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The problem
Asbestos is currently the number one cause of work related deaths in the UK. Most of the exposure causing these deaths dates back some 20-30 years or more when standards were more lax than is currently the case, but this has led to increasingly stringent regulations to control the ways in which asbestos is dealt with today.
Asbestos was (and is) a remarkably useful material and there s now a legacy of asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) which will take many years to eliminate.
The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 require, among other things, that persons in control of premises become pro-active, look for ACM’s in their buildings, determine the type of asbestos, carry out a risk assessment to determine appropriate action and have a system in place to manage any ACM’s. The options for action are:-
- Leave is situ but label/mark it, advise any employee or contractor who may work in the area of the danger and ensure safe systems of work are used to prevent any accidental disturbance of the material.
- Encapsulate the material, repair surface defects and then as above.
- Have the material removed, usually by a licensed asbestos removal contractor to approved methods of work.
The regulations are quite specific in requiring competent persons to carry out any work relating to asbestos.
The solution
EEF Sheffield Association can offer assistance to duty holders by:-
- Surveying buildings to identify any suspect materials
- Sampling and analysis to confirm the presence of asbestos and determine the type
- Risk assess the materials and. recommend appropriate action
- Compile an Asbestos Register to record the risk assessments and set out the management plan
- Project manage any necessary asbestos removals, ensuring that bona fide contractors are employed and monitoring work standards to ensure removals are carried out legally and safely
- Arrange clearance monitoring to ensure that areas are safe to re-enter after removal works.
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