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Asbestos is a general name for the fibrous form of several naturally occurring minerals. It resists rot, can be divided into fibres and woven, is insoluble, resistant to destruction by heat, acids and alcohol and is non-flammable. The fibre can be used to reinforce plastic and cement products to produce thermal insulation in high temperature areas and can be used as a fire resistant coating. Various types of asbestos differ in their chemistry, the way they are formed and in the size and shape of their fibres.
Three kinds of asbestos have been used as building/construction materials for many years. These are:
Mainly found in asbestos-cement products such as panels / boards, guttering and drainpipes, cold water storage tanks, roofing sheets/slates and tiles, soffit boards, wall cladding, artex coatings, floor tiles and sheet lino, gaskets and is a common filler or reinforcement in products such as mastics, adhesives and paints.
Mainly found in fire resistant insulation wall panels, ceiling tiles and boards, sprayed asbestos limpet coatings, and pipe / boiler insulation.
Mainly found in insulation mattresses, as reinforcement in asbestos cement (such as pipes, sheets, moulded products, etc) and sprayed thermal and acoustic insulation.
When asbestos is cut or ground, or when an item containing asbestos is damaged, fine fibres are released /rented into the air. These fibres are invisible to the naked eye, but present a health hazard because airborne fibres can be inhaled and trapped into the lungs causing scarring and triggering a number of diseases including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. The damaging effects of these types of cancer may not become apparent for many years.
Due to the overwhelming number of Acts, Regulations, Approved Codes of Practice and Guidance Notes which can refer, directly or indirectly to asbestos, the following information will give an overview of direct asbestos Regulations, Approved Codes of Practice and Guidance notes.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 imposes a duty to manage asbestos in premises and they also require employers to:
Note: Although the
regulations refer to non-domestic premises, where contractors are undertaking work within a domestic property the regulations apply.
Also, the Regulations:
Under Regulation 4 of The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 the “duty holder” means
To download a full HSE guide please clicks here.
This Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) applies to all work with asbestos and explains the requirement of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (in force in Autumn 2006). It applies in particular to work on, or which disturbs or is liable to disturb, materials containing asbestos, asbestos sampling and laboratory analysis. An additional ACOP entitled ‘The Management of Asbestos in non-domestic premises’ is aimed at those who have duties to manage the risk from asbestos in non-domestic premises.
This Approved Code of Practice provides practical guidance on regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, in effect from Autumn 2006. It re-issues substantively unchanged, the guidance in an earlier Code of Practice (L127) which this code replaces. In particular it applies to those who have responsibilities for the maintenance and repair of non-domestic premises where asbestos-containing materials are or are likely to be present in those premises
This guidance is aimed at people who have a duty to manage the risks from asbestos-containing materials in premises, i.e. building owners, tenants and anyone else who has any legal responsibilities for workplaces. The guidance expands on that given in the free leaflet ‘Managing asbestos in premises’.
This HSG sets out how to survey premises for asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and how to record the results in a usable form. It also gives advice on how to recognise and sample suspected ACMs. The HSG has been produced as part of guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive for people carrying out surveys. It will also be of interest to those who commission surveys. Contents: Introduction; Overview of requirements for asbestos surveying and asbestos sampling; Aim, purpose and type of survey; Survey planning; Health and safety risks; Surveying; Bulk sampling strategy; Bulk sampling procedures; Assessment; Documentation; Quality assurance and procedures.
This book provides advice and guidance for analysts involved in licensed asbestos removal and the sampling of asbestos-containing materials. This guidance is aimed at a technical audience, e.g. asbestos analysts, asbestos consultants, occupational hygienists, safety officers etc. It will also be useful to asbestos removal contractors and supervisors, employers, building owners and people with responsibility for managing properties and estates. Asbestos Training and qualifications; Sampling and analysis of materials for the presence of asbestos; Sampling and analysis of airborne fibre concentrations; Site assessment for reoccupation; Supervisory work carried out by analysts; Personal protective equipment and Decontamination procedures.
This publication is aimed at businesses holding a licence to work with asbestos, either repairing or removing asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), supervising such work, holding an ancillary licence or providing training on asbestos. Employers who carry out work with asbestos insulation, asbestos coating and asbestos insulating board using their own employees on their own premises, who are exempted from the requirement to hold a licence, also need this guidance. It may be useful to people awarding contracts for such work or who have other asbestos management duties. The guidance replaces most earlier HSE guidance on licensed asbestos removal work. The guidance is split into eight chapters, covering in detail, different aspects of licensed work with ACMs. It provides an overview of asbestos and its health effects, the law and how to work safely with asbestos.
Provides guidance on the necessary precautions to prevent exposure to asbestos fibres, or where this is not reasonably practicable, to reduce exposure to asbestos fibres. Aimed at anyone who is liable to control or carry out work with asbestos cement including employers, contract managers, site agents, self-employed builders and contractors involved in construction, maintenance, refurbishment and demolition work. Contents: Why is asbestos dangerous? What is asbestos cement? What has asbestos cement been used for? Legislative requirements; Substitutes for asbestos cement; How to identify asbestos cement; How to work safely with asbestos cement; Work methods; Cleaning weathered asbestos cement; The behaviour of asbestos cement in fires; Decontamination and cleaning; Waste disposal; Air monitoring; RPE for work with asbestos cement; Protective clothing for work with asbestos cement; Cleaning and hygiene facilities.
This revised task manual contains guidance and task sheets on working safely with asbestos. The manual is aimed at all workers who may come into contact with asbestos, including electricians, builders, plumbers, carpenters etc. It will be useful to employees, the self-employed and managers. Contents: Introduction; Equipment and Method sheets; Task sheets.
This publication is aimed at employers, contract managers, site agents, safety representatives, and self-employed contractors involved in maintaining buildings and associated plant. Maintenance workers may come across asbestos in the course of their work. It gives advice on what those responsible must do to ensure the health and safety of maintenance workers who may encounter asbestos.
This publication is aimed at appointed doctors and other health professionals with responsibility for and/or an interest in medical surveillance of employees exposed to asbestos about: action levels, control limits, health effects etc.
Please note the accreditations above are held by Asbestos Consultants to the Environment Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of AcePSI Group Ltd.
