Asbestos

Asbestos related lung diseases can take decades to manifest itself, and by that time many companies would be out of business. On that basis who would be responsible for policing the prevailing law?

This post has been removed because it contravened our guidelines.

It is unfortunate that (white asbestos) Chrysotile has to be treated with the same caution as Blue and Brown.

There is no known association between Chrysotile and Mesothelioma, although some ACM that contains principally Chrysotile may often contain Amosite, in small quantities, as well.

In the case of Concrete pipes and other concrete structures that might contain Asbestos: these will have to be recorded in an Asbestos Register but the Risk assessment may very well suggest that no action for removal or immediate maintenance is necessary. Indeed, in such cases, the need for more than visual inspection is rare. It is a good idea, however, when the exact composition is unknown, to take a sample for (UKAS) laboratory analysis, to be recorded in the register, for that location.

If companies are not confident as to how to proceed with Asbestos Management obligations, my organisation can help.

Telephone 01952 461541

Tina

thanks for your comments. I agree that a visual inspection combined with a 'probe' test would normally suffice. However due to the costs associated with removal of AIB against the cost for removal of cement products, I have been asked to provide evidence that the materials I recommend for removal are either cement or AIB. I work for a local authority by the way!

Dave

This post has been removed because it contravened our guidelines.

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.

This post has been removed because it contravened our guidelines.

Have any asbestos surveyors been asked to carry out density checks on ACM's to differentiate the materials from AIB/Cement? If so is this a policy and can you recommend any labs that will carry out density analysis please.

Is there any documentation other than ACoP L27 (4th Edition) and the Guidance Booklets HSG213 and 210 that specifically addresses asbestos cement pipes used in the UK water industry???

who will have the responsibilty of policing this legislation? will the burden be put on HSE or Environmental Health Officers of Local Authorities.
Also when acquiring new leased property, are tenants now asking landlords for a clean bill of health, in respect of asbestos?

This post has been removed because it contravened our guidelines.

This post has been removed because it contravened our guidelines.