Who Has The Duty To Manage Asbestos?
According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the person who has a legal duty to manage asbestos in a building could be the building owner, landlord for the premises, or the person/organisation responsible for the building’s maintenance or repair. This person is referred to as the dutyholder, and must protect people who work in their building, or use it in other ways, from the risks of exposure to asbestos. In order to do this, dutyholders may need additional support from industry specialists.
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What Does The Duty To Manage Asbestos Cover?
The HSE outlines that the duty to manage asbestos covers all non-domestic premises, including factories and shops, as well as ‘common parts’ of multi-occupancy domestic premises, such as purpose-built flats.
The duty to manage asbestos is part of the Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012) and requires the dutyholder to:
- Assess the presence of ACMs, the amount, location and condition.
- Presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not.
- Make a record, and keep track of, an asbestos register outlining the location and condition of confirmed ACMs or presumed ACMs.
- Assess the risk of anyone being exposed to airborne fibres from the ACMs.
- Write an asbestos management plan to manage the risk, put the plan into action, monitor it and review it every 12 months or sooner if necessary.
- Monitor the condition of any ACMs or suspected ACMs (e.g. through asbestos re-inspections, etc.)
- Provide information on the location and condition of the ACMs to anyone who may work on or disturb them, including the emergency services.
What Help Is Available For A Dutyholder?
This is where Pillars Environmental asbestos consultants come in. Handling the threats of asbestos to health and safety, as well as the risk of non-compliance, can leave dutyholders in a predicament. But, with the help of our accredited asbestos surveyors, you can fulfil your legal duty with confidence.
As a specialist asbestos survey company, we have over 35 years of experience working across domestic, commercial and industrial properties across England. Our bespoke, comprehensive asbestos services are guaranteed to support you in remaining compliant with the latest regulations and keeping all users of your building safe.
Offering each client a unique service tailored to their site and its unique needs, we carry out five types of asbestos abatement services across England, including: Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys, Asbestos Management Surveys, Asbestos Management Plans, Asbestos Removal Management and Asbestos Re-Inspections.
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Refurbishment & Demolition Asbestos Surveys
The main aim of a Refurbishment & Demolition Asbestos Survey (commonly known as R&D surveys, formerly known as type 3 asbestos surveys) is to find the location of any present asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and assess the extent.
The process of an R&D survey uses visual and intrusive sampling methods in order to thoroughly inspect all areas of the building, as far as reasonably practicable. If our licensed asbestos consultants find a material they suspect could contain asbestos, we will take a small sample of it in line with HSG264 Asbestos: The Survey Guide.
Once these samples have been sent to an independent UKAS-accredited laboratory for testing, we will then be able to confirm whether asbestos is present, what type of asbestos is present and the condition the materials are in.
During an R&D survey, it is very important for the building to remain vacant, in order to keep everyone safe and comply with regulations.
“It is the duty holder’s responsibility to assess the presence, amount, location and condition of any ACMs present within their property. Such properties include all industrial, commercial or public buildings such as factories, museums, warehouses, shops, restaurants, cafes, hospitals and schools.”
Asbestos Management Surveys
The main aim of an Asbestos Management Survey (AMS, formerly known as a type 2 asbestos survey) is to locate any ACMs present within a property which could be disturbed during the normal occupancy of the building.
Once all samples have been collected, these materials will be sent to and tested at an independent UKAS-accredited laboratory to confirm whether asbestos is present, what type of asbestos is present and whether these materials have deteriorated, had any surface treatment or not, etc.
From this point onwards, our competent asbestos consultants can advise you as a dutyholder on the best course of action, including any areas/materials that need urgent attention.
In comparison to an R&D Survey, an asbestos management survey adopts a more modest approach, e.g. accessing dry risers or removing ceiling tiles. This means it is safe for building users to remain on the premises during the survey.
Our licensed asbestos specialists will always ensure minimal disruption is caused to your building during the course of any of our asbestos management services. To achieve this, our team will only ever survey or collect samples from empty or unoccupied areas of the building. After assessing potential ACMs, our asbestos consultants will then be able to advise you on the best course of action to take if these materials are in a poor condition, or are likely to become disturbed during normal occupancy.
This course of action will likely include either an Asbestos Management Plan or Asbestos Removal Management.
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Asbestos Management Plans
An Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) shapes your commitment to managing your asbestos obligations as a dutyholder, by planning out the process you will undertake to ensure people using your building are safe from asbestos exposure.
What’s Included In An Asbestos Management Plan?
- A history of the materials on-site, which we will ensure are either maintained, labelled or removed.
- Timeframes for competition based on a priority and material risk assessment scale.
- An outline of who is responsible for managing the risk of asbestos on-site.
- The asbestos register.
- Details of any previous asbestos works undertaken on-site.
- The level of communication required to ensure the risk of asbestos is managed effectively.
- Any training required to ensure the risk of asbestos remains low.
Asbestos Removal Management
Asbestos Removal Management is considered to be one of the more complicated and prolonged processes in the asbestos abatement industry. But, our experienced and knowledgeable team can step in to help make this process simple and efficient. Once the potential ACM samples collected from the asbestos management survey have been tested, the next step may be asbestos removal.
To ensure adherence with HSE regulations, it is advisable that only fully trained and experienced asbestos specialists safely and effectively manage any ACMs detected within your premises. Our asbestos consultants will also guide you through the intricacies of UK health & safety law, helping you to understand your obligations as a dutyholder and making sure your building remains compliant, as well as safe, from start to finish.
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Asbestos Re-Inspections
If ACMs have been left in a good condition, and are unlikely to become disturbed, they are generally safe to be left in situ, as long as regular compliance checks are carried out to monitor their status. Our Asbestos Re-Inspection services can help dutyholders with this, to ensure you, your building and all users of your building, remain safe and compliant.
Asbestos re-inspection services are most often advised as part of an Asbestos Management Plan, usually as a method of assessing any ACMs that have been left in situ at your building. This is especially important for buildings that were constructed before the year 2000, as these types of properties pose a higher risk of containing ACMs with deteriorated conditions.
Asbestos FAQs
Where are the most common asbestos products?
Some of the most common asbestos products include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB asbestos)
- Asbestos floor tiles
- Asbestos cement sheets
- Asbestos ceiling tiles
- Asbestos pipe lagging
- Asbestos textiles
- Asbestos textured coatings (asbestos in artex, e.g. popcorn ceilings)
- Asbestos roof insulation
- Asbestos gaskets
What are the main types of asbestos?
- Chrysotile (white) asbestos – The most commonly used type of asbestos due to its softness and flexibility. Has the ability to spread quickly across the environment.
- Crocidolite (blue) asbestos – Has extremely fine, brittle fibres that are needle-like in appearance. The most dangerous type, its very thin and sharp fibres can easily infiltrate the lungs or abdomen, posing serious health risks.
- Amosite (brown) asbestos – Was widely used in construction materials throughout the 20th century. Also has thin, needle-like fibres, meaning much less exposure is needed to cause serious diseases compared to chrysotile asbestos.
How long does an asbestos survey take?
Our comprehensive asbestos surveys are tailored to the unique requirements of your site and/or company’s needs, meaning every project is different. The length of each asbestos survey will differ, depending on what is required. If your building is an older property, it may require a more invasive method (e.g. an R&D survey) to thoroughly assess the potential presence of any ACMs. It is also vital to assess any ACMs that have been left in situ, which may require re-inspections, in order to evaluate the status of their condition and their potential to cause harm.
What is the cost of an asbestos survey?
Asbestos survey costs can vary significantly depending on the individual requirements of your specific location(s), including: the location of suspected ACMs, any specialist equipment needed, etc.
For a better idea, get in touch with us today for a free quote.
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Areas We Offer Asbestos Surveys
ASBESTOS
SURVEYS
We undertake Asbestos Management Surveys and Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys, both of which are HSG264-compliant…
ASBESTOS
MANAGEMENT PLAN
Our Asbestos Management Plans detail how you can manage asbestos in your property, in line with legislation…
ASBESTOS REMOVAL
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
We can oversee Asbestos Removal projects to ensure a thorough, safe and compliant job is being undertaken…
