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ASBESTOS RISK MANAGEMENT

ASBESTOS RISK MANAGEMENT. Summary. Asbestos. The health risk. In buildings. Background to regulation. Outline of duty to manage. Review of consultation. What is asbestos. Asbestos is the name for a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be separated into fibres.

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ASBESTOS RISK MANAGEMENT

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  1. ASBESTOS RISK MANAGEMENT

  2. Summary • Asbestos. • The health risk. • In buildings. • Background to regulation. • Outline of duty to manage. • Review of consultation.

  3. What is asbestos • Asbestos is the name for a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be separated into fibres. • The fibres are strong durable and resistant to heat and fire. They are also long thin and flexible so that they can be woven into cloth. • Because of these qualities asbestos has been used in thousands of consumer, industrial maritime automotive scientific and building products. • During the twentieth century some 30 million tonnes of asbestos were used in industrial sites schools shipyards and commercial buildings.

  4. What is asbestos • It is of two principal classes the amphiboles and the serpentines the former of relatively minor importance. • Chrysotile is in the serpentine class and constitutes about 95% of the worlds supply of asbestos, of which three quarters is mined in Quebec. • Other large deposits exist is South Africa.

  5. AMOSITE(Brown) • Brown or grey straight fibres. • Belongs in the amphibole group and contains iron and magnesium.

  6. CHRYSOTILE (WHITE) • A white curly fibres accounts for 95% of asbestos in products. • It is a member of the serpentine group. It is magnesium silicate.

  7. CROCIDOLITE (BLUE) • Amphibole group. • Takes the form of blue straight fibres. • It is a sodium iron magnesium silicate.

  8. The problem • Over 3000 people a year die from asbestos related diseases. • There is usually along delay between the first exposure and subsequent symptoms of the disease. • Between 15 and 60 years.

  9. Asbestos related disease • ASBESTOSIS • a scarring of the lung that leads to breathing problems. • Workers who have had high long exposures are often affected with asbestosis. • MESOTHELIOMA • is a malignant form of lung cancer that affects the cells that form the lining around the outside of the lungs.

  10. The problem • Between the 1950s and 1970s asbestos was used widely in the UK as building materials. • Thousands of tonnes of asbestos are still in buildings today. • Over 1.5 million buildings still contain some form of asbestos.

  11. The problem • 25 % of people still dying from asbestos related disease once worked in the construction industry. • Pre 1988 the Asbestos Regulations were aimed at those working in asbestos factories and for asbestos removal contractors. • The regulations did not cover those who might come into contact with asbestos accidentally.

  12. Who are these people • Heating and ventilation engineers. • Roofing contractors. • Electricians. • Joiners. • Plumbers. • Gas fitters. • Demolition workers.

  13. What have we done already • The 1998 Amendment of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations: • extended there scope to cover incidental exposure,and, • made it clear that CAWR applied to all workers who might come into contact with asbestos. • The 1998 Amendment to the Asbestos (licensing) Regulations. • The 1999 Asbestos (prohibitions)Regulations

  14. A part of the jigsaw is still missing • Contractors not aware that they were working on asbestos materials. • No one was managing the risk from asbestos in buildings.

  15. Options • Removal of all asbestos containing materials from buildings. • Introduction of a single duty to survey for asbestos. • Introduction of new regulation to manage the risk from asbestos.

  16. Remove all asbestos ? • NO • Asbestos can serve a useful purpose e.g fire protection. • If in good condition,and in a position where it cannot be damaged or disturbed, it poses NO RISK. • Removal would be prohibitively expensive. • Disposal of waste would generate immediate problems. • Removing asbestos creates an additional unnecessary risk for removers.

  17. A single duty to survey • NO • Only the first step. Resources are better spent on managing the risk. • Practical difficulties e.g who would undertake the survey and who would pay? • Survey information goes out of date. The condition of asbestos materials deteriorates.

  18. A new duty to manage risk ? • YES • Introduces it as a new regulation in the CAWR 1987. • To focus on a duty to manage the risk from asbestos in buildings. • A new ACOP to back up regulations and provide guidance to the designated duty holders.

  19. Duty holder to • Take reasonable steps to identify asbestos containing materials in buildings by: • Looking at plans etc, • Consultation of others e.g. architects employees etc. • Carrying out a detailed inspections of the building.

  20. Types of survey • TYPE 1 • Location and assessment survey (presumptive survey). • Assess the presence of ACMs. • Any materials which can reasonably be expected to contain asbestos will be presumed to contain asbestos.

  21. Types of survey • TYPE 2 • Full access sampling and identification survey(sampling survey). • As type 1. • Samples are collected an analysed for the presence of ACMs.

  22. Types of survey • TYPE 3 • Full access sampling and identification survey (pre/demolition or refurbishment). • Access all areas. • May involve destructive inspection.

  23. Duty holder to • Assess the risk from materials. • If asbestos is in good condition. • Leave it in place and introduce a management system. • If its in poor condition. • Encapsulate or seal it or removal by licensed contractors.

  24. Duty holder to • Prepare a management plan and, • Where materials are to remain in the building • Inform others of condition and locations ACMs. • Carry out regular inspections on ACMs condition. • Review and revise management plan as needed.

  25. Record keeping • Survey report. • Risk assessments. • Management plan. • Paper and computer based. • Ease of updating. • Arrangements for long term storage of records. • Determine who will need access.

  26. Maintenance of Management Plan • Fits with other systems. • Permit to work. • Strict control of contractors operations. • Mentioned in emergency and contingency procedures. • Arrangements for monitoring and reviewing plan.

  27. Review of consultation • Consultation took place in 2000. • Encouraged review of two primary areas. • Exactly who will be duty holder. • Which buildings the propped regulations cover.

  28. Who has a duty • The employer in occupation. • Legal duties placed on others. • Where • The workplace and the common areas in rented accommodation. • This extends to some domestic premises.

  29. Further Consultation • The need to consult timetable 2002. • Supporting Guidance • ACOP will give guidance on • Identifying asbestos maintaining a register. • Assessing the risk. • Preparing an action plan. • Setting up suitable management systems.

  30. Asbestos Materials • Spray coatings. • Pipe insulation. • A.I.B • Cement products. • Composite materials. • Textured coatings. • Sandwich materials.

  31. Typical Locations • Roof and exterior walls. • Boilers and pipework. • Ceilings. • Flooring materials. • Air ducting. • Domestic appliances.

  32. Dates of Usage • 1970 end use of Crocodile. • 1974 end use of sprayed coatings. • 1985 end use of AIB. • 1993 end of manufacture of roofing felt. • 1999 end use of cement, gaskets, friction materials.

  33. You don’t have to be Einstein to understand and appreciate the benefits of managing asbestos in buildings

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