Asbestos Management System PERSONNEL DIVISION
AIM: To ensure that all reasonably practicable steps have been taken to prevent the risk of exposure of staff, students, contractors and lawful visitors to asbestos in a manner that could adversely affect their health. RESPONSIBILITY: The Head of Estate Planning Services and the University Health and Safety Adviser will be responsible for ensuring the formulation of the asbestos management plan. Heads of Departments /Divisions will be responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of the asbestos management plan within areas under their control. 1 ASBESTOS REGISTER The Estate Planning Services Division will ensure that an appropriate register of the known or suspected location of asbestos materials within the University is maintained. The Asbestos Register will be updated as asbestos based materials are identified or removed and will be available for inspection within the Estate Planning Services office. All persons identifying asbestos based materials should inform Estate Planning Services and/or the University Health and Safety Adviser to enable the Register to be kept up to date. 2 DRAWINGS & PLANS Where applicable drawings and plans supplied to contractors must identify the presence or suspected presence of asbestos based materials. 3 CONTRACTORS All relevant information on the presence or suspected presence of asbestos based materials will be passed in writing by the Head of Department to the principal contractor who in turn is obliged to pass relevant information concerning the presence of asbestos to their sub-contractors. It will be the responsibility of the Head of Department who has appointed the contractor to provide relevant written information on the presence of known or suspected asbestos to consultants and contractors appointed by the University. 4 CONSTRUCTION (DESIGN & MANAGEMENT) REGULATIONS 1994 Where the above Regulations apply to any project then the Pre-Tender Health and Safety Plan must contain relevant information on the presence of known or suspected asbestos based materials. 5 EMPLOYEES/CONTRACT MAINTENANCE STAFF All maintenance and other workers who may be affected by the presence of asbestos based materials or may disturb asbestos during their work will be notified of its presence. 1
6 TRAINING All professional, technical and craft staff employed by the Estates Planning Services Division will be required to attend asbestos awareness training sessions. In addition maintenance contractors employed through the Estate Planning Services Division on term contracts will also be required to attend asbestos awareness training sessions. 7 IDENTIFICATION Asbestos based materials which could be disturbed by maintenance staff or contractors should be clearly labelled. Where labelling may not be appropriate e.g. large areas of ceiling tiles, it is essential that those who may work or disturb the material are made aware of the presence of asbestos. 8 CONDITION It is not the policy of the University to remove asbestos that is in good condition and presents no risk to the health of building occupants. Damaged asbestos based materials may be sealed, encapsulated or removed. Where asbestos based materials are in poor condition, liable to release dust and could be disturbed by maintenance work they will be removed and replaced with a non-asbestos based material. 9 ASBESTOS AUDITS Where necessary prior to work taking place Estate Planning Services and/or the University Health and Safety Adviser will undertake an audit of the proposed work area. Representative samples will be used to identify asbestos as far as is reasonably practicable. 10 ASBESTOS REMOVAL Removal of asbestos based materials will be under the control of the Estate Planning Services Division. Asbestos based materials will only be removed by contractors licensed by the Health and Safety Executive. Access to the asbestos removal area will be prohibited until such time as a 'clean air' certificate has been issued by a laboratory accredited for the purpose. Estate Planning Services will maintain a list of approved asbestos removal contractors. The University Health and Safety Adviser will maintain a list of accredited laboratories. II DISPOSAL All waste that contains asbestos will be disposed of under the 1996 Special Waste Regulations. All asbestos waste will be disposed of by an approved asbestos waste disposal contractor. Appropriate records of all disposals should be forwarded to the University Health and Safety Adviser who will maintain a record. 2
12 INSPECTIONS Periodic inspections of asbestos based materials left in place will be undertaken by Estate Planning Services Division to ensure that the condition of the material has not changed. The period between inspections will depend on the type of material, its location and condition. 13 ACCIDENTAL FIBRE RELEASE Where accidental damage of asbestos based materials takes place the following action must be taken immediately: a) the area must not be entered without appropriate personal protective equipment; b) ensure that the area is cleared of staff and students; c) contact the University Health and Safety Adviser; An approved licensed contractor and accredited laboratory will be summoned to make the area safe and undertake airborne monitoring to assess the extent of surface and airborne contamination. 3
ASBESTOS PRO-FORMA INTRODUCTION This asbestos pro-forma has been developed to enable the appropriate transfer of information between the University and principal/nominated contractors in respect of asbestos based materials at formal pre-tender/contract meetings with appointed/prospective contractors. ASBESTOS BASED MATERIALS Tick Box 1 Confirm that under the CDM Regulations the Pre-Tender Health & Safety Plan has identified, so far as reasonably practicable, the presence and location of known or suspected asbestos based material. 2 Notification has been sent to you indicating the presence of known or suspected asbestos based materials in the building/room/location where you will be undertaking work. Copies of relevant sections of the University Asbestos Register and/or drawings have been passed to you by hand/letter. 3 The Asbestos Register is a non-exhaustive record, therefore due diligence should be applied to ensure that any suspect materials are not disturbed. 4 Any suspect materials must be notified immediately to the appropriate member of Estate Planning Services staff. Contract Title:... Signature:... Position:... Date: 4