Transcript Asbestos_4.ppt

ASBESTOS RISK
MANAGEMENT
Summary

Asbestos.

The health risk.

In buildings.

Background to regulation.

Outline of duty to manage.

Review of consultation.
What is asbestos

Asbestos is the name for a group of naturally
occurring silicate minerals that can be separated
into fibres.

The fibres are strong durable and resistant to
heat and fire. They are also long thin and flexible
so that they can be woven into cloth.

Because of these qualities asbestos has been
used in thousands of consumer, industrial
maritime automotive scientific and building
products.

During the twentieth century some 30 million
tonnes of asbestos were used in industrial sites
schools shipyards and commercial buildings.
What is asbestos

It is of two principal classes the amphiboles and
the serpentines the former of relatively minor
importance.

Chrysotile is in the serpentine class and
constitutes about 95% of the worlds supply of
asbestos, of which three quarters is mined in
Quebec.

Other large deposits exist is South Africa.
AMOSITE (Brown)

Brown or grey
straight fibres.

Belongs in the
amphibole group
and contains iron
and magnesium.
CHRYSOTILE (WHITE)

A white curly
fibres accounts for
95% of asbestos in
products.

It is a member of
the serpentine
group. It is
magnesium
silicate.
CROCIDOLITE (BLUE)

Amphibole group.

Takes the form of blue
straight fibres.

It is a sodium iron
magnesium silicate.
The problem

Over 3000 people a year die from
asbestos related diseases.

There is usually along delay
between the first exposure and
subsequent symptoms of the
disease.

Between 15 and 60 years.
Asbestos related disease

ASBESTOSIS
a
scarring of the lung
that leads to breathing
problems.
 Workers
who have had
high long exposures are
often affected with
asbestosis.

MESOTHELIOMA
 is
a malignant form of
lung cancer that affects
the cells that form the
lining around the outside
of the lungs.
The problem

Between the 1950s and 1970s asbestos was used
widely in the UK as building materials.

Thousands of tonnes of asbestos are still in
buildings today.

Over 1.5 million buildings still contain some form
of asbestos.
The problem

25 % of people still dying from asbestos related
disease once worked in the construction industry.

Pre 1988 the Asbestos Regulations were aimed at
those working in asbestos factories and for
asbestos removal contractors.

The regulations did not cover those who might
come into contact with asbestos accidentally.
Who are these people

Heating and ventilation engineers.

Roofing contractors.

Electricians.

Joiners.

Plumbers.

Gas fitters.

Demolition workers.
What have we done already

The 1998 Amendment of the Control of Asbestos
at Work Regulations:
 extended there scope to cover incidental
exposure,and,
 made it clear that CAWR applied to all workers
who might come into contact with asbestos.
 The
1998 Amendment to the Asbestos
(licensing) Regulations.
 The
1999 Asbestos (prohibitions)Regulations
A part of the jigsaw is still missing

Contractors not aware that they were working on
asbestos materials.

No one was managing the risk from asbestos in
buildings.
Options

Removal of all asbestos containing materials
from buildings.

Introduction of a single duty to survey for
asbestos.

Introduction of new regulation to manage the risk
from asbestos.
Remove all asbestos ?
 NO

Asbestos can serve a useful purpose e.g fire
protection.

If in good condition,and in a position where it cannot
be damaged or disturbed, it poses NO RISK.

Removal would be prohibitively expensive.

Disposal of waste would generate immediate
problems.

Removing asbestos creates an additional
unnecessary risk for removers.
A single duty to survey

NO

Only the first step. Resources are better spent on
managing the risk.

Practical difficulties e.g who would undertake the
survey and who would pay?

Survey information goes out of date. The
condition of asbestos materials deteriorates.
A new duty to manage risk ?
 YES

Introduces it as a new regulation in the CAWR
1987.

To focus on a duty to manage the risk from
asbestos in buildings.

A new ACOP to back up regulations and provide
guidance to the designated duty holders.
Duty holder to

Take reasonable steps to identify asbestos
containing materials in buildings by:

Looking at plans etc,

Consultation of others e.g. architects employees
etc.

Carrying out a detailed inspections of the
building.
Types of survey

TYPE 1

Location and assessment survey (presumptive
survey).
 Assess
 Any
the presence of ACMs.
materials which can reasonably be
expected to contain asbestos will be presumed
to contain asbestos.
Types of survey

TYPE 2

Full access sampling and identification
survey(sampling survey).
 As
type 1.
 Samples
are collected an analysed for the
presence of ACMs.
Types of survey

TYPE 3

Full access sampling and identification survey
(pre/demolition or refurbishment).
 Access
 May
all areas.
involve destructive inspection.
Duty holder to

Assess the risk from materials.

If asbestos is in good condition.


Leave it in place and introduce a management
system.
If its in poor condition.

Encapsulate or seal it or removal by licensed
contractors.
Duty holder to

Prepare a management plan and,

Where materials are to remain in the building

Inform others of condition and locations ACMs.

Carry out regular inspections on ACMs condition.

Review and revise management plan as needed.
Record keeping

Survey report.

Risk assessments.

Management plan.

Paper and computer based.

Ease of updating.

Arrangements for long term storage of records.

Determine who will need access.
Maintenance of Management Plan

Fits with other systems.

Permit to work.

Strict control of contractors operations.

Mentioned in emergency and contingency
procedures.

Arrangements for monitoring and reviewing plan.
Review of consultation

Consultation took place in 2000.

Encouraged review of two primary areas.

Exactly who will be duty holder.

Which buildings the propped regulations cover.
Who has a duty

The employer in occupation.

Legal duties placed on others.

Where

The workplace and the common areas in rented
accommodation.

This extends to some domestic premises.
Further Consultation

The need to consult timetable 2002.

Supporting Guidance

ACOP will give guidance on
 Identifying
asbestos maintaining a
 Assessing
the risk.
register.
 Preparing
 Setting
an action plan.
up suitable management systems.
Asbestos Materials

Spray coatings.

Pipe insulation.

A.I.B

Cement products.

Composite materials.

Textured coatings.

Sandwich materials.
Typical Locations

Roof and exterior walls.

Boilers and pipework.

Ceilings.

Flooring materials.

Air ducting.

Domestic appliances.
Dates of Usage

1970 end use of Crocodile.

1974 end use of sprayed coatings.

1985 end use of AIB.

1993 end of manufacture of roofing felt.

1999 end use of cement, gaskets, friction
materials.
You don’t have to be
Einstein to
understand and
appreciate the
benefits of managing
asbestos in buildings