• Type 1 – presumptive: to locate materials assumed to contain asbestos and note what condition they are in. No sampling is done. This survey can be carried out by any responsible person.
• Type 2 – standard sampling: the same as Type 1 but samples are taken and analysed to confirm whether asbestos is present. This is done only by a qualified asbestos specialist. • Type 3 – full access sampling: involves
getting full access to all parts of the building, using destructive inspection if necessary. This type is usually used just before demolition or major refurbishment and is only done by a qualified asbestos specialist.
The results of all types of survey, including information on the accessibility, condition and surface treatment of any presumed or known ACMs, should be recorded and the information provided to anyone who may work on, or disturb, these materials. Safety representatives are entitled to this information.
If there is doubt as to whether asbestos is present, it should be presumed that it is present and also that it is not restricted to white asbestos, and national or local regulations should apply accordingly.
Where to Look for Asbestos
Some examples of asbestos use include:
• Insulation board – contains around 20 – 45% asbestos; used for fire protection, heat and sound insulation; in ducts, in-fill panels, ceiling tiles, wall linings, bath panels and partitions, fire doors.
• Pipe lagging – contains 55 – 100% asbestos; thermal insulation on boilers and pipes.
• Fire blankets – used in homes and commercial catering kitchens.
• Floor tiles – very similar in appearance to ordinary vinyl or plastic tiles.
• Sprayed coatings/loose fill - inside roofs, lofts, etc. • Rope and gaskets – around jointed pipe and in
joints in boilers as seals.
• Roof felt – rolls of felt laid on roofs; roof tiles. • Decorative paints and plasters – lining walls,
around and beneath staircases, etc.; “artex” ceiling coatings.
Asbestos cement products include: • Corrugated roof sheets.
• Rainwater goods (fountain heads, guttering, drain pipes, etc.).
• Cold water tanks and toilet cisterns.
Procedure for Asbestos Discovery During Construction
A procedure must be in place covering the actions to take on discovering asbestos in unknown locations. This will include stopping work and immediately informing the site supervisor. He/she should arrange for the area to be sealed off until a formal survey can be carried out.
Accidental Exposure to Asbestos
Requirements:
• Stop work immediately.
• Prevent anyone entering the area.
• Arrangements should be made to contain the asbestos - seal the area.
• Put up warning signs – “possible asbestos contamination”.
• Inform the site supervisor immediately.
• If contaminated, all clothing, equipment, etc. should be decontaminated and disposed of as hazardous waste.
• Undress, shower, wash hair; put on clean clothes. • Contact a specialist surveyor or asbestos removal
contractor.
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Requirements for Removal
Provided asbestos is contained and left undisturbed it can be retained and managed with no adverse effects. Experience in many countries has shown that systematic removal measures are very expensive. France and the USA adopted a management and control strategy and concluded that improper removal might cause a problem where no problem existed before.
In the UK the HSE emphasises the fact that in many cases asbestos can be retained and managed. Where it is to be removed, then a number of controls apply covering the licensing of operators; a plan of work; and information, instruction and training.
Licensing
Most asbestos removal work should be undertaken by a contractor licensed by the competent authority and following national or local regulations, but any decision on whether particular work should be licensed is based on the specific risks involved. Work should only be exempt from licensing if it meets the following criteria: • The work is sporadic and of low intensity.
• Risk assessment shows the exposure will not exceed any limits.
• The work involves short, non-continuous maintenance activities.
• The work involves the removal of materials in which asbestos fibres are firmly linked to a matrix (e.g. asbestos cement sheet).
• The work involves encapsulation or sealing of ACMs in good condition.
• The work involves air monitoring and sampling.
Plan of Work
Work with asbestos should not start without a written plan detailing how the work is to be carried out. The plan should be kept at the premises where the work is done for the duration of the work. For final demolition or major refurbishment, the plan will usually require that asbestos is removed before any other major works begin. The plan should specify what control measures are required for managing the risk, including:
• Monitoring the condition of any asbestos or ACMs. • Ensuring asbestos or ACMs are maintained or safely
removed.
• Providing information about the location and condition of any asbestos or ACMs to anyone liable to disturb it/them.
• Making this information available to the emergency services.
The measures specified in the plan must be implemented and recorded.
The plan is to be reviewed and revised at regular intervals, and immediately if there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid, or there has been a significant change in the premises to which the plan relates.
Topic Focus
Typical control measures for removing asbestos:
• Restrict access to the area.
• Enclose the work area and keep it under negative pressure, testing the sealed area for leaks.
• Provide appropriate PPE (coveralls,
respirators, etc.) and a decontamination unit. • Ensure removal operatives are suitable
trained.
• Use controlled wet removal methods (e.g. water injection, damping down the surface to be worked on). Dry removal processes are unacceptable.
• Use a wrap-and-cut method or glove bag technique (a method of removing asbestos from pipes, ducts, valves, joints and other non-planar surfaces).
• Where appropriate, use measures which control the fibres at source, e.g. by using vacuuming equipment directly attached to tools. Failing this, use equipment hand-held by a second employee right next to the source emitting the fibres (known as ‘shadow vacuuming’).
• Thoroughly clean the area and ensure the air is clear of asbestos (testing is likely to be needed) upon completion of the work.
Worker exposure should always remain below national or local limit values. Single limit values for all types of asbestos vary from country to country, and are measured in different ways. Recent examples include:
• UK – all types: 0.1 fibres per cm3 (four hours continuous exposure).
• Australia – 1.0f/ml (fibres per millilitre of air). • Canada – amosite 0.5f/ml; chrysotile 1.0f/ml;
crocidolite 0.2f/ml. • France – all types: 2.0f/ml.
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• Germany – all types: 1.0f/ml.
• India – amosite and chrysotile 2.0f/ml; crocidolite 0.2f/ml.
• Indonesia – amosite and chrysotile 1.0f/ml; crocidolite 4.0f/m.
• Nigeria – all types: 2.0f/ml. • Spain – all types: 2.0f/ml.
In addition, short-term exposures must also be strictly controlled and work methods that control the release of fibres should be used.
As well as reducing exposure to asbestos to the absolute minimum, control measures should be put in place to protect those working with asbestos, e.g. RPE, PPE, laundering procedures, air monitoring and medical surveillance.
Respiratory Protective Equipment
Suitable RPE should always be provided where exposure can be above the control limits.
The RPE provided must comply with national or local standards (e.g. in the EU be marked with a CE symbol) and matched to:
• The exposure concentrations (expected or measured).
• The job. • The wearer.
• Factors related to the working environment. RPE should be examined and tested at suitable intervals by a competent person, and a suitable record kept for five years. Respirator testing involves daily checks, monthly checks, and full performance checks every six months. Operator checks would involve fit testing to see that the correct size and model are used to provide an adequate face seal.
Protective Clothing
• Overalls
Only wear disposable (hooded) overalls – cotton not recommended.
Wear waterproof overalls for outdoor work. A few tips include:
– Wear one size too big to avoid splitting the seams.
– If the cuffs are loose, seal with tape.
– Avoid long-sleeved shirts - they are difficult to cover properly.
– Wear the overall legs over footwear – tucking them in lets dust into footwear.
– Wear the hood over the RPE straps. – Dispose of used overalls as asbestos waste. Caution – never take used overalls home.
• Gloves
– If worn, use single-use disposable gloves. – If latex, choose “low-protein powder” gloves. – Dispose of as asbestos waste.
• Footwear
Boots are preferable to disposable overshoes which may cause risk of slipping.
Caution – never use laced boots - they have lace holes to catch asbestos fibres and are difficult to clean.
Information, Instruction and Training
Anyone removing asbestos must have training that includes:
• Properties of asbestos, its effects on health, including its interaction with smoking.
• The types of products or materials likely to contain asbestos.
• The operations which could result in asbestos exposure.
• Safe work practices, preventive control measures, and protective equipment.
• The purpose, choice, limitations, proper use and maintenance of RPE.
• Emergency procedures. • Hygiene requirements. • Decontamination procedures. • Waste handling procedures. • Medical examination requirements.
• The control limit and the need for air monitoring. Employees should be made aware of the significant findings of the risk assessment, and the results of any air monitoring carried out, with an explanation of the findings.
Air Monitoring
Sampling for asbestos in the air should be carried out by trained staff, in three situations:
• Compliance sampling – within control or action limits.
• Background sampling – before starting work (i.e. removal).
• Clearance sampling – after removal and cleaning the area.
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Medical Surveillance
Surveillance for persons who are exposed to asbestos requires:
• A health record is kept (for 40 years in the UK) and maintained.
• Medical surveillance by a doctor where exposure exceeds the action level. A certificate of medical examination for asbestos should be kept for four years.
Requirements for Disposal
Asbestos waste is classified as a controlled waste under national or local regulations and, dependent upon its source and properties, may also be classified as hazardous waste under the same regulations. Under these regulations, movements of hazardous waste should be carried out by a licensed carrier and may have to be tracked by means of a consignment note system until the waste reaches a suitable licensed waste management facility.
The Basel Convention against cross-boundary transport of wastes, for instance, lists wastes that contain asbestos in the catalogue of substances that have to be controlled. • Double wrap and label the waste – standard practice
is to use a red (UN) inner bag, and a clear outer bag with carriage of dangerous goods (CDG) warnings and asbestos code visible.
• The waste should be carried in a sealed skip or vehicle with a segregated compartment for asbestos, easily cleanable and lockable.
• It must be transported by a registered waste carrier and taken to a licensed disposal site. The waste consignment note should be kept for three years.