Inspection & H&S Flashcards
What are the signs of asbestos?
Asbestos is often hard to detect as asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) often look similar to non-asbestos materials.
But, certain materials and building features in older buildings (constructed before 1980s) are more likely to contain asbestos.
1 - Insulation - Often white or grey, with a fluffy or fibrous texture - Could appear around pipes, boilers, ducts.
2 - Textured ceilings - Often white, off-white or grey with a rough texture. When damaged and disturbed, the ceilings may become powdery or crumble.
3 - Asbestos cement - Corrugated
cement roofing - looks brittle and has a greyish rough surface.
4 - Pipe insulation - Looks like a soft, fibrous blanket and is often white or off-white. Commonly wrapped around pipes and heating ducts
What are the signs of contamination?
- Discoloured soil or ground - Oil or grease marks, dark patches, reddish-brown areas
- Standing water - Pools of stagnant or unusual water that may have an oil sheen, different colour or smell.
3 - Evidence of burnt or charred soil
4 - Unusual vegetation - Dead plants, stunted growth, unhealthy vegetation.
5 - Chemical smells - Could be a sign of petrol or gas
6 -Visible waste - Presence of industrial waste
7 - Past land use and surrounding land usage
Movement - talk to me about subsidence and heave.
Subsistence - the vertical downard movement of a building foundation caused by the loss of support of the site beneath the foundation.
Heave - expansion of the ground beneath. Could be caused by tree removal.
Signs: Horizontal cracking in brickwork.
Water - talk to me about water damage
Damp.
Wet rote - Caused by damp and timber decay. Signs include wet and soft timber, a high damp meter reading, visible fungal growth and musty smell.
Dry rot - caused by fungal attack. Signs include fungus, (mycelium spreads across wood in fine and fluffy white strands. Other signs include a strong smell, red spores, cracking paintwork).
Rising damp stomps around 1.5m above ground level.
Condensation caused by lack of ventilation and background heating. Signs include mould and streaming water on inside of window or walls.
Damp can also be caused by leaking plumbing/air conditioning/pipework.
Contamination - what are the 3 types of survey
Phase 1 - Desktop
Phase 2 - Identification of nature and extent of contamination with detailed soil samples taken.
Phase 3 - Remediation report setting out remedial options with design requirements.
Deleterious materials
Materials that can degrade with age causing structure problems.
For example -
Reinforce autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) - Can degrade overtime and used in many buildings between 1960 and 1990.
High Illumina cement
Woodwool shuttering
Calcium chloride.
What are the types of asbestos.
Blue - Crocidolite
Brown - Amosite
White - Chrysolite
What is the key legislation relating to asbestos and what steps must be taken?
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
Criminal offence to not comply
Duty holder must undertake a risk assessment.
Work undertaken must be done be licensed contractor.
Asbestos register must be produced and regularly updated.
Newly constructed buildings must have an architect’s signature to confirm no asbestos present.
What is included in a risk assessment?
- Identify the hazards present
- Identify the people at risks from the hazards eg. employees, contractors, visitors
- Evaluate the risk, considering the likelihood and severity of any accidents. Existing precautions in place should be identified and evaluated.
- Record the findings on a suitable form
- Review the risk assessment regularly.
- Advise all those affected of the outcome of the risk assessment and methods of work and precautions to minimize or eliminate risk.
What is the ‘safe person’ concept?
An individual who assumes individual behavioural responsibility for their own, their colleagues’ and others health and safety while at work.
What does the Health & Safety at Work 1974 act relate to?
Duty of the employer to ensure as reasonably practicable the health and safety at work for all employees.
What are the ‘Six Pack’ of H&S Regulations?
- Management of Health and Safety at work
- Display Screen Equipment
- Manual handling Operations
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment
- Workplace health, safety and welfare.
