| Managing Asbestos |
In order to have an effective management program, it is necessary to establish clear lines of responsibility for the program's management and implementation.
A survey of the premises must be undertaken to locate and assess the ACMs.
The results of the survey must be recorded in an easily retrievable form, which can then be used to draw up the management plan.
The management plan may include some or all of the following:
- Take reasonable steps determine the location of materials likely to contain asbestos;
- Presume materials to contain asbestos, unless there are good reasons not to do so;
- Make and maintain a written record of the location of the asbestos and presumed asbestos containing materials;
- Monitor the condition of asbestos and presumed asbestos materials;
- Assess the risk of exposure from the asbestos and presumed asbestos materials and document the actions necessary to manage the risk;
- Take steps to see that the actions above are carried out;
Requirements
The new regulation has created an explicit duty to assess and manage the risk from asbestos in premises.
The risk will vary with circumstances ranging from normal occupation to a building to the repaired, refurbishment and demolition of the premises, and they will each need to be assessed.
The broad requirements to manage the risk from asbestos-containing materials the duty holder will need to:
- Keep and maintain an up-to-date record of the location, condition, maintenance and removal of all asbestos-containing materials on the premises;
- Repair, seal or remove, if there is a risk of exposure due to its condition or location;
- Maintain it in a good state of repair and regularly monitor the condition;
- Inform anyone who is likely to disturb it about the location and condition of the material;
- Have arrangements and procedures in place, so that work which may disturb the material complies with the CWAR;
- Review the plan at regular intervals and make changes to the plan and arrangements if circumstances change;
ASI can offer you a service that covers all that is required in compliance with regulation four of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006
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| Survey Types |
The type of survey that is chosen may vary depending on the aim and purpose for which it is to be used. Surveys prior to demolition or major refurbishment will require a Fully Intrusive Survey,
however most surveys will be selected to comply with the current duty to manage asbestos in premises. In these cases, the aim of an asbestos survey is to locate and assess ACMs in the building
as far as reasonably practical. Its purpose is to provide information to the duty holder in order to manage the associated risks. Therefore the aim, purpose and type of survey required should be
clearly established with the client before any works are carried out.
Management Survey
The inspection seeks to assess all areas which would be accessed during normal use of the premises. This usually involves the collection of material samples to be analysed for the presence of asbestos. Samples from each type of suspected ACM found, are analysed to confirm/refute the material’s suspect status. If the material sampled is found to contain asbestos then other homogeneous materials used in the same way in the building can be strongly presumed to contain asbestos. Other less homogeneous materials and some materials which are non-asbestos will need to be sampled more frequently to confirm weather asbestos is present or not. Sampling will usually take place simultaneously with the survey.
Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys
This type of survey is used to locate and describe, as far as it is practicable, all ACMs in the building and will involve some destructive inspection (as far as it is necessary), to gain access to all areas in the building, some may be difficult to reach or are hidden from sight. A full sampling program is undertaken to identify possible ACMs and record estimates of their extents. This survey has been designed for use as a basis for tendering the removal of all ACMs from the building prior to demolition or major refurbishment.
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