Absolute Health and Safety Solutions Ltd - Construction Work

When you are planning construction work, if the premises were constructed after 2000 it is almost a sure bet that there will not be asbestos present (but always play safe and don't take the risk).

To date there has been over 3000 different commercially produced products that have been believed to contain asbestos. The HSE has a wealth of free information online on the subject of Asbestos.

Prior Planning and Preparation -The Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007 Dictate the following:

Regulation 10: Every client shall ensure that every contractor who has been or may be appointed by the client, is promptly provided with pre-construction information

Regulation 11: No designer shall commence work in relation to a project unless any client for the project is aware of his duties

Regulation 13: No contractor shall carry out construction work in relation to a project unless any client for the project is aware of his duties

Regulation 20: The CDM co-ordinator shall give suitable and sufficient advice and assistance to the client on undertaking the measures he needs to take to comply with these Regulations during the project (including, in particular, assisting the client in complying with regulations 9 and 16);

So there is plenty of opportunity to ensure that an asbestos survey is carried out, as all the key duty holders can ask the question when they are engaged on a project. However, employee the CDM Coordinator two weeks before you wish to start the project and delays can occur if the question is asked and an Asbestos Survey is carried out eg:

Worst case scenario, a Type 3 survey is carried out on a 25,000 sq ft premises.
3-4 days to carryout a detailed survey, 15 samples sent to a UKAS lab for analysis,
3 days for results that confirm amosite and crocidolite is present in 10 samples.
1-2 day to identify a licensed asbestos removal company,
14 day notice to the HSE to remove the asbestos,
+5 days for removal.

A project can be delayed up to +30 days if the issue of asbestos is not addressed early in a construction project.

If you commence and discover asbestos after the project starts, not only will the project be delayed, you can definitely count on intervention of the HSE with a high probability of Prohibition Notices and possible prosecution.

So.........DON'T GET CAUGHT OUT
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The HSE provide free advice on asbestos to employees of the Client, the Principal Contractor or any Contractor
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Types of Asbestos Survey are:

Type 1: Location and assessment survey
(Presumptive Survey).

The purpose of the survey is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, any suspect ACMs in the building and assess the risk. All areas must be accessed and inspected (e.g. above false ceilings and inside risers, service ducts, lift shafts etc.) or presumed to contain asbestos.

Type 2: Standard sampling, identification and assessment survey.
(Sampling Survey)

The purpose and procedures used in this survey are the same as for type 1, except that representative samples are collected and analysed for the presence of asbestos. Samples from each type of suspect ACM found, are collected and analysed to confirm or refute the Surveyors judgement. Sampling may take place simultaneously with the survey, or as in the case of some larger surveys can be carried out as a separate exercise, after the type I survey is complete.

Type 3: Full access Sampling and Identification Survey
(Pre-demolition / Major Refurbishment Surveys.)

This type of survey is used to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all ACMs in the building and may involve destruction inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach. A full sampling programme is undertaken to identify possible ACMs and estimates of the volume and surface area of ACMs made. The survey is designed to be used as a basis for tendering the removal of ACMs from the building prior to demolition or major refurbishment The survey does not assess the condition of the asbestos other than to note areas of damage or where additional asbestos debris may be expected to be present. Although different types of survey can be specified and used depending on the circumstances, it is important that the building Owner, Employer and the Surveyor know exactly what type of survey is to be carried out, what the specifications for each type are, and in within areas they are to be used. It is recommended that the type of survey used conforms to a standard (i.e. this MDHS), otherwise interpretation of the survey reports will be difficult and the management plan produced may not adequately minimise the risks involved. It is possible that larger premises a mixture of survey types will be appropriate - e.g. a boiler house due for demolition will require a type 3 pre-demolition survey, while offices at the site may have only have a type I survey. Similarly a system built housing estate may start with several type 2 surveys but other similar premises may be evaluated using a type I survey. Therefore it is important that there is a clear statement and record of the type of surveys that are to be carried out, where they are to be carried out and an estimate of the number of samples to be collected given.

Source — ARCA web site and HSE Asbestos home page.
The new MDHS 100/s now in print - the Minister signed the revised CAR 06 regulations in October 2006

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1. The HSE asbestos wepage - Who is the Duty Holder?
2. The HSE frequently Asked Questions
3. Call Absolute Health and Safety Solutions Ltd on 01252 861122 and maybe be able to assist you. We also offer a CDM Coordinator, Competent Person Program and manage your asbestos removal with one of our Approved Asbestos Removal Contractors that may be what you are looking for.

Related stories:
	Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007)
	CDM Coordinator (CDM 2007)
	The Client - Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007
	Construction Work - Get it right when carrying out building work