Asbestos is a very dangerous material. Banned in the UK in 1999 but commonly used in construction until that point, disturbed asbestos fibres are known to cause deaths in excess of 5000 a year.
As Asbestos management experts, we have published many articles this year, highlighting the surveys available, the importance of training for property managers and their teams, and how it should be managed in commercial buildings.
Here’s a roundup of some key asbestos information, with links to our original articles for more in-depth reading.
Different Types of Asbestos Survey
Original Article Link – The Different Types of Asbestos Survey and When They Are Required
An asbestos management survey is carried out to locate (as far as is reasonably practicable) the presence and extent of any suspected Asbestos Containing Materials that could be damaged or disturbed during normal occupancy.
These surveys will probably involve minor intrusive work as samples may need to be taken for confirmation. If the surveyor can’t gain access to certain areas, they will be marked as “no access” on the report and presumed to contain asbestos until access can be achieved.
Once your management survey has been completed, you will receive a report. It will let you know if asbestos is present and in a manageable condition- if so, an annual reinspection survey is required.
Asbestos reinspection surveys will update the register of any changes to the Asbestos Containing Materials. If the management survey finds asbestos in poor condition or in a position that’s likely to be disturbed, recommendations will be made to have it repaired/encapsulated or removed.
Where asbestos is unlikely to be disturbed and is in good, manageable condition, it may well be safer to leave it in place and to ensure regular inspections instead.
If you have plans for extensive works to the building, or any works in the areas you know contain asbestos, then a refurbishment and demolition survey is required. This is a fully intrusive survey involving destructive inspection where necessary as access must be gained to all areas.
Under the 2012 regulations, all Asbestos Containing Materials must be removed (as far as is reasonably practicable) before major refurbishment or demolition takes place. This may also be the case for smaller refurbishment works if you’re planning any structural or layout changes.
Asbestos Training
Original Article Link – The Importance of Asbestos Awareness Training
Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 states that:
“Every employer must ensure that their employees are given adequate information, instruction and training where that employee is, or is liable to be, exposed to asbestos, or if that employee supervises such employees.”
It’s down to individual building managers to determine what level of training may be “adequate” for each person under their supervision. For example, Asbestos Awareness (Category A) training may be suitable for anyone who may encounter asbestos during the course of their work, but who isn’t required to work directly with it.
For anyone required to work with asbestos, higher-level training will be required to ensure their safety, as well as the safety of fellow workers, staff and residents.
Essentially, anyone who works in the building, in any capacity, requires some training. Due to the level of risk involved with the disturbance of asbestos, everyone working in the building must be able to recognise it. They must also know what to do to protect themselves and others if they do find asbestos-containing materials on site.
There are three levels of training:
- Asbestos Awareness
- Non-Licensable Work with Asbestos (Including Notifiable Non-Licensed Work)
- Licensable Work with Asbestos
It’s worth noting that attending a training course alone does not mean that a person is “competent”. The HSE defines competency as something that is “developed over time by implementing and consolidating skills learnt during training, on-the-job learning, instruction and assessment.”
Asbestos and Commercial Buildings
Original Article Link – Managing Asbestos In Commercial Buildings
Dutyholders are obligated to create and maintain a site-specific asbestos management plan. This should include:
- Details of who is responsible for managing asbestos, including any deputies
- Your asbestos register (including the site plan showing the location of asbestos-containing materials and areas not yet inspected)
- A schedule for monitoring the condition of asbestos-containing materials
- Details of how you will share your asbestos register with workers or contractors doing maintenance work
- Control arrangements to ensure that asbestos-containing materials are not disturbed
- Emergency procedures to be followed if asbestos-containing materials are disturbed
Your plan should be updated whenever any works take place that affect your ACMs, if management responsibilities change, if any ACMs are disturbed by accident, and following any surveys. The plan should be shared with building managers, employees, contractors and maintenance workers.
4site Consulting Asbestos Awareness Training
Our asbestos awareness sessions cover:
- What asbestos is, including the different types
- The dangers of asbestos
- Your duty to manage asbestos
- The different types of asbestos surveys available
- Explaining presumed/no access areas in your report and how to access these areas
Once the training is completed, we run a comprehensive Q&A session to answer any queries that may come to mind.
Delivered by our highly qualified asbestos experts, our course is specifically designed for property professionals and site-based staff. We supply a certificate of attendance to all participants for your CPD records.
Sessions run for 1-2 hours and are best suited to groups of 8-10. We can come to your offices or meet at a property you manage – you’re also welcome to come to our offices in Essex if that’s convenient for you.
To book a place for yourself or your team, contact us directly on 01376 572936 or email office@4siteconsulting.co.uk.
