should include the allocation of responsibilities and not appoint or instruct an independent surveyor to

Transcription

1

2 01 Introduction The asbestos survey guide, HSG 264, provides guidance on asbestos surveys and sampling for asbestos in non domestic premises including the common parts of domestic premises. The key areas to be aware of are summarised below. TEXT ABSTRACT Organisations can demonstrate that they are technically competent to undertake surveys for asbestos containing materials (ACMs) through accreditation to ISO/IEC Competence Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 defines a Duty Holder which is normally the person or organisation with maintenance responsibility for the premises under a lease or contract (See the Barbour Technical Guide on Asbestos Management). It is the Duty Holder s responsibility to ensure that they appoint a competent organisation or person to undertake the asbestos survey. In practice, this means requesting references with respect to previous survey portfolios undertaken and ensuring that the organisation or surveyor appointed is accredited or certified by a third party. Organisations can demonstrate that they are technically competent to undertake surveys for asbestos containing materials (ACMs) through accreditation to ISO/IEC Individual surveyors can also demonstrate that they are technically competent to undertake specified surveys through holding personnel certification from a Certification Body accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) for this activity under ISO/IEC The Duty Holder should should include the allocation of responsibilities and not appoint or instruct an independent surveyor to arrangements for putting the policy into effect. All of the carry out a survey unless the surveyor is competent. Types of Survey The Survey Guide sets out two classifications of asbestos survey, a change from the previous three types. Type 1: Management Survey This is the standard survey that should be carried out for the continued management of asbestos in premises. The purpose of the survey is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect ACMs in the building and assess their condition. Sampling is the most common approach that has been used for surveys. However, a management survey can also involve presuming the presence or absence of asbestos. A management survey can be completed, using a combination of sampling ACMs and presuming ACMs or, indeed, just presuming. Any materials presumed to contain asbestos must also have their condition assessed (ie material assessment). this type is commonly referred to as Planned Preventive PAGE 1 >BARBOUR - SAFE IN OUR KNOWLEDGE

3 Presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not. Management surveys may involve minor intrusive work and some disturbance. The extent of intrusion will vary between premises and depend on what is reasonably practicable for individual properties. Factors include it the type of building, the nature of construction, accessibility etc. Type 2: Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys This survey is used to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all ACMs in the area where the refurbishment work will take place or in the whole building if demolition is planned. The survey will involve destructive inspection as necessary, to gain access to all locations, including those that may be difficult to reach. Refurbishment work may vary from relatively small to large projects. Small scale work may occur in different parts of a building at different times over several years. A full sampling programme is undertaken in these areas to identify possible ACMs and to obtain estimates of the volume and surface area of the ACMs present. The survey is primarily designed to identify ACMs so that they can be removed in preparation for the refurbishment or demolition. Survey Restrictions and Caveats The value and usefulness of the survey can be seriously undermined where either the client or the surveyor imposes restrictions on the survey scope or on the techniques/methods used by the surveyor. Information on the location of all ACMs, as far as reasonably practicable, is crucial to the risk assessment and development of the management plan. Any restrictions placed on the survey scope will reduce the extent to which ACMs are located and identified, incur delays and consequently make managing asbestos more complex, expensive and potentially less effective. Survey restrictions and caveats can significantly undermine the management of asbestos in buildings. They should be included only where absolutely necessary, and should be fully justified. Most can be avoided by proper planning and discussion. They MUST be agreed between the Duty Holder and the Surveyor and documented in the survey report. Appointed Person The Survey Guide introduces the concept of the Appointed Person. The Guide recommends that the duty holder should appoint a person (and perhaps a deputy) to be responsible for asbestos management. The Guide points out the necessity for ensuring the competence of the Appointed Person. Further Information The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) encompasses all the pre-existing regulations for management and use of asbestos material. In summary, the Duty Holder s responsibilities under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 as applied to premises are 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 anyone to co-operate as far as is necessary to allow the duty holder to comply with the above requirements. Domestic Premises While the CAR 2012 Regulation 4 duty applies specifically to non-domestic premises, the wider duties for managing asbestos risks under CAR 2012 and the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 apply to workers in all workplaces. Local Authorities and other housing organisations 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. These organisations also have a duty to identify asbestos under CAR 2006 Regulation 5 where work (eg non-licensed) with asbestos is planned. The Duty-to-Manage framework set out in CAR 2012 provides a mechanism for protecting workers and achieving compliance in domestic properties and, indeed, many organisations with both domestic and non-domestic property portfolios have essentially adopted the CAR 2012 Regulation 4 model for their management arrangements in both sets of premises. PAGE 32 BARBOUR > - ENVIRONMENT, SAFE IN OUR KNOWLEDGE HEALTH & SAFETY

4 Barbour Tools The Barbour Service has the following tools to help with your Asbestos needs: Asbestos Model Policy Asbestos Management Technical Guide Asbestos Forms and Checklists Management Overview to Asbestos Toolbox talks (for managing your workforce). Date of Issue: July 2012 PAGE 43 BARBOUR > - ENVIRONMENT, SAFE IN OUR KNOWLEDGE HEALTH & SAFETY

5 Disclaimer Barbour is a trading division and trading name of UBM Information Limited (UBMi). It has published this Guide in order to help the promotion of good practice amongst knowledgeable and competent specialists in the subject covered by this Guide. By using this Guide, the user acknowledges, accepts and agrees to the following: UBMi does not give any condition, warranty or other term, or accept any duty of care or liability, in connection with the quality or fitness for purpose of this Guide, or any loss or damage resulting from reliance on it, and it excludes all these. When deciding whether or how to act, the user should always obtain appropriate professional advice and should not rely on any information, advice or recommendation in this Guide, however it has been expressed. The user is responsible for obtaining professional advice, and acknowledges that any defects in this Guide would be detected by a knowledgeable and competent specialist providing that advice. Any use of this Guide by any person is subject to UBMi s user terms for Barbour services, and by using it the user is accepting those terms, and agreeing to be bound by them, on behalf of the user and all other persons for whom the user undertakes any work. The user waives (and agrees to waive) all claims for loss or damage which it might otherwise have against UBMi in connection with this Guide other than those arising out of a liability which UBMi has for personal injury (whether fatal or otherwise) resulting from negligence. PAGE 4 > BARBOUR - SAFE ENVIRONMENT, IN OUR KNOWLEDGE HEALTH & SAFETY