ASBESTOS SURVEYS – AVOIDING THE PITFALLS

So you need an asbestos survey? What type of survey? Are there different types? Who do you contact? What do you need to ask for? How do you ensure the survey will give you all the information you require? What then?

Asbestos management can only begin when you have a log (or register) of where all your asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are. You’ll also need to know what type of material you’re dealing with, how much is there and what condition it’s in. You’ll need to know how accessible it is so that you can assess the risk of fibre release from it if it’s disturbed. You’ll also want to know what type of asbestos you’re dealing with as some types are even more hazardous than others. In other words you need to get an idea of how hazardous the ACM is (i.e. an assessment of the potential for it to cause harm) and what are the chances (based on likely exposure of people) of this harm actually occurring. For the latter you’ll need more information such as what goes on in the area, how many people are involved, doing what and for how long. You’ll also need to know about any maintenance activities going on because these often give rise to potential exposure.

Quite a lot of information then? But don’t worry, that’s what asbestos consultants are for! They will gather all this information together for you and present it in the form of an asbestos survey report and register. They will quantify the hazard by conducting a “material assessment” and assess the risk of exposure by looking at all the other factors involved and conducting a “priority assessment” which will end up giving you a “priority rating”; a simple score-based, quantitative risk management tool which will help you decide on further action and give you an indication of what you need to deal with first. You can then base your “asbestos management plan” on the outcome of the survey and should feel comfortable that you’re tackling everything in a logical, prioritised manner.

So what can go wrong? Well, plenty actually. You could end up using a survey company which has no quality procedures in place! Amazingly perhaps, asbestos surveys do not have to be conducted by an accredited organisation! Most other asbestos consultancy work, for example measuring the concentration of fibres in air, conducting clearance inspections after asbestos removal and analysing samples for asbestos content, will need accreditation by UKAS (the UK Accreditation Service) but not surveying – it’s only strongly recommended in the official guidance (HSG 264) and it’s not required under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.

All that aside, since the revised guidance for surveys (HSG 264 – Asbestos: the survey guide) was published in January 2010, communication between the consultant and the client prior to carrying out a survey has become even more important than it was before. So what questions should a consultant be asking you prior to conducting a survey? Well, the following might be a useful starting point:

• Is a pre-survey site meeting and walk-through inspection required? This would probably be more necessary for large buildings or for a site with a multitude of buildings on it.
• What type of survey is needed? It might be a management survey of the whole site, or part of site. It might be a demolition survey of one, some or all buildings or it could be a refurbishment survey that’s needed. Are you even sure of the type of survey you want?
• What is the scope of the survey? Possibly a partial refurbishment survey is needed and it might have to be undertaken within occupied buildings, in which case careful planning and partial enclosure of access and/or sampling points might be needed.
• Do all buildings need to be surveyed? Is the scope for one building, or part of a building, different from that of another? Is there existing survey information which the customer wants incorporated? How valid were the original survey findings? Answers to all these questions are needed.
• Are the surrounding areas and grounds to be included or excluded from the survey? Remember that “premises” refers not only to the buildings but to the whole site; often especially important in the case of a demolition survey.

In addition to providing the answers to all of these questions, you’ll also need to provide your consultant information on the following:

• A full description of the properties to be surveyed;
• Information on the principal use of the building/s and of any other activities taking place at other times;
• Details of the activities and processes being undertaken within the premises;
• Whether you have any areas requiring priority attention;
• The number of buildings including their age, type and details of their construction;
• As many current plans or drawings, documents or survey reports that are available relating to the design, structure or construction of the building/s to be surveyed;
• The approximate number of rooms and any unusual features that may impact on the survey scope;
• Structural information, including details of any previous extensions and/or refurbishments and when such work was carried out;
• Any historical data on buildings previously demolished and the whereabouts of any underground ducts, shafts etc.;
• Details of all plant and equipment to be included or excluded from the survey;
• General security information, alarm tests, PPE requirements, etc.) and where the taking photographs may be restricted;
• Any restricted access areas (radiation controlled areas, high voltage equipment, etc.) and how to gain access therein;
• Whether there are any listed buildings or conservation areas involved;
• Restrictions on access, preferred hours of work etc.;
• Contact details for relevant operational, health and safety, building management, key-holder personnel etc.;
• Any other special requirements to be noted.

Hopefully, if your consultant is in possession of all the above information before preparing the survey specification for your property, the survey report and register produced as a result will be as fully comprehensive as possible and provide you with useful information to help you develop your asbestos management action plan. The more accurate information on the location, extent and condition of asbestos made available, the less chance there is of some unfortunate soul inadvertently disturbing asbestos fibres, inhaling them and by so doing making themselves more vulnerable to developing an insidious, potentially fatal disease in the future.

Alex Nicoll CCP (Asb.), AFOH

Why Asbestos was called a ‘magic mineral’?

Introduction

Asbestos is a collective term for several naturally occurring silicate minerals, mined in other countries but used extensively throughout the last century in the manufacture of Asbestos-containing Materials (ACMs). The UK was a major player in such manufacturing, the two main producers being Cape Asbestos and Turner & Newall.

Over six million tonnes of raw asbestos fibres were imported into the UK during the 20^th century, the peak period being the late 1960s and early 1970s when an average of about 150,000 tonnes of asbestos fibres were reaching our shores each year.

Asbestos has many useful properties, which led to it being regarded by many as “the magic mineral”.

• Asbestos is fireproof and will not burn; this led to its use as fire-proof boarding within fire-breaks, fire doors, oven and furnace door gaskets and textiles for protective garments, including suits and gloves.
• Asbestos is an excellent thermal insulator, having a very low heat transfer coefficient.
• ACMs are usually very strong and durable, with the fibres having a high tensile strength, making them ideal for use as reinforcing or binding agents.
• Asbestos has excellent electrical resistance and is a good sound absorber.

One of the main uses of asbestos of relevance to redundant plant was for asbestos insulation (or lagging) in the form of amosite (brown), crocidolite (blue) and chrysotile (white), or mixtures of such types. Asbestos insulation is most often encountered as lagging to boilers and/or pipes. Asbestos insulation can, in the case of hand-applied lagging, contain anything between around 5% to 85% asbestos, and up to 100% (almost exclusively chrysotile) for pre-manufactured textile blankets. Another pre-manufactured form of asbestos insulation, Caposite, contains around 70% asbestos, mainly amosite. Caposite insulation is usually encountered in the form of hemispherical lengths of material applied to either side of pipes and held in place by jubilee clips.

Other types of ACMs often associated with redundant plant include gaskets (CAF joints or rope), electrical switchgear, cables and pipe linings.

Alexander Nicoll CCP (Asb.), AFOH

Senior Consultant, Asbestos Consultants to the Environment Ltd