Frequently Asked Questions
Managers and Supervisors FAQ
As a manager you will be part of the process at some level but the extent of your duties will depend on the various roles you undertake and the structure of your company. If you are in charge of hiring maintenance workers then you will have an automatic duty to manage asbestos at your premises under the CAR2006 regulations. If you are in charge of workers who may come in contact with asbestos then you are bound by the CAR2006 and other Health & Safety regulations to provide access to suitable training and take all reasonable steps to protect anyone who may come in contact with asbestos materials through their day to day work.
As a manager you may have been appointed as a ‘responsible person’ to undertake these duties regardless of any existing responsibilities. It is important to ensure that everybody, at all levels of management, understand their individual roles and ensure that the established management plan remains effective and workable and available to be viewed at all times. In addition any subcontractor you commission to carry out works must be competent to do the job and it is your responsibility to ensure that this is the case.
Try to steer clear of simply going for the cheapest price, inevitably you get what you pay for and chipping down the contractors tends to end up in a poor service. A reputable and experienced firm will of course charge more however the end product will be of far greater quality.
If you need to commission a survey then we can help you. Check out our services section for more info.
The Health & Safety Executive brought the law in to protect maintenance workers and building occupiers from exposure to asbestos. This is a legal requirement and should not be avoided by any means.
Surveys can be carried out by in-house personnel or a third party. In each case, the surveyor must be competent to carry out the work required. To be competent, the ‘surveyor’ must have sufficient training, qualifications, knowledge, experience and ability to carry out their duties in relation to the survey and to recognise their limitations. They must have sufficient knowledge of the specific tasks to be undertaken and the risks which the work will entail. They must be able to demonstrate independence, impartiality and integrity. They must have an adequate quality management system; and carry out the survey in accordance with recommended guidance HSG264.
Yes, only a qualified and competent surveyor can make the decision that there is no asbestos in the building and even then a report and management plan must still be prepared as part of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.
No not at all. Removal of asbestos is always the last option in our books. Asbestos is only dangerous if it is disturbed and therefore no remedial actions may be needed. It depends upon where the asbestos is, the condition of the material and how likely to be disturbed it is. Other remedial actions may include encapsulation, isolation, or repairs.
Yes the Control of Asbestos Regulations clearly state that a refurbishment and demolition survey is needed before any refurbishment or demolition work is carried out. This type of survey is used to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all ACMs in the area where the refurbishment work will take place or in the whole building if demolition is planned. The survey will be fully intrusive and involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach. A refurbishment and demolition survey may also be required in other circumstances, eg when more intrusive maintenance and repair work will be carried out or for plant removal or dismantling’.
To manage the risk from Asbestos Materials you will need to keep and maintain an up-to-date record of the location, condition, maintenance and removal of all ACMs on the premises; repair, seal or remove Asbestos if there is a risk of exposure due to their condition or location; maintain ACMs in a good state of repair and regularly monitor their condition; inform anyone who is liable to disturb the ACMs about their location and condition; have arrangements and procedures in place so that work which may disturb the ACMs complies with CAR 2012; and review the plan at regular intervals and make changes if circumstances change.
The current regulations require mandatory training for anyone liable to be exposed to asbestos fibres at work. This includes maintenance workers and other tradesman who may come into contact with or who may disturb asbestos within the property
The asbestos will need to be checked on a regular basis however it depends upon several factors including location, condition, quantity, accessibility etc. A risk assessment show determine how often it needs to be checked however it varies from 6 months to 24 months with 12 months being the industry standard.
You must create an asbestos management plan using up to date information about asbestos in the building and perform risk assessments. This can be quite a tricky subject and we wold advise that you give us a call for consultation.