Asbestos Guidance Policy
Company Name:
Location:
Tel. No.:
Date: Signed by:
Introduction
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, found in many areas of the world. Typically, asbestos was used as fire separation in buildings, an insulator on steam pipe work or to add strength to other materials, such as cement sheet. Most usage of asbestos was limited to four types:
· Chrysotile - a fine, silky, flexible white to grey/green fibre.
· Amosite - a straight, brittle, light grey to pale brown fibre.
· Crocidolite - a straight, flexible blue fibre.
· Anthophyllite - a brittle, white to brown fibre.
The generic term used to describe asbestos products or materials is ‘asbestos containing material’ (ACM).
It is often difficult to determine the presence of asbestos as many other fibrous materials, including man-made alternatives, closely resemble asbestos on visual inspection. The only certain method of identifying whether a material contains asbestos is to have it analysed using specialist techniques.
The inhalation of asbestos fibres is known to cause a range of serious ill health effects, which may not occur until a long time after exposure. The Health and Safety Executive suggest that asbestos-related diseases currently kill more people than any other single work-related cause.
The importation, supply, use and re-use of ACMs are now banned. Existing ACMs in a location that are in good order and well maintained do not pose a health risk, unless someone cuts, drills, abrades or removes the materials, releasing fibres into the atmosphere.
The Revised Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 defines the approach to asbestos in the workplace. They state that it is essential to identify, assess and control asbestos and that this responsibility falls to those who are in control of non-domestic premises. In the vast majority of cases, only licensed contractors are allowed to work on ACM.
In addition to the above regulations the following Health and Safety Executive documents have been used in the preparation of this document:
· ‘The Management of asbestos in non-domestic premises’ (Approved Code of Practice), and
· ‘A comprehensive guide to Managing Asbestos in premises’, (Guidance document).
The Company shall use this document to guide the identification, control and reduction of risks associated with the control of asbestos at work, in premises occupied and controlled by the Company or controlled by others where Company employees may undertake work on their premises.
Control of Asbestos
The Company shall ensure that ACMs are identified in locations under Company control, assess the risk from the material, decide what action, if any, is to be taken to control the risk and provide information to those who may need it.
Revised Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
The revised Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 came into force on 6 April 2012.
The main change is that employers carrying out some types of non-licensed work will now be required to notify that work, ensure workers have medical examinations at least once every 3 years and to keep a record of the work done by each worker. There will be a three year transition period to 30 April 2015, before the new requirement for workers carrying out some types of non-licensed work to have a medical examination comes into force.
The core requirements of the existing regulations to carry out a risk assessment, plan work, put in place suitable control measures and train workers are all unchanged; the work for which a licence is required is also unchanged as are the requirements relating to licensed workers.
The Company shall control asbestos at work by using the following staged approach:
Stage 1 / Establish if there is asbestos in the premises, its amount and what condition it is in, by referring to available informationStage 2 / Presume that materials contain asbestos, unless there is strong evidence that they do not (e.g. written information / confirmation from architects or builders)
Stage 3 / Make and keep up to date a record of the location and condition of confirmed or presumed ACMs on the premises
Stage 4 / Assess the risk from the material
Stage 5 / Preparing a plan that sets out in detail how the risks from the material will be managed
Stage 6 / Take the steps needed to put the plan into action
Stage 7 / Provide information on the location and condition of the material to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb ACMs
Stage 8 / Monitor the plan and the arrangements
Stage 9 / Audit the plan and the arrangements
Stage 10 / Review the plan and the arrangements
Stage 1 – Identification of ACMs
The Company shall identify all premises under their control.
· They shall use available information to identify ACMs in the premises under their control, its amount and what condition it is in. Appropriate sources of information may include:
· The landlord.
· Site and/or architects plans.
· Records of previous asbestos surveys.
· Assessment of the age of the building (use of asbestos in construction was prohibited after 1999)
· Commission of new asbestos surveys, conducted by a competent person(s).
Stage 2 – Presumption of Asbestos
Where it is not obvious or possible to confirm its presence, the Company shall presume that a material is an ACM.
Stage 3 - Records
Having undertaken the initial assessment, the Company shall make and keep up-to-date, accurate records of where ACMs are located in the premises.
Stage 4 - Assessment
The Company shall assess the potential risk arising from the position and state in which the material has been discovered.
This will be achieved by using the following assessment types:
· Material Risk Assessment
· Priority Risk Assessment
The Material Risk Assessment will be provided by a competent surveyor who will also assist with the Priority Risk Assessment by consulting with the person who manages the building and understands the activities undertaken within it.
The final sign off for the Priority Risk Assessment will be the person who has day to day managerial control of the premises.
The Company shall ensure that only persons who are competent will undertake assessments.
Stage 5 – Preparing a Plan
Based on the assessment, the Company shall prepare a plan which determines how the ACM will be treated and controlled and, in particular, how the information will be given to those who need it and if any labelling is required.
The plan shall be used to ensure that work on ACM’s is only undertaken by competent persons; usually this will require use of a licensed contractor(s). Some very minor work on ACMs may be undertaken by unlicensed persons but this should be agreed by a competent person before proceeding.
Stage 6 – Putting the plan into action
The Company will ensure that the plan is implemented and that only competent persons undertake the work. All actions shall be recorded for future reference
If ACMs are present in areas where maintenance or other work may take place there may be a formal process required such as a ‘permit to work’. Ensure that all formal processes required by the plan are fully implemented.
Stage 7 – Provision of Information
The Company shall ensure that records on asbestos are brought to the attention of anyone who may need the information to ensure their health and safety, e.g. contractors or the emergency services.
Consider the labelling of ACMs in non-public areas where the presence of signs would lower the probability of accidental damage of the ACM and therefore the risk.
Stage 8 - Monitoring
The Company shall monitor the performance of employees who are involved in the implementation of this policy.
The Company shall monitor the condition of any remaining ACM’s. This will be undertaken at a frequency determined by the type of material, level of encapsulation and location of the ACM. Visual monitoring will be on a continuing basis.
Stage 9 – Audit
The Company shall audit to ensure that processes and documents relating to this policy are properly implemented.
Stage 10 - Review
The Company should review this policy as required by the outcome of monitoring, audit and/or changes in legislation or guidance.
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