Finch Consulting Who are we? Formerly HSEC / RHMA - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Asbestos Management David Powell Senior Consultant Finch Consulting

Finch Consulting – Who are we? • Formerly HSEC / RHMA • Multi-disciplinary consultancy • Engineering • Noise / vibration • ATEX Finch Consulting

T oday’s talk – What it isn't going to do. ​ Replace asbestos awareness training. • • ​Make you an asbestos surveyor. • ​Make you an asbestos removal operative . Finch Consulting

Today's Talk – What it will try to do: • Explain why asbestos management is necessary. • ​Give an outline of the process. • ​Explain where you fit in. • ​Show you the challenges in managing asbestos. Finch Consulting

Asbestos – what is it? • A family of minerals with a fibrous structure. • ​Largely resistant to heat and chemicals. • ​Widely used in the 20th century for many purposes. • ​In the building industry as insulation and as reinforcement in moulded products. • ​A fantastic building material, but... Finch Consulting

Asbestos – Health effects • ​Asbestosis • ​fibrosis of the lungs from high exposures • Lung cancer • ​Pleural Plaques • fibrous growths on the lining of the chest • ​Mesothelioma • ​cancer of the lining of the chest • can be from quite low exposures - ​ untreatable! Finch Consulting

Asbestos – Where it could be found • Roof sheets and cladding • Internal partitions • Pipe / boiler insulation • Gaskets • Heat protection • Electrical equipment Finch Consulting

ASBESTOS – The Law • Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 • ​Three main requirements: – ​Duty to prevent exposure to asbestos – Duty to prevent spread of asbestos – ​Duty to manage asbestos in non -domestic premises • CDM regulations – Duty to pass on safety information Finch Consulting

ASBESTOS – The Law • Use of asbestos banned in UK -November 1999 • But not worldwide e.g. India, China, USA • Some imported equipment could contain asbestos • Generally, building work after 2000 unlikely to have used any asbestos containing materials. Finch Consulting

ASBESTOS – Duty to manage • Definition of "premises" is broad: • includes vehicles, tents and structures! • To manage the risk from asbestos, • some form of risk assessment is needed • a plan to manage work with asbestos • information for contractors on your site Finch Consulting

Asbestos Risk Assessment • Action for asbestos found based on a risk assessment • Risk depends on: –Product type - Cement, AIB, Insulation –Amount of damage –Surface coating –Type of asbestos – crocidolite most friable –Likelihood of exposure Finch Consulting

ASBESTOS SURVEYS • Two sorts of survey: • ​Management survey –Based on a desk study of drawings –Site survey to sample visible suspect material. – ​Some ACMs confirmed, some presumed. • ​Demolition/Refurbishment survey – ​Needed before work which could disturb asbestos. – ​Very intrusive, lots of sampling Finch Consulting

ASBESTOS SURVEYS – Difficulties • Information on drawings not 100% clear! • ​ Other materials could have been used. • ​Access equipment needed to take some samples. • ​The only way to be 100% accurate in identifying asbestos is using a microscope. • ​ Accuracy of the survey dependant on the dilligenge of the surveyor. Finch Consulting

Working with asbestos • Avoid it if possible! –Just because it is asbestos, it doesn’t have to be removed immediately! • Must be properly planned • May require a licensed contractor • May need notifying to HSE Finch Consulting

Asbestos M anagement • Any questions? Finch Consulting