Transcript Document

Duty to Manage Asbestos
(an Inspector’s View)
•
David Price
• HM Inspector of H&S
• HSE Birmingham Office
What is asbestos?
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Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral.
• Three most common found forms:
• crocidolite (‘blue asbestos’);
• amosite (‘brown asbestos’);
• chrysotile (‘white asbestos’).
• Has many uses:
• fire proofing;
• insulation.
• But can be deadly.
Asbestos-related diseases
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Asbestosis.
Lung cancer.
Mesothelioma.
Cancer of the larynx.
Together with:
• asbestos warts;
• pleural plaques;
• benign pleural effusions; and
• pleural thickening.
The problem
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Asbestos is the biggest occupational
health problem ever encountered in the
UK.
• Between 1950s and 1980s asbestos used
extensively in UK as building materials.
• Thousands of tonnes of asbestos still
remaining in buildings.
• About half a million commercial premises
may contain asbestos.
The problem (cont.)
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25% of people now dying from asbestos-related
diseases once worked in the building trades.
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Pre-1998 Asbestos Regulations were aimed at
those working in asbestos factories and for
asbestos removers.
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The Regulations did not cover those people who
could come into contact with asbestos
accidentally.
Who are these people?
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Heating and ventilation
engineers.
Roofing contractors.
Fire and burglar alarm
installers.
General maintenance
staff.
Electricians.
Plumbers.
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Carpenters and
joiners.
Plasterers.
Gas fitters.
Cable layers.
Demolition workers.
Painters and
decorators.
Examples of ACMs
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Sprayed coatings and laggings.
Insulating board & millboard.
Composite materials (tiles, brake linings etc) .
Textiles (fire blankets etc)
Paper (for electrical insulation), felts and
cardboard.
Asbestos cement
Various reinforced building products and
decorative textured coatings .
What premises may contain
asbestos?
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Answer… any type (pre-2000)
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Shops.
Factories.
Offices.
Farms.
Hospitals.
Domestic premises.
Where asbestos is found
A new duty to manage
asbestos
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Introduced as a new Regulation 4 in the Control
of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.
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Focus on a duty to manage the risk from
asbestos in premises.
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Introduced a new Approved Code of Practice to
back up Regulation 4 and provide guidance to the
designated duty holders.
Finding out if asbestos is
present
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Take reasonable steps to identify ACMs in a
building by:
• looking at building plans etc;
• consulting others eg architects, employees;
and
• carrying out a thorough search of the
premises.
Inspection/survey options
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Presume asbestos:
• carry out own inspection;
• engage others to undertake survey; or
• Establish identity by sampling; or
• Conclude it’s not asbestos (requires strong
evidence); or
• A combination of all of the above.
Engaging a competent
surveyor
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Need evidence of training and experience:
• employed by accredited organisation?
• individual surveyor certified?
• other possible alternative criteria.
• Confirm work to be carried out in accordance
with MDHS 100.
• Evidence of suitable liability insurance.
The asbestos record
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Prepare a record of the survey results in a
suitable format to include:
• location and condition of the identified
materials;
• location of known non-asbestos materials; and
• areas not accessed.
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Needs to be a living document reviewed and
updated regularly.
Assess the risk from ACMs
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Material assessment:
• type of asbestos;
• product type; and
• present condition.
Priority risk assessment:
• determine human exposure potential:
• number of occupants;
• frequency use of area;
• level of maintenance.
The management plan options
• If asbestos in good condition and
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unlikely to be disturbed:
• leave it in place; and
• introduce a management system.
If asbestos in poor condition:
• seal it or enclose it; or
• remove it using licensed contractors.
The management plan
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Plan will need to prioritise the need for any
remedial work.
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Detail the arrangements for managing remaining
ACMs, including identifying personnel to oversee
the plan.
Supporting guidance
www.hse.gov.uk
HSE Infoline 08701-545500