Asbestos surveys play a crucial role in compiling the Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) for the maritime industry. Professionally conducted inspections provide identification and assessment of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), ensuring accurate documentation within an IHM.
The expertise of a certified asbestos team is essential for compliance with regulations like the EU Ship Recycling Regulation and UK’s Control of Asbestos Regulations, helping to protect crew and maintenance personnel from asbestos exposure.
What is an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM)?
An Inventory of Hazardous Materials, or an IHM, is a document required on vessels and in maritime facilities that records and tracks hazardous materials, including asbestos, present in the structure, systems, and equipment.
It is an essential document for safety and regulatory compliance, detailing materials like asbestos, lead, mercury, and other potentially dangerous substances to ensure their safe management.
How does an asbestos survey support a Vessel IHM?
An IHM serves as a live document for safe asbestos management, protecting personnel and complying with safety regulations across a vessel’s life cycle.
An asbestos survey identifies and locates all asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) on board or within a facility. This information feeds directly into the IHM, which must be continually updated to reflect any changes, such as removal or additional findings of hazardous materials.
Who is legally required to complete the asbestos section of an IHM?
In the UK and under international maritime regulations, a certified hazardous materials expert or surveyor is required to conduct the asbestos survey portion of the IHM due to the specific skills and qualifications required to identify and assess asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) safely.
Completing the full IHM requires a multidisciplinary approach and must be conducted by an IHM-certified entity to meet legal standards.
Regulations Surrounding Asbestos Surveys & IHMs
Asbestos surveys conducted as part of an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) are governed by both UK legislation and international maritime regulations.
Our maritime asbestos surveys comply with these regulations to ensure an IHM is conducted properly, maintain the safety and health of personnel and align a vessel with both national and international standards.
1. Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012)
These regulations mandate the identification and management of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in non-domestic premises, including ships and offshore installations. They require dutyholders to assess the presence and condition of asbestos, maintain an up-to-date asbestos register, and implement a management plan to prevent exposure.
2. Merchant Shipping (Ship Recycling) Regulations 2015
These regulations implement the requirements of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) within the UK. They require UK-flagged ships to have a certified IHM that includes a comprehensive survey of hazardous materials, such as asbestos, present on board. The IHM must be maintained throughout the ship’s operational life and verified by periodic surveys.
3. Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
This foundational legislation places a duty on employers to ensure the health and safety of their employees and others who may be affected by their operations. In the context of asbestos, it requires employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent exposure to asbestos fibres, which includes conducting thorough surveys and maintaining accurate records.
The Importance of Asbestos Management in an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM)
An Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) is essential for effective asbestos management across the maritime industry, including ships, vessels, ferries, offshore installations, docks, and port buildings.
Its importance is underscored by several key factors.
1. Health and Safety Compliance
Protecting Workers & Crew: The IHM identifies the locations of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) on vessels and in port facilities, enabling maintenance teams, dock workers, and contractors to handle these areas safely. This is crucial to prevent accidental exposure to asbestos fibres, which can lead to serious health conditions such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Safe Work Practices: By providing clear information on hazardous materials, the IHM facilitates the implementation of safe work practices, including proper containment, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and specialised handling techniques. This ensures a safer working environment, particularly in high-risk areas like engine rooms or structural components.
Compliance with UK Regulations: In the UK, the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Asbestos) Regulations 2010 mandate measures to protect workers from asbestos exposure. Maintaining an IHM aligns with these regulations by ensuring that all ACMs are identified and managed appropriately.
International Standards Compliance: The IHM ensures that vessels comply with health and safety standards, aligning with global frameworks like the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships and the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR), both of which require precise asbestos management to protect crew and workers in the maritime sector.
2. Regulatory Compliance
Legal Requirement: An updated IHM is a mandatory document for vessels under various international and UK maritime regulations. It not only covers asbestos but all hazardous materials onboard, making it indispensable for safe and compliant vessel management.
Audits & Inspections: Regulatory authorities conduct routine inspections to ensure compliance with hazardous materials regulations. A comprehensive IHM supports smooth inspections and helps prevent delays, fines, or even detention of vessels at ports.
3. Environmental Responsibility
Safe Disposal of Hazardous Waste: The IHM assists in the safe handling, removal, and disposal of asbestos and other hazardous materials, reducing environmental risks in port areas, offshore locations, and shipbreaking yards.
Protecting Marine Ecosystems: Proper asbestos management minimises contamination risks to marine life and surrounding ecosystems.
Alignment with Sustainability Goals: Many maritime companies have sustainability objectives, and maintaining an IHM supports these goals by ensuring hazardous materials are responsibly managed, especially during recycling and decommissioning processes, thereby preventing pollutants from entering marine or port environments.
4. Operational Efficiency
Minimising Downtime: The IHM enables efficient scheduling by providing a clear layout of hazardous material locations, saving time and allowing operators to focus on essential maintenance and operational tasks without unnecessary interruptions.
Clear Guidelines for Contractors & Crew: External contractors, dock workers, and crew members have immediate access to information about asbestos and other hazardous materials, ensuring they can work effectively without additional delays to locate and assess material risks, as well as avoiding asbestos risks during projects.
5. The Support of Safe Dismantling & Recycling
Supporting Safe Ship Recycling: The IHM becomes essential at the vessel’s end-of-life stage, guiding the safe dismantling and disposal of hazardous materials. Recycling facilities require an IHM to plan the compliant dismantling of vessels, protecting workers and reducing environmental impact.
Cost-Effective Decommissioning: Knowing the exact location of asbestos and other hazardous materials allows operators to budget and plan for the most cost-effective methods to remove or contain materials safely, ensuring compliance with environmental standards and reducing unnecessary expenses.
Contact Fibre Safe Today
An IHM is a crucial tool that provides a comprehensive framework for managing asbestos and other hazardous materials across various maritime applications, in ships, private, commercial or even naval frigates, offshore installations, docks and port buildings.
A maritime asbestos surveyor has specialised skills contribute to safer operations, enable effective asbestos management, and support responsible recycling practices at the vessel’s end of life.
Contact Fibre Safe’s offshore marine asbestos specialiststo discuss an asbestos survey, your IHM, asbestos removal, or any other marine asbestos management services.
Contact us today on 0800 458 4136 or send a message here.
