The start of the new term is upon us, and from September it will be important to make sure you are up-to-date with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
From September 2022 the HSE will be visiting schools nationwide.
These visits are to ensure that asbestos risks are being managed correctly in line with the ‘duty to manage requirements under the Regulations. Visits will be arranged with schools and the inspectors will need to talk to someone with knowledge of how asbestos is being managed and may require documents in advance of their visits such as asbestos surveys or registers.
How to prepare for the Inspections
In preparation for these inspections, we are here to support you through the full process of getting in line with asbestos regulations.
- Ensure you have a full, and recent, Asbestos Management Survey – this will provide you with a strong basis to start getting your ‘duty to manage’ in line with regulations.
- If asbestos is discovered during this survey, we can work with you to create an Asbestos Management Plan giving you a clear action plan on how to monitor the condition and control risks around any asbestos containing materials (ACMs).
- It is very important to ensure that all areas throughout the school are going to be available to the surveyor during their visit to your site. Any areas that are inaccessible will not be thoroughly inspected and key pieces of information may be missed from the report.
If you require a survey, don’t hesitate to get in touch for a free quote.
How to continue with your ‘Duty to Manage’ after Initial Survey
Consider the recommendations and take action…
Simply having the survey carried out will not always satisfy the requirements!
The recommendations within a survey may vary from completing a regular visual inspection on the ACMs, to having the materials removed from site altogether (should they be too dangerous to remain in situ).
Documenting your own internal checks is also very important as this evidences that the school is adhering to the recommendations from within the plan.
Any areas that were inaccessible at the time of the initial survey should be documented and it is equally important to consider that a management survey is non-intrusive. Should any work be planned – from minor repairs to major refurbishment – a targeted Refurbishment & Demolition Survey must be commissioned. If there is any potential for ACMs to be disturbed, the risk must be managed. Read on for more information…
Communicate
- It is crucial to ensure that key personnel – both staff and contractors – understand the survey and what it entails.
- Avoiding the disturbance (accidental or otherwise) of ACMs is best achieved by ensuring everyone is made aware of the risks – e.g. displays being hung from ceilings that contain ACMs, contractors accessing boiler rooms or ceiling voids that contain ACMs.
- Having a thorough Survey, Plan or Register included in your induction process both for staff and visitors ensures the required information is given to everyone who needs it.
Going one step further
- Certain work requires more than just communication. Simply communicating the Asbestos Register is not always sufficient. When works are planned that are knowingly going to disturb the fabric of the school – whether walls, ceilings, or roofing – that were constructed prior to the year 2000, an R&D Survey must be undertaken.
Select the right Contractor
Not just anyone can work with Asbestos.
- If your survey identifies the need for management or removal of ACMs, this should be undertaken by a competent contractor with the relevant insurance, qualifications, and experience.
- Training should be undertaken for those that may carry out works that could disturb the fabric of any building within your premises. This can often include staff members, e.g., caretakers, clearers etc, and it almost always includes contractors that are visiting the site. Evidence of contractor’s certification should be obtained prior to their arrival – as a minimum, this should be a UKATA Accredited Certificate.
What is an R&D Survey?
A Refurbishment & Demolition Survey is a targeted, intrusive and thorough inspection of relevant parts of the building – and it should be undertaken for any works that are planned in a building constructed prior to 2000. The aim of this type of survey is to clearly identify ACMs that may be hiding before they are disturbed.
An R&D survey should be given to any contractors appointed to carry out the works – whether major or minor – in order to give them a full understanding of the presence of ACMs in the areas they will be working. When this type of work is undertaken, it is important to ensure you are choosing contractors to formally carry out UKATA Accredited Asbestos Awareness training.
The survey and its findings allow the contractor to plan and implement the correct measures to carry out the required works safely, without inadvertently exposing themselves, or anyone else, to asbestos.
A Case Study
Unfortunately, over the years, many ACMs have been hidden or over-boarded by works that have subsequently been carried out over the years. All too often, we are made aware of Asbestos Insulation Board (AIB) hiding above a suspended ceiling, or that went undetected in an original heating system.
Get in touch by leaving us a message or calling us on 01924 827869 if you are concerned about any of the above information or we can help in any way.
This has been supplied by our Health and Safety partners Stallard Kane.
