Health & Safety
Asbestos Consultancy
Why is Health & Safety so important?
Formal asbestos surveys are required to be carried out in accordance with the guidelines for surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos containing material in the Health and Safety Executive’s HSG264: The Survey Guide.
During inspection and sampling, release of asbestos fibres are kept to a minimum and all necessary actions are taken to prevent fibre release. All sample area’s are cornered off and asbestos warning signs are visible prior to entrances of sampling area’s. If sampling is carried out in residential properties then occupiers are asked to leave the premises until sampling has been completed.
As surveying work involves the taking of samples generally surveyors come in close contact with asbestos therefore all surveyors take necessary action and don PPE/RPE in which masks have been suitably fitted.
LEGISLATION
The Health and Safety at Work Act (HSAWA) requires an employer to provide a safe workplace. Work with asbestos is covered by its own set of regulations – The control of asbestos regulations (CAR) 2012 and it is these that any persons working with asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) should comply to.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 came into force on 6 April 2012, updating previous asbestos regulations to take account of the European Commission’s view that the UK had not fully implemented the EU Directive on exposure to asbestos (Directive 2009/148/EC).
These regulations bring together the three previous sets of regulations covering the prohibition of asbestos, the control of asbestos at work and asbestos licensing.
The regulations prohibit the importation, supply and use of all forms of asbestos. They continue the ban introduced for blue and brown asbestos in 1985 and for white asbestos in 1999. They also continue to ban the second-hand use of asbestos products such as asbestos cement sheets and asbestos boards and tiles; including panels which have been covered with paint or textured plaster containing asbestos.
ASBESTOS REGISTERS AND DOCUMENTATION
Since the 21st May 2004, the Health & Safety Executive require all non-domestic premises to hold a current (and in date) Asbestos Register held on site. The HSE can inspect your company premises at any time and your companies health & safety policy should now include an Asbestos Register.
The location, condition and extent of all asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) and suspected materials identified during the asbestos survey are recorded in the form of an Asbestos Register. This document is provided with the full survey report as part of Cube’s service.
THE FOLLOWING ARE RECORDED IN THE ASBESTOS REGISTER:
- Location
- The information is organised in a logical way according to the layout of the site and ACM’s and non ACM’s are clearly identified using red and green symbols respectively.
- Extent or Amount
An approximate extent of the material is given in either square or linear metres. - Product Type (as a building component)
The most appropriate description of the material as a building component. - Asbestos Type (and content)
The types of asbestos fibres identified - Condition
The extent of damage or deterioration caused to the material noted at the time of the survey. - Surface Treatment
- An indication of the degree of protection to the surface of the material. Sealants may be applied in liquid form (e.g. paint, proprietary encapsulate) or rigid.
- Material Assessment
HSG264 makes reference to a numerical algorithm score, which is shown against records of identified, suspected or presumed asbestos occurrences; this is calculated from scores assigned to the three main parameters which determine potential fibre release (material type, condition and surface treatment) and its potential to cause harm (asbestos type). - Accessibility
An indication as to how accessible the material is in relation to likelihood of future damage. - Comments
An appropriate comment is provided for each recorded asbestos occurrence. - Recommendations
For each identified location of ACM we will provide a recommendation on further action based on our interpretation of legislation and best practice prevailing at the time of the survey together with our observations.
Asbestos registers are available in electronic or hard copy format.
Opinions and recommendations based upon priority risk assessment are outside the scope of our UKAS accreditation.