Asbestos Surveys & Management Plans

Large amounts of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were used for a wide range of purposes in new and refurbished buildings until 1999 when use of asbestos was banned.

There are still many buildings in Great Britain that contain asbestos. Where ACMs are in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed they do not present a risk. However, where the materials are in poor condition or are disturbed or damaged, asbestos fibres are released into the air, which, if breathed in, can cause serious lung diseases, including cancers.

The duty to manage asbestos is directed at those who manage non-domestic premises: the people with responsibility for protecting others who work in such premises, or use them in other ways, from the risks to ill health that exposure to asbestos causes. Let us help you!

Our Asbestos Survey & Management Plan Service typically involves (but is not limited to):

  • initially meeting with the dutyholder or nominated responsible person

  • arranging asbestos surveys

  • carry out risk assessments

  • preparing a Management Plan that sets out in detail how the risks from ACMS will be controlled

  • advising on what is licensed, non-licensed and notifiable non-licensed work with asbestos

  • offering impartial advice on the removal/remediation options (please note we do not undertake asbestos removal)

  • reviewing any existing policies and procedures etc.

  • advising on staff inductions and training

  • providing ongoing advice and guidance

When is an asbestos survey needed?

If your building was constructed or refurbished before the year 2000, it is important to establish whether ACMs are present on your premises and we strongly recommend an asbestos survey is carried out.

The purpose of an asbestos survey is to:

  • help manage ACMs in your premises

  • provide accurate information on the location, amount and condition of ACMs

  • assess the level of damage or deterioration in the ACMs and whether remedial action is required

  • use the information to prepare a record of the location of any ACMs, commonly called an asbestos register* and an asbestos plan of the building(s)

  • help identify all ACMs to be removed before refurbishment work or demolition

*The information in the register should be used to inform a risk assessment (e.g. consider who could disturb asbestos on your premises) and to establish a management plan to prevent such a disturbance.

Should ACMs be present, most asbestos removal work will require a contractor holding a licence from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). All work with sprayed asbestos coatings and asbestos lagging and most work with asbestos insulation and asbestos insulating board (AIB) requires a licence. If it doesn't need a licence, you can do maintenance work on or around ACMs with the appropriate controls in place. Some non-licensed work also has additional requirements i.e. notification of work, medical surveillance and record keeping. This work is known as notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW). CSS can supply further information on license requirements.

If you choose not to have an asbestos survey, you will still need to write a risk assessment and have a plan for managing potential ACMs as you should assume that any material you need to disturb when completing a construction or renovation project does contain ACMs.

Legal Requirements

To help comply with legal requirements, specifically the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) and to ensure that ACMs (or potential ACMs) in premises are properly managed, dutyholders should identify a nominated person within their organisation who will be responsible for that management.

To manage the risk from ACMs, the dutyholder will need to:

  • take reasonable steps to find out if there are ACMs, and if so, its amount, where it is and what condition it is in

  • presume materials contain ACMs unless there is strong evidence that they do not

  • make, and keep up-to-date, a record of the location and condition of the ACMs - 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

CSS is here to help

If you have a general query about asbestos safety or would like to arrange a visit, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your requirements.

We are here to help you to ensure that you are doing enough to meet the minimum legislative requirements.

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Contact us.

info@csscompliance.co.uk