘competent person’ such as a licensed contractor. The choice of the contractor is not a simple matter as standards of competence do vary. Basic precautions that the employer should take to determine the competence of the contractor are:
- obtaining a current copy of his licence
- obtaining a detailed method statement detailing the precautions they plan to take
- ensuring that their method statement relates to the actual situation or layout in the premises
- checking their work methods against their statement
- contacting previous customers for references
- ensuring that an independent analyst is employed who will carry out the air sampling and authorise clearance for the area to be re-occupied (responsibility for this remains with the employer and not the contractor)
- ensuring that the any laboratory employed to analyse samples taken during surveys etc is UKAS registered and accredited.
If any asbestos is to be left in place, then an Asbestos Management Plan will need to be put in place and precautions prescribed and taken to ensure that:
- the asbestos will not be disturbed
- if work is going to disturb the asbestos, then such work is properly managed and carried out in accordance with requirements.
- the Management Plan considers all employees in the workplace and not just those employees working on asbestos
- risk assessments and plans of work are to be kept at the location to which they apply.
Prior to instructing others to undertake work on any (pre-1990) premises you must enquire whether an asbestos survey has been previously carried out on the premises. If no survey reports exist and no record drawings are available for reference you are required by law to undertake an asbestos survey of the areas affected by the works.
The survey report must be obtained and passed on to those undertaking the work in order to warn them of the possibility of coming into contact with asbestos containing materials.
Type of Surveys Three types of survey are available i.e. “Type 1” – visual inspection, “Type2” – visual / non-intrusive with limited sampling and “Type 3” – intrusive testing / destructive survey with sampling.
For the purpose of preparing a suitable and sufficient asbestos register a “Type 2” asbestos survey is recommended. This type of survey will normal suffice in situations where it is not anticipated that walls or any structure likely to contain asbestos will be disturbed during a project.
However for any proposed internal alterations or demolition works it is necessary for a “Type 3” survey to be undertaken before any design is finalised or indeed before any work commences.
Prior to commencing demolition work or internal alteration work that is likely to disturb asbestos materials it will be necessary to arrange for a specialist (licensed) asbestos removal company to remove asbestos from the affected areas.
Following removal of asbestos you must ensure that air clearance test certificates have been issued by the (independent) specialist firm in order to confirm that the premises is either safe for re-occupation or for resumption of further work. If any suspect materials are discovered by operatives during the works, they are to STOP work immediately, seal off the affected area of the premises, and not resume work until instructions are received from the relevant specialist.
GEP Safety Consultants provide a complete asbestos risk management service to assist those who require further re-assurance or simply wish to protect their workforce whilst ensuring compliance with current legislation.
We have specialist resources to enable preparation of asbestos registered (based on “Type 2” surveys) and can make the necessary arrangements for ongoing management or removal of asbestos containing materials.
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