Health and and Safety Executive THE ASBESTOS LEGACY. Gerry McCulloch HSE Construction Division Nominated Asbestos Person

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1 Health and and Safety Executive THE ASBESTOS LEGACY Gerry McCulloch HSE Construction Division Nominated Asbestos Person

2 A History Lesson Asbestos is a Greek word meaning indestructible. Greeks and Romans utilized it in lamp wicks, funeral dress and as napkins that could be cleaned by being thrown into a fire. The negative health effects to those working with asbestos were recorded by both the Greek geographer Strabo and the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder. Asbestos was also used circa 2,000-3,000 BC in Egypt to wrap embalmed pharaohs and in Finland to strengthen clay pots. In the Middle Ages it was used as insulation in suits of armor. After visiting an Asbestos mine in China in the late 13th century Marco Polo reported that asbestos was a stone, not the hair of a wooly lizard, as was previously believed.

3 Asbestos, a bygone industry? The modern asbestos industry began in 1880 when large Chrysotile deposits in Canada and the USSR were mined. The first modern applications included nonflammable fabrics, packing materials, insulation for high temperature equipment, and cement products. However, after World War II. It was used extensively in the built environment Canada, Russia & China are still major asbestos producers

4 What is asbestos? Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that is chemically inert with heat resistant properties.. There are two forms of Asbestos, Serpentine and Amphibole. The Serpentine variety of asbestos is known as Chrysotile, while the Amphibole variety includes Crocidolite, Amosite, Anthophyllite, Actinolite and Tremolite. Common names include white, brown and blue asbestos.

5 The problem Asbestos is the biggest occupational health problem ever encountered in the UK. Between 1950s and 1980s asbestos used extensively in UK as building materials. Thousands of tonnes of asbestos still remaining in buildings. About half a million commercial premises may contain asbestos.

6 Almost 4,000 people die each year from asbestos-related diseases in the UK Pre-1998 Asbestos Regulations were aimed at those working in asbestos factories and for asbestos removers. The Regulations were not robust enough to cover those people who came into contact with asbestos accidentally, so duty to manage was introduced in 2002, fully becoming law in May % of people now dying from asbestos-related diseases once worked in the building and maintenance trades. Macrophage attack

7 Who are these people? Heating and ventilation engineers. Roofing contractors. Fire and burglar alarm installers. General maintenance staff. Electricians. Plumbers. Carpenters and joiners. Plasterers. Gas fitters. Cable layers. Demolition workers. Painters and decorators Building surveyors

8 You are mostly at risk when: You are working on an unfamiliar site The building you are working on was built before the year 2000 Asbestos containing materials were not identified before the job was started Asbestos containing materials were identified but this information was not passed on by the people in charge to the people doing the work You don t know how to recognise and work safely with asbestos You know how to work safely with asbestos but you choose to put yourself at risk by not following proper precautions, perhaps to save time or because no one else is following proper procedures Aw Shucks

9 What happens if some guy is found knocking through Asbestos panels? What help is available and how is it obtained? Aw **ucks bns/guidance/em1.pdf

10 Legislation Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2006 These regulations require mandatory training for anyone liable to be exposed to asbestos fibres at work (Regulation 10). This includes maintenance workers and others who may come into contact with or who may disturb asbestos as well as those involved in asbestos removal work.

11 The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 regulation 5 Identification of the presence of asbestos 5. An employer shall not undertake work in demolition, maintenance, or any other work which exposes or is liable to expose his employees to asbestos in respect of any premises unless either (a) he has carried out a suitable and sufficient assessment as to whether asbestos, what type of asbestos, contained in what material and in what condition is present or is liable to be present in those premises; or (b) if there is doubt as to whether asbestos is present in those premises he (i) assumes that asbestos is present, and that it is not chrysotile alone, and (ii) observes the applicable provisions of these Regulations.

12 What premises may contain asbestos? Answer any type (pre-2000) Shops. Factories. Offices. Farms. Hospitals. Schools Domestic premises.

13 Sprayed asbestos

14 Pipe Lagging

15 Asbestos insulating board (AIB)

16 Asbestos Textiles

17 Flooring

18 Asbestos Cement AC Sheet over sprayed with Limpet asbestos

19 Roofline products: Soffits; Bargeboards; Guttering & Downpipes. Under cloaking AIB soffit It is estimated that 40% of UK soffits contain asbestos, split 15% Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB) and 25% Asbestos cement ONLY a licensed contractor can remove AIB Soffits/bargeboards

20 Fire protection It is almost impossible to guess where Asbestos Containing Materials ACM s will be. It is criminal to assume there won t be any, or that workers will stop if they come across it.

21 If you are involved in managing asbestos in non-domestic premises or if you are carrying out work in domestic premises then you should follow this guidance. Or be doing something equivalent or better!

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23 Steps to manage asbestos

24 Management of asbestos in domestic premises The duty to manage asbestos requirements of regulation 4 of CAR 2006 do not normally apply to domestic premises. However the requirements do apply to common parts of premises, including housing developments and blocks of flats, But you know all this But do not place any direct duties on landlords for individual houses or flats. Examples of common parts would include foyers, corridors, lifts and lift shafts, staircases, boiler houses, vertical risers, gardens yards and outhouses. already. The requirements do not apply to room within a private residence which are shared by more than one household, such as bathrooms kitchens etc in shared houses and communal dining rooms and lounges in sheltered accommodation.

25 HOWEVER The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) section 2, requires all employers to conduct their work so their employees will not be exposed to health and safety risks,--no matter where they are working! and to provide information to other people about their workplace which might affect their health and safety. Section 3 of HSWA places duties on employers and the self employed towards people not in their employment Section 4 of HSWA contains general duties for anyone who has control, to any extent, over a workplace. In addition, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess the health and safety risks to third parties, such as tenants who may be affected by their activities, and to make appropriate arrangements to protect them.

26 How does this affect you? These requirements mean that organisations such as local authorities, housing associations, social housing management companies and others who own, or are responsible for, domestic properties, have legal duties to ensure the health and safety of their staff (and others) in domestic premises used as a place of work. As employers, these organisations also have duties under the general requirements of the Control of Asbestos 2006 Regulations 5 & 6 to identify asbestos, carry out a risk assessment of work liable to expose employees to asbestos and prepare a suitable written plan of work.

27 What if the workers are not your employees? Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007 [ CDM ] Where construction work, including refurbishment, upgrading and demolition, is being carried out, the CDM client must provide designers and contractors who are bidding for the work (or who they intend to engage) with project specific information about the presence of asbestos. It is not acceptable to make general reference to hazards that may exist. Therefore site specific asbestos surveys should be carried out in advance of construction work to make sure information is available to those who need it.

28 Appointed Person You should identify a person (and in some cases a deputy) within your organisation who will be responsible for the management of asbestos. An appointed person will be essential where you have a large or complex building portfolio. The appointed person will require the resources; skills training and authority to ensure that asbestos is managed effectively.

29 Engaging a competent surveyor Need evidence of training and experience: employed by accredited organisation? individual surveyor certified? other possible alternative criteria. Confirm work to be carried out in accordance with HSG 264 Evidence of suitable liability insurance. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)

30 Two Types of Survey 1. Management Survey This is the standard survey. Its purpose is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) The areas inspected should include: underfloor coverings; above false ceilings; lofts inside risers; service ducts and lift shafts; basements; cellars; underground rooms undercrofts (this list is not exhaustive)

31 Two Types of Survey Refurbishment & Demolition Survey This is needed before any refurbishment or demolition work is carried out. This is a fully intrusive survey which will involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas where ACMs may be present.

32 Survey restrictions and caveats There should be very few of these. For a management survey, Surveyors should be prepared to access all reasonably practicable areas in all parts of a building, if access is not gained on the day of a survey then a return visit will be required For a Refurbishment or Demolition survey There should be no restrictions on access unless the site is unsafe (e.g. Fire damaged premises)

33 Survey Final Report Should contain: Executive summary Introduction covering the scope of work General site and survey information Survey results (including material assessment results) Conclusions and actions Bulk analysis report/results

34 Refurbishment or Demolition Don t start until the survey has been checked.

35 Work which is likely to disturb asbestos materials can be described as. Non-Licensed work All regulations apply except for: 1. duty to notify HSE 2. arrangements for safety drills 3. designation of specified asbestos area 4. Requirement for medical records and health surveillence Licensed work All regulations apply Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2006

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37 Non-Licensed work This is not how to do it Enforcement Notices Issued

38 Licensed removal work A hidden art Monitoring asbestos work. Viewing panels and CCTV

39 What would we see if we went in to the enclosure? Wrapped up Inside enclosure

40 Matters of concern Dry Stripping Hot work Use of power tools Operatives not clean shaven Drinks in enclosures Brushes being used to clean up

41 Prevent spread of asbestos Supervision Dry stripping Brushes to clean up Waste management

42 Principles of prevention RPE does not prevent exposure It has an assigned protection factor of 40

43 Key messages Asbestos is a major killer. The risk has to be resourced and managed. Comply with the Regulations & New Guidance A bad survey is worse than no survey at all. Don t panic - if asbestos is in good condition and is unlikely to be disturbed, leave it in place.

44 Any Questions