2.12 Management And Control Of Asbestos

Introduction

This document sets out the Bath Spa University strategy, policy and management arrangements for the safe control of asbestos, which take account of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (CAR).

The University does not have a licence to work with asbestos insulation or asbestos coatings.

Asbestos containing material (ACM) are present in a variety of forms across the University premises. Asbestos presents a hazard when the fibres are released as an airborne dust, e.g. by cutting, drilling, breaking etc of any ACM. The University has an Asbestos Strategy and Policy to prevent the exposure of persons on their premises to airborne asbestos fibres.

Asbestos Is A Natural Material That Occurs As Three Main Types:

Note: they cannot be identified on the basis of colour.

Asbestos containing material occurs on site and the location and condition are recorded in the BSU Asbestos Register. Typically asbestos is present in asbestos cement products, insulation boards for fire protection or thermal/acoustic insulation, thermal insulation on pipes and boilers.

Asbestos Strategy

The Long Term Plan Of The University Is To:

Asbestos Policy

The University recognises the health hazards that arise from exposure to asbestos and will protect employees and others potentially exposed within its estate as far as is reasonably practicable. This will be achieved by minimising exposure through the management of asbestos containing materials on the premises.

Everyone who needs to know about asbestos will be effectively alerted to its presence. No one will be allowed to start work that could disturb asbestos unless the correct procedures are to be employed and the persons involved are competent to do the work safely. All persons who may be exposed to asbestos fibres must be appropriately trained. This policy requires the full cooperation of management and staff. The person responsible for the implementation of the BSU asbestos policy is the Estates Manager.

The University will take all reasonably practicable actions to control asbestos by identifying its location and condition and the risk of exposure to airborne asbestos fibres arising from its presence on site. The risk will be minimised by monitoring the condition of Asbestos Containing Materials and compliance with the asbestos related legislations, approved codes of practice and standards.

An Asbestos Register is maintained by Property Services who should be contacted for further information.

Awareness of the risks of exposure to asbestos will be promoted through training and induction of staff.

An effective asbestos management system will be implemented to ensure timely inspection, sealing or enclosing, labelling and removal are undertaken on a priority basis.

Before any major construction work is started , a type 3 asbestos survey will be undertaken.

Responsibilities

The Estates Manager is the duty holder for the University under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. He has overall responsibility for implementing the asbestos safety management system to identify, manage and monitor Asbestos Containing Materials and the maintenance of the BSUC Asbestos Register. He is responsible for assigning persons to look after key features of the asbestos management system and the provision of expert/specialist advice as required.

The Premises Manager has responsibility for the day-to-day management of approved asbestos contractors who have been brought on to site to survey for the presence of asbestos or to remove identified asbestos containing materials.

Asbestos Register

An up to date register will be maintained of the location, asbestos type and condition of ACMs. The surveys to identify asbestos will be based on the requirements of the HSE MDHS 100 "Surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos-containing materials". Standard sampling surveys (Type 2) will continue to be undertaken to ensure the Asbestos Register is comprehensive. Before any major construction work, a full access sampling and identification survey (Type 3) asbestos survey is to be undertaken.

The hard copy of the Asbestos Register will be held in the Property Services Office, the Walled Garden, Newton Park.

Asbestos Management System

Asbestos management will be based on risk assessments. Depending on factors such as location, condition, type of material and number of persons potentially exposed, the asbestos containing material will be left and regularly inspected or encapsulated/ sealed and regularly inspected or else removed if the former are not tenable.

Before any work is carried out on building fabric or fixtures, the Asbestos Register must be checked for the presence of ACMs.

Should asbestos containing material be required to be removed, a specialist licensed asbestos contractor, approved by the HSE in accordance with the Asbestos Licensing Regulations 1983, and using methods in compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations must be used.

The laboratory that analyses for the presence of asbestos must be accredited by UKAS and to ISO 17025 for air sampling fibres. Clearance asbestos certificates must be issued by UKAS accredited contractors.

What To Do In An Emergency Involving Asbestos

If any Asbestos containing Material is damaged, work must stop immediately and the immediate area must be secured to prevent access.

A BSU employee must then contact as soon as possible his/her line manager and/or relevant Area Safety Manager, whereas a contractor must contact his/her BSU liaison officer, who in turn should notify the Area Safety Manager of the event. In all instances, the Estates Manager and Corporate Safety Adviser must also be notified promptly of the event with the names of anyone suspected of being exposed to asbestos. No one is allowed to access the secured area until a risk assessment is completed.

In the case of fire in a building that contains asbestos, the Fire Brigade should be advised of any significant asbestos present, such as the corrugated asbestos roofing or tiles.

 

October 2008