Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By Tim Munro
Whilst reviewing our existing safe systems of work on non-licensable asbestos removal and repair works, and checking our practical compliance with our existing ones, the question of availability of Type H vacuums has been identified as an area of concern.
Our existing systems of work (based on the 'Asbestos Essentials - Task Manual' refer to the use of type H to clear up remaining debris in a range of the tasks. However, an audit of current practice indicates that these are rarely available on asbestos jobs, due to the unavailability of them from any 'plant hire' specialists. The plant hire specialists state that the conditions for having these and hiring them out are too onerous, difficult to ensure compliance with, and 'risky' - not a million miles from our own thoughts, hence why we don't own and manage our own.
Does any one know any plant hire specialists who offer the hire and appropriate certification for such equipment ?
If not, my thoughts are that in not complying with the content of reasonable HSE Guidance, even though availability of type H vacuums are only a small part of the whole precautions, would leave us (never mind the employees !!!) in a vulnerable position. Should we therefore cease undertaking any of the tasks which refer to the use of type H vacuums. Do other people/organisations have them available for use, and if not do you ignore this part of the guidance ? I don't feel that we can, and that our risk assessments for the task would indicate that having one available would be reasonable and appropriate. Therefore all these ‘minor’ tasks to licensed contractors ??
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Michael Daly
Tim,
Type H vacuum cleaners can be leased, but probably not from your local hire shop. Asbestos removal contractors need to hire additional equipment sometimes and they use specialist hire companies. I know of one such hire company in Leeds. If you contact an organisation such as ARCA they may be able to provide a list of such companies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Danny Swygart
I use a company called Envirovac to supply and service type H vacuums and other equipment.
Ring 01162 553960.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Martin A Stear
This can be a problem but you can also look at Asbestos Essentials and the range of approaches. Are you able to do the tasks without vacs. This is not against AE as it shows drilling thru paste and cleaning up debris with wet rags. Try using hand drills with hair gel, wall paper paste etc. As ex-HSE I know the author and the methods were all encompassing and as he said to me 'not set in stone'.
You should be able to minimise the situations that require the use of vacs. Even when you can hire them you have to be sure that the user will always go to the trouble of organising the hire for a small job.
This is not a compromise but a practical solution and still with insignificant exposures
Martin
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By joseph byrne
We have recently discussed the hire of these type H vacuum cleaners for clearing the debris from inside meter cupboards after the removal of asbestos cement board, somebody quoted a hire cost of £25 and a cost of £25 for the hire company to clean and dispose of the debris correctly,but at the moment we are using the damping down method are we right to do so?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.