Mdmw-asbestos04

ASBESTOS RISK MANAGEMENT

Summary ◆

Asbestos.

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The health risk.

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In buildings.

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Background to regulation.

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Outline of duty to manage.

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Review of consultation.

What is asbestos ◆

Asbestos is the name for a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be separated into fibres.

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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.

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Because of these qualities asbestos has been used in thousands of consumer, industrial maritime automotive scientific and building products.

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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.

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Chrysotile is in the serpentine class and constitutes about 95% of the worlds supply of asbestos, of which three quarters is mined in Quebec.

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Other large deposits exist is South Africa.

AMOSITE (Brown)

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Brown or grey straight fibres.

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Belongs in the amphibole group and contains iron and magnesium.

CHRYSOTILE (WHITE)

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A white curly fibres accounts for 95% of asbestos in products.

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It is a member of the serpentine group. It is magnesium silicate.

CROCIDOLITE (BLUE)

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Amphibole group.

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Takes the form of blue straight fibres.

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It is a sodium iron magnesium silicate.

The problem

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Over 3000 people a year die from asbestos related diseases.

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There is usually along delay between the first exposure and subsequent symptoms of the disease.

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Between 15 and 60 years.

Asbestos related disease ◆

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ASBESTOSIS ◆

a scarring of the lung that leads to breathing problems.

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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

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Between the 1950s and 1970s asbestos was used widely in the UK as building materials.

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Thousands of tonnes of asbestos are still in buildings today.

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Over 1.5 million buildings still contain some form of asbestos.

The problem

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25 % of people still dying from asbestos related disease once worked in the construction industry.

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Pre 1988 the Asbestos Regulations were aimed at those working in asbestos factories and for asbestos removal contractors.

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The regulations did not cover those who might come into contact with asbestos accidentally.

Who are these people ◆

Heating and ventilation engineers.

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Roofing contractors.

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Electricians.

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Joiners.

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Plumbers.

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Gas fitters.

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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.

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The 1999 Asbestos (prohibitions)Regulations

A part of the jigsaw is still missing

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Contractors not aware that they were working on asbestos materials.

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No one was managing the risk from asbestos in buildings.

Options

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Removal of all asbestos containing materials from buildings.

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Introduction of a single duty to survey for asbestos.

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Introduction of new regulation to manage the risk from asbestos.

Remove all asbestos ? ◆

NO

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Asbestos can serve a useful purpose e.g fire protection.

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If in good condition,and in a position where it cannot be damaged or disturbed, it poses NO RISK.

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Removal would be prohibitively expensive.

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Disposal of waste would generate immediate problems.

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Removing asbestos creates an additional unnecessary risk for removers.

A single duty to survey ◆

NO

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Only the first step. Resources are better spent on managing the risk.

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Practical difficulties e.g who would undertake the survey and who would pay?

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Survey information goes out of date. The condition of asbestos materials deteriorates.

A new duty to manage risk ? ◆

YES

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Introduces it as a new regulation in the CAWR 1987.

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To focus on a duty to manage the risk from asbestos in buildings.

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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:

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Looking at plans etc,

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Consultation of others e.g. architects employees etc.

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Carrying out a detailed inspections of the building.

Types of survey ◆

TYPE 1

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Location and assessment survey (presumptive survey). ◆

Assess the presence of ACMs.

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Any materials which can reasonably be expected to contain asbestos will be presumed to contain asbestos.

Types of survey ◆

TYPE 2

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Full access sampling and identification survey(sampling survey). ◆

As type 1.

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Samples are collected an analysed for the presence of ACMs.

Types of survey ◆

TYPE 3

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Full access sampling and identification survey (pre/demolition or refurbishment). ◆

Access all areas.

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May involve destructive inspection.

Duty holder to ◆

Assess the risk from materials.

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If asbestos is in good condition. ✔

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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,

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Where materials are to remain in the building

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Inform others of condition and locations ACMs.

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Carry out regular inspections on ACMs condition.

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Review and revise management plan as needed.

Record keeping ◆

Survey report.

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Risk assessments.

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Management plan.

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Paper and computer based.

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Ease of updating.

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Arrangements for long term storage of records.

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Determine who will need access.

Maintenance of Management Plan

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Fits with other systems.

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Permit to work.

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Strict control of contractors operations.

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Mentioned in emergency and contingency procedures.

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Arrangements for monitoring and reviewing plan.

Review of consultation ◆

Consultation took place in 2000.

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Encouraged review of two primary areas.

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Exactly who will be duty holder.

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Which buildings the propped regulations cover.

Who has a duty

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The employer in occupation.

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Legal duties placed on others.

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Where

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The workplace and the common areas in rented accommodation.

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This extends to some domestic premises.

Further Consultation

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The need to consult timetable 2002.

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Supporting Guidance

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ACOP will give guidance on ◆

Identifying asbestos maintaining a register.

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Assessing the risk.

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Preparing an action plan.

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Setting up suitable management systems.

Asbestos Materials

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Spray coatings.

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Pipe insulation.

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A.I.B

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Cement products.

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Composite materials.

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Textured coatings.

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Sandwich materials.

Typical Locations

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Roof and exterior walls.

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Boilers and pipework.

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Ceilings.

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Flooring materials.

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Air ducting.

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Domestic appliances.

Dates of Usage

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1970 end use of Crocodile.

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1974 end use of sprayed coatings.

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1985 end use of AIB.

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1993 end of manufacture of roofing felt.

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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