Management of Asbestos
Approximately 4500 people a year in Great Britain die from asbestos related diseases caused by previous exposure, a figure which is expected to rise. Those at risk are people who work with asbestos, in particular those involved in refurbishment, repair or maintenance of buildings like electricians, plumbers and joiners.
MAST Consultants Ltd has over 35 years experience in managing asbestos for a wide variety of clients, from NHS Trusts, Colleges, Universities and industry. Duties included the following:
MAST Consultants can manage your asbestos for you, which means you are complying with current legislation and protecting your employees and anyone else who may visit you premises. Ways in which we can achieve this and take the day to day burden off you is by providing some of or all of the following services dependent on where you are with your management programme or your specific requirements.
- Surveys / Annual re-inspections
- Provision of an asbestos management plan
- Provision of remedial, removal specifications
- Escorting contractors on site and obtaining quotations and advising accordingly
- Project management of remedial / removal works
- Updating the asbestos register, including ensuring all supporting documentation is present
- General guidance, information and advice
Regulation 4 “Duty to Manage Asbestos in Non-domestic premises” of the “The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006” (CAR 2006), places an explicit duty on the duty holder to manage the asbestos material and keep suitable up to date records.
Regulation 4 “Duty to Manage Asbestos in Non-domestic Premises – What is it and what does it mean to me
Under Regulation 4, the “dutyholder" means:-
a) Every person who has, by virtue of a contract or tenancy, an obligation of any extent in relation to the maintenance or repair of non-domestic premises or any means of access thereto or egress there from; or
b) In relation to any part of non-domestic premises where there is no such contract or tenancy, every person who has, to any extent, control of that part of those non-domestic premises or any means of access thereto or egress there from
and where there is more than one such dutyholder, the relative contribution to be made by each such person in complying with the requirements of this regulation will be determined by the nature and extent of the maintenance and repair obligation owed by that person
In short any person who is responsible for the maintenance of a site whether they own or lease it is deemed to be the dutyholder under regulation 4 of CAR 2006.
MAST Consultants Ltd can provide all aspects of asbestos management as detailed above and help guide you through the process of developing an asbestos management plan and implementation.
- Who is responsible for looking after the asbestos (does not need to be a named person, just a position title).
- Strategy for identifying where asbestos is likely to be. This may be carrying out surveys or assuming all materials are asbestos containing until proven otherwise.
- Detailed plan / procedure to prevent accidental disturbance of asbestos prior to any work commencing.
- Inspection programme of asbestos to ascertain any damage to asbestos and take immediate action to control these.
- Develop a strategy to ensure compliance with the regulations.
- Carry out risk assessments of ACM’s. Usually done as part of the survey.
- Develop long term management plan. This should be monitored and reviewed on a scheduled basis.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE LATER WILL REQUIRE SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS OR A SURVEY BEFORE ANY WORK CAN PROCEED.