The more complex the problem, the more vital it is to build your solution on reliable analysis.
What is asbestos and what are the facts?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material, most commonly known as crocidolite (blue asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos) and chrysotile (white asbestos). Blue and brown asbestos fall into a group known as amphibole (Hydrophobic), while white asbestos is an example of a serpentine mineral (Hydrophilic).
Asbestos properties include resistance to heat, acid, chemical, and mechanical forces; it has the ability to reinforce cement and plastic. It also has good frictional properties and is relatively easy to manipulate, it can be woven or spun to make asbestos textile. Its uses are extensive, the most important being insulation, fireproofing and protection from corrosion.
As astounding as it may seem when you consider the well-documented health implications, it is thought that mining of asbestos is still on-going in Brazil, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Canada, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and India.
Where is asbestos found?
Asbestos can be found in any industrial or residential building built or refurbished before the year 2000. It is in many of the common materials used in the building trade that you may come across during your work.
An example of where the most common types of asbestos containing materials that can be found within both industrial and residential buildings can be seen here.
What is the danger?
More information on the dangers of Asbestos is provided by the HSE Hidden Killer campaign, and can be seen here. Asbestos can cause fatal diseases which will not necessarily affect you immediately as they often take a long time to develop. However, once diagnosed it is often too late to do anything so it is imperative that you
Protect yourself now!
The duty to manage asbestos
The duty to manage asbestos is directed at those who manage non-domestic premises: the people with responsibility for protecting others who work in such premises, or use them in other ways, from the risks to ill health that exposure to asbestos causes.
What is the duty?
The duty to manage asbestos is contained in regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. It requires the person who has the duty (i.e. the ‘dutyholder’) to:
- take reasonable steps to find out if there are materials containing asbestos in non-domestic premises, and if so, its amount, where it is and what condition it is in
- presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not
- make, and keep up-to-date, a record of the location and condition of the asbestos- containing materials - or materials which are presumed to contain asbestos
- assess the risk of anyone being exposed to fibres from the materials identified
- prepare a plan that sets out in detail how the risks from these materials will be managed
- take the necessary steps to put the plan into action
- periodically review and monitor the plan and the arrangements to act on it so that the plan remains relevant and up-to-date
- provide information on the location and condition of the materials to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb them
There is also a requirement on others to co-operate as far as is necessary to allow the dutyholder to comply with the above requirements.