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Tina Renshaw
Member - 3 posts
Generally refresher training needs to be redone every 2- 3 years, unless there are any significant changes in between -i.e. new and different IT equipment or software, after which it needs to be done as soon after the changes as poss..
Significant to changes the DSE Regs would require refresher training if they significantly affect the way you work.
Notifying people by email or notice boards is not training, employers must go further than that.
Refresher training is generally a condensed version of the initial training and also addressing anything new or interesting.
Casella Training
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Tina Renshaw
Member - 3 posts
For the management of ACM, there is no requirement to carry out density
tests on materials to differentiate between asbestos cement (AC) and
asbestos insulating board (AIB). The HSE accepts that most experienced
surveyors can visually identify the materials and that in most cases the
analytical determination of the presence of certain types of fibre
within each material will indicate it's type. For example AIB is more
likely to contain amosite (brown) asbestos and AC more likely to contain
chrysotile (white) asbestos, although both AC could contain different
combinations of both those as well as containing crocidolite (blue)
asbestos fibre.
However, because each material has a different status within the
Licensing Regulations, you made need to properly differentiate prior to
removal. AC does not fall within the Regs but AIB does; this means that
using an HSE licensed removal contractor for AIB work (and following the
correct 14 day notification procedure) is a statutory requirement, but
not for AC. To complicate matters though, work on AC still falls within
CAWR regulations which require any work on asbestos to have a risk
assessment and any operatives to have had documented training (with
annual refresher) etc.
AC is defined within the Licensing Regs as a material which is
predominantly a mixture of cement and asbestos with a dry weight density
of greater than 1000kg/m3; most chemical and Public Analysts
laboratories will perform density tests.
If you are using a licensed contractor for your asbestos work it is his
responsibility to carry out work on any ACM in accordance with the
provisions of his licence and therefore his responsibility for
determining (if he feels it is necessary) any difference which may
affect the way he works or the paperwork he submits to the HSE. If you
use a non-licensed contractor for AC removal, he may well require
written evidence of its nature so that he is not working on a licensable
AIB material and therefore breaching the regulations.
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Tina Renshaw
Member - 3 posts
British Standard BS5306 Part 3 2000, recommends that all portable fire extinguishers are subjected to an annual maintenance inspection and service, by a competenent person. It also recommends a monthly and six-monthly visual inspection that can be done locally on-site by a non-competent person. The qualification for compency in this instance is that the person (engineer) shall have attained a prescribed certificate of cempetency following a recognised training course run by an accredited British fire extinguisher training establishment, under a quality assurance critera. The certificate is awarded under the title of QAS 3169 part 3 and 4. On the annual service visit each extinguisher is stripped down and the contents empied into a bucket for re-use or disposal, depending upon condition. The exterior/interior of the extinguisher is checked for signs of corrosion and interior for signs of split/lifted linings, the CO2 cartridge is weighed and discharge hose and valve assembly checked for correctness of actions etc. The whole lot reassembled using new washers and seals where required, and the label signed off stating the date of that service visit.
This action varies slightly depending upon type but applies generally to all gas cartridge and stored pressure type extinguishers. However it does not apply to CO2 extinguishhers, which are sealed under high pressure. These are weighed accurately against their known full weight critera, which is stamped upon the neckband.
Once every five years each extinguisher (except CO2) is subjected to a discharge test, wherein the contents are expelled under the normal operating pressure and technique of the extinguisher, and then refilled as per a service visit.
When an extinguishjer has been discharged it has to be refilled or replaced as soon as possible, (bearing it mind that its purpose cannot be fulfilled while it is empty). Most larger type premises carry a small stock of spares so as to be able to replace the odd one or two during the year if necessary, thereby avoiding the costly call-out charge for an engineer to come on site to refill one extinguisher outside the normal annual service visit.
Note: You cannot use the part contents of any extinguisher once it has been parly discharged.
Health & Safety Division
Casella Winton
www.casellawinton.co.uk
020 8296 5785
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