Health and safety Flashcards
What are the 3 main types of Asbestos?
- Chrysotile (White)
- Amosite (Brown)
- Crocidolite (Blue)
Crocidolite and Amosite are more dangerous and friable the Chrysotile.
What is the duty to manage Asbestos contained?
The duty to manage asbestos is contained in regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
What are the duties?
It requires the person who has the duty (i.e. the ‘dutyholder’) to:
• Take reasonable steps to find out if there are
materials containing asbestos in non-domestic
premises, and if so, its amount, where it is and what
condition it is in.
• Presume materials contain asbestos unless there is
strong evidence that they do not.
• Make, and keep up-to-date, a record of the location
and condition of the asbestos- containing materials -
or materials which are presumed to contain asbestos
assess the risk of anyone being exposed to fibres from
the materials identified.
• Prepare a plan that sets out in detail how the risks
from these materials will be managed.
• Take the necessary steps to put the plan into action
periodically review and monitor the plan and the
arrangements to act on it so that the plan remains
relevant and up-to-date.
• Provide information on the location and condition of
the materials to anyone who is liable to work on or
disturb them.
• There is also a requirement on others to co-operate
as far as is necessary to allow the dutyholder to
comply with the above requirements.
Who has the duty?
The dutyholder is the owner of the non-domestic premises or the person or organisation that has clear responsibility for the maintenance or repair of non-domestic premises, for example through an explicit agreement such as a tenancy agreement or contract.
What buildings are affected?
• All non-domestic buildings, whatever the type of
business.
• The common areas of domestic buildings, eg halls,
stairwells, lift shafts, roof spaces.
• All other domestic properties are not affected by the
duty to manage.
Why manage asbestos?
Breathing in air containing asbestos fibres can lead to asbestos-related diseases, mainly cancers of the lungs and chest lining.
Asbestos is only a risk to health if asbestos fibres are released into the air and breathed in. Past exposure to asbestos currently kills around 4500 people a year in Great Britain.
Workers who carry out building maintenance and repair are particularly at risk.
Any buildings built or refurbished before the year 2000 may contain asbestos. As long as the asbestos-containing material (ACM) is in good condition, and is not being or going to be disturbed or damaged, there is negligible risk.
Who is at risk from asbestos?
- Construction and demolition contractors, roofers, electricians, painters and decorators, joiners, plumbers, gas fitters, plasterers, shop fitters, heating and ventilation engineers, and surveyors;
- Anyone dealing with electronics, eg phone and IT engineers, and alarm installers;
- General maintenance engineers and others who work on the fabric of a building.
If asbestos is present and can be readily disturbed, is in poor condition and not managed properly, others who may be occupying the premises could be put at risk
Where is asbestos found in
buildings?
Sprayed asbestos (limpet) - Fire protection in ducts and to structural steel work, fire breaks in ceiling voids etc
Lagging - Thermal insulation of pipes and boilers
Asbestos insulating boards (AIB) - Fire protection,
thermal insulation, wall partitions, ducts, soffits, ceiling and wall panels.
Asbestos cement products, flat or corrugated sheets - Roofing and wall cladding, gutters, rainwater pipes,
water tanks
Certain textured coatings - Decorative plasters, paints
Bitumen or vinyl materials
How do dutyholders comply with regulations?
There are four essential steps:
- Find out whether the premises contains asbestos, and, if so, where it is and what condition it is in.
- Assess the risk from asbestos present in the premises.
- Make a plan to manage that risk and act on it
- Provide this information to other employers (eg building contractors) who are likely to disturb any asbestos present, so that they can put in place appropriate control while the work is being done.
Do you need a licensed contractor to remove/work on asbestos in a premises?
If ACMs need to be sealed, encapsulated or removed, remember you will need to employ a licensed contractor if the materials are high risk (eg pipe insulation and asbestos insulating panels).
If the materials are lower risk (eg asbestos cement sheets and roofing) then an unlicensed but competent contractor may carry out this work.
What is a management survey?
To manage asbestos containing materials
(ACM) during the normal occupation and use
of premises.
The Survey must locate ACM that could be damaged or disturbed by normal activities, foreseeable maintenance, or installing new equipment.
What does a management survey involve?
It involves minor intrusion and disturbance to make a
Materials Assessment. This shows the ability of ACM, if disturbed, to release fibres into the air.
The report should state the asbestos type, location, extent, condition and any surface treatment.
What is a Refurbishment and demolition survey?
Required where the premises, or part of it, need upgrading, refurbishment or demolition. The survey does not need a record of the condition of
asbestos containing materials (ACM).
The reports should state the location, presence and extent of asbestos containing materials and debris.
It involves destructive inspection and asbestos disturbance. The area surveyed must be vacated, and certified ‘fit for reoccupation’ after the survey.
Surveyor must be provided with site layout &
building plans, building specifications or architect’s drawings.
What is Non-Licensed Asbestos Removal Work?
Sporadic and of low intensity - concentration of asbestos in the air should not exceed 0.6f/cm3 measured over 10 minutes.
Must not exceed the legal control limit of
0.1 f/cm3 averaged over a 4 hour period.
Examples:
• Decoration of AIB.
• Short duration drilling into AIB.
• Removal asbestos cement products (Roof sheeting &
RWG Good Condition).
• Removal of textured coatings (Providing not
deteriorated).
What are Licensed Removal Works?
High risk works must only be done by a
Licensed Contractor.
All licensable work must be notified to the appropriate
enforcing authority using the ASB5 form at least 14 days before the work starts.
Examples:
• Removal or disturbing pipe lagging.
• Work involving loose fill insulation.
• Cleaning up significant quantities of ACM debris.
• Work on AIB, beyond short duration (2 Hours).
What are Notifiable Non-Licensed Works?
Notice is required before the work starts – but there is no minimum notice period.
• You do not need to wait for permission from the
enforcing authority.
• ASB NNLW1 Online Form.
• All areas where there is NNLW taking place must be
designated and marked with a suitable warning
notice. These areas must be restricted to those
carrying out the work.
What is a 4 Stage Re-occupation Test?
Series of tests carried out after Licensed Asbestos Removals. Before the area is handed back to the Client.
It is a legal requirement of Regulation 17 of CAR 2012. The test can only undertaken by a UKAS accredited testing lab as detailed by Regulation 20 of CAR 2012.
When does asbestos waste become hazardous?
Asbestos waste is hazardous waste when it contains more than 0.1% asbestos. The Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 Apply.
What is a safe disposal procedure?
Waste must be packed in a UN approved packaging with a Carriage of Dangerous Goods (etc) Regulations 2009 (CDG) hazard sign and asbestos code information visible.
Waste should be double bagged and label led as asbestos waste. Standard practice is to use a red inner bag with asbestos warnings, and a clear outer bag
with the CDG sign.
Waste should be carried in a sealed skip or in a vehicle with a separate lockable asbestos compartment. Use a registered waste carrier.
What is a consignment notice?
You must use consignment notes to move hazardous waste. A consignment note must stay with hazardous waste until it reaches its final destination.
Keep copies of these documents for three years.
What PPE should be worn when dealing with asbestos?
Overalls
• Disposable overalls – Type 5 (BS EN ISO 13982-1+A1)
are suitable.
• Wear one size too big to help to prevent ripping at
the seams.
• Wear the hood over RPE straps.
• Dispose of used overalls as asbestos waste.
Gloves
• If you wear protective gloves, use single-use
disposable gloves.
• Dispose of used gloves as asbestos waste.
Footwear
• Boots are preferable to disposable overshoes which
can cause a slipping risk.
• Choose boots without laces as these are easier to
clean.
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
• Use suitable RPE with a UK-assigned protection
factor (APF) of 20 or more.
• Use disposable FFP3 respirators.
• Users must be clean shaven and face fit tests should
be undertaken.
For non-disposable RPE, clean after use and store in a safe place away from contamination.
RPE has to be worn all the time and until the worker is away from the contaminated air.
Inspect and check RPE for damage every time. Carry out thorough checks monthly (or every three months if used infrequently).
What is risk management?
Risk management means taking time to consider how any plan of action could deviate from what you expect.
Property professionals should have a level of competence sufficient to enable them to take personal ownership for managing H&S risks.
How do you assess risks?
Risk assessment is a careful examination of what, in
your work, could cause harm to people so that you can
weigh up weather you have taken enough precautions or whether you should do more to prevent harm.
What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
Hazard - Something with potential to cause harm
to someone. The harm could be injury or ill health.
Risk - The likelihood of harm being realised. Risk
increases as the severity, likelihood or number of people the severity, likelihood or number of people affected by harm increases.
Name the HSE’s five steps to risk assessment
- Identify the hazards.
- Decide who might be harmed and how.
- Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
- Record your findings and implement them.
- Review your risk assessment and update if
necessary.
What CDM risk assessments must be completed pre / during / and post construction?
- Pre-construction Information
- Construction Phase Plan
- Health & Safety File
What is a Pre-construction Information?
• Produced by the Principal Designer
• It is used to provide relevant information about the
health and safety hazards associated with a
construction project.
• Should be given to the Principal Contractor to allow
preparation of the Construction Phase Plan.
• It is required on all construction projects.
What would you expect to find in a Pre-construction Information?
- Description of the project.
- Key dates.
- Project Directory.
- Existing plans.
- Communication.
- Permit to work systems.
- Security & Site Hoarding.
- Vehicle movement & Segregation.
- Fire precautions.
- Emergency procedures.
- Means of escape.
- Smoking and Parking restrictions.
- Delivery restrictions.
- Adjacent land uses.
- Existing Services.
- Existing asbestos info.
- Info on storage of hazardous materials.
- Design Risk Assessment.
What is a Construction Phase Plan?
• It is produced by the Principal Contractor.
• It is used to plan and manage construction work
safely.
• It is required on all construction projects
What would you expect to find in a Construction Phase Plan?
• Works Description. • Project team details (Inc. sub-contractors and suppliers). • F10. • Programme Details. • Management Structure. • H&S Policy / statement. • Risk Assessment of Site Specific Risks. • Site layout plan. • Arrangements for Welfare. • First Aid arrangements. • Site security arrangements. • Site induction arrangements. • RAMS. • Site Rules. • Fire Plan. • Traffic Management Plan. • Accident / Emergency procedures. • COSHH Assessment. • Asbestos R&D Survey. • H&S File Proposal.
What is a Health & Safety File?
• It is produced by the Principal Designer
• It is kept by the Client for the lifetime of the building
and should be available to people maintaining,
refurbishing or demolishing the building in the future.
What would you expect to find in a Health & Safety File?
- Project Description.
- Project Location.
- F10.
- Project directory (Design team, trades, suppliers).
- Specifications.
- Product Literature.
- As built drawings.
- Building regs Final Certificate.
- Practical Completion Certificate.
- Copies or Guarantees & Warrantees.
- Ticked off snag list.
- Residual Risk Register.
- Cleaning & Maintenance Strategy.
- Test Certificates (Electrical, Boilers, Lifts & HVAC).
- Asbestos clearance certificates & consignment notes.
- Updated Asbestos Register.
