Asbestos Surveying – The grand scheme of things
In January this year, the HSE in print new guidance on asbestos surveying, which explicitly advocates the need for Asbestos Surveyors to be able to demonstrate and ensure competency.
The HSE estimates that asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are still present in some 500,000 commercial properties in the UK. No one really knows how much asbestos still remains in UK buildings but those built before 1999, when asbestos was finally banned, are likely to still contain some, with those pre-dating 1985, when blue and brown asbestos were banned, causing the most concern.
The fact that some of the 6 million tonnes of imported asbestos remains in UK premises is the reason why the ‘duty to manage’ was introduced under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. Now Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, this requires duty-holders, i.e. those who own and/or occupy premises, to manage the ACMs in those premises.
Learn more details here Asbestos Management and Refurbishment / Demolition Surveys
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Do you have Asbestos in your Domestic home?
When buying or selling a house, or even contemplating renovation or DIY tasks, you should be fully aware of the potential harm ful risks posed by any deadly Asbestos-Containing materials that may be present.
If you are a buyer or seller, the presence of Asbestos-Containing material has the potential to substantially adversely affect the value of the property.
Did you know that over 70% of UK homes potentially contain asbestos in some form.
Increasing numbers of mortgage lenders and conveyance solicitors are advising prospective buyers to obtain Specialist Reports on Asbestos prior to exchange of contracts.
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Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR 2006) contains an explicit duty to assess and manage the risks from the presence of asbestos. The risks will vary with circumstances and can arise from normal occupation of a building or from inadvertent disturbance during the repair, refurbishment and demolition of the premises. The assessment will be used to produce a management plan which details and records the actions to be undertaken to manage and reduce the risks from asbestos. The requirements are placed on “duty holders” who should:
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Firstly, The Health and Safety Issues
Undertaking an asbestos survey will present health and safety issues to the asbestos surveyors and others. Therefore before carrying out a site survey, it is important that an assessment of the risks to the health and safety of surveyors, sampling personnel and other occupants is carried out.
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New HSG guidance document, “Asbestos surveyors Guide – Surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos-containing materials. (Out Aug 2009)
The new asbestos survey guidance document, “Asbestos surveyors Guide – Surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos-containing materials aims to help asbestos surveyors and duty holders ensure that proposed asbestos survey methods and procedures are appropriate for the situation and are able to be managed in sound and operational for all asbestos survey situations.
There are currently 3 methods of Asbestos survey as described within the surveyors guide (MDHS 100) a Type 1 asbestos survey, Type 2 asbestos survey and Type 3 asbestos survey of which in the near future, (subject to approval by HSE) will be revised to include 2 types of asbestos survey namely “management surveys” and “demolition/refurbishment” surveys.
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Did you know that the name Asbestos derives from the Greek word a-, “not”; sbestos, “extinguishable”. Some say that this term may refer to the everlasting wicks of the ‘Eternal Flame’ in the temple of the Vestal Virgins, or possibly an alternate translation such as “indestructible” maybe more appropriate.
You can safely say that it is not a product due to modern science.
Asbestos is naturally occurring and can be found throughout the world. Most commercially used asbestos came from the former Soviet Union, Canada (white asbestos), South Africa (brown asbestos), and Australia (blue asbestos) although the material can be found, in one form or another, almost anywhere, including the UK.
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