Management of Asbestos
INTRODUCTION
Consultants undertaking liability surveys need to consider whether there are asbestos containing materials on site (potential or present in the building or the processes carried out) and the management of any such materials.
As per the applicable regulations (The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012) the owner or occupier MUST manage the risk effectively. This will invariably include an asbestos survey by a ‘competent person’ and may include detailed and “intrusive” investigation and sampling, testing and analysis. Consultants will comment on this and if relevant raise a risk improvement to address any failings.
SUMMARY
Asbestos is only a risk to health if asbestos fibres are released into the air and breathed in. There is usually a long delay between first exposure to asbestos and the onset of any related disease, even up to 60 years.
The three main types of asbestos found in buildings are ‘blue asbestos’ (crocidolite), ‘brown asbestos’ (amosite) and ‘white asbestos’ (chrysotile). All are dangerous carcinogens, but blue and brown asbestos are the more hazardous (they cannot be identified just by their colour).
As long as the asbestos remains in good condition and is not disturbed or damaged there is negligible risk.
Owners and/or occupiers of non-domestic properties and the common parts of domestic properties (e.g. hallways in blocks of flats) have a legal duty to manage the risk and to co-operate with whoever manages that risk.
Some asbestos containing materials (ACMs) are more vulnerable to damage and give off more fibres than others. Sprayed coatings, lagging and insulating board are more likely to contain blue or brown asbestos. Asbestos insulation and lagging can contain up to 85% asbestos and are most likely to give off fibres. Work with asbestos insulating board can result in equally high fibre release if power tools are used. With asbestos cement sheets however, the asbestos is tightly bound into the cement and will only give off fibres if badly damaged or cut, drilled etc.
“Corrugated Asbestos”
Modern roofing sheets are now referred to as being of ‘corrugated fibre cement’. They are manufactured from Portland cement and water, reinforced with natural and synthetic fibres.
These non-asbestos materials started to appear in 1983 and most manufacturers around at that time were manufacturing them by 1985/6. However, some traditional asbestos containing sheets were still being manufactured until 1999.
The duty to manage asbestos is contained in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. The duties include:
ascertaining if there is asbestos in the premises, its location and what condition it is in or assessing if ACMs are liable to be present and making a presumption that materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they don’t
making and keeping an up to date a record of the location and condition of the ACMs
assessing the risk from the material
preparing a plan that sets out in detail how to manage the risk from this material
putting the plan into action
reviewing and monitoring the plan
establishing a system to provide information on the location and condition of the material to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb it.
STANDARD RiskSTOP RISK IMPROVEMENT WORDINGS
Several standard wordings are available to suit the circumstances.
HSE PUBLICATIONS
Essential HSE reference publications include:
Duty To Manage, A Brief Guide, INDG223
HSG264 - Asbestos: The Survey guide
HSG227 - A comprehensive guide to managing asbestos in premises.
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Approved Code of Practice and guidance