Posted By Dave Wilson
The Contol of Asbestos Regulations 2006 come into effect today!

It is now risk based approach and as such

Changes!

1. Minor work has gone and been replaced by short duration maintenance work which is of sporadic and low intensity.

New limit of 0.1f/ml for 4 hours (MEL)and 0.6 f/ml over 10 min (STEL) this means in essennce work on 'damaged' limpet and lagging is now licensable as you would go above this level.

Work on the AIB which can be done by unlicensed contractor has greater control

Removal of ALL 'nailed' AIB is now licensable

Repair of 'Minor' damge on AIB can be done but above that Licensable- Whats minor??

Removal of 1 Ceiling tile can be done - unless it damages another or more than 1 when it will now be licensable

Removal of 1sqM screwed in AIB

Follow the HSE Task cards for any work on Asbestos available free from HSE as it details on there when a licensed contracor must be used.

2. WHO fibre counting measures replacing ERM methods - more fibres can be counted!

3. Mandatory Asbestos training for all persons in the construction and allied buliding trades.

Class 1 training for licensed work
Class 2 training for unlicensed work
Class 3 training for all others (Asbestos Awareness)

4 Artex now not licensed however a full 18 point RA and MS has to underatken by a competent person detailing why you are of the opinion that the removal will not go above the 0.6 f/ml during the work. ( this has to be done for all Asbestos work not just TC)

Safety precautions to be used

No requirement to notify (FODASB5)
MS / RA
Trained and competent staff
Full enclosure
2 stage airlock
Type 5 overalls
1/2 mask with P3 Filter
Type H Vacuums
Decontaminate in Airlock
self certification to client that area is fee from asbestos & dust
No 4 Stage clearance required
Must have PI & EL for working with asbestos.

Should be removed pre demolition / refurbishment unless it is costly / time consuming to remove eg applied straight on to concrete etc

If it is easily removed then it should be eg on suspended ceiling / plasterboard etc

Cant think of anything else as my brain is frazzled!

Posted By Jim Walker
Dave,

Thanks for that mate!

I've cut & pasted it to all our site managers.

Posted By Dave Wilson
Training,

The consensus of this is that you should be using a training organsiation / person who has signed up to the ATPWG and HSE Code of Conduct to deliver asbestos training.

These can be found on the HSE web on their list, as these companies etc have agreed to this, however this is not a specific legal requirement and he HSE would want to know who delivered your training.

This involves 3rd party independent auditing to ensure you are delivering the training in accordance with Chapt 4 requirements and if you don't you cannot get on the HSE list or if it is not of a satisfactory standard you can be removed. So it is a quasi 'approved' list, with no legal standing if you see what I mean.

Posted By Bruce Sutherland
Malcolm

If you go and look on the HSE asbestos website, the part that is controlled by the Asbestos Licensing Unit, then you will see where Dave is coming from. There is a list of asbestos trainig providers. They have all signed up to a charter - this includes independent audit, and 3 years experience of asbestos work for the trainers amongst other things

Unless someone at Nat Brit has told their chaps on info line then I am sure they are answering with best intention. However ALU own asbestos within HSE, and that is what they have quite categorically stated.

If you want another view on the new regs I put a post titled artex to go go a few weeks ago

Cheers

Bruce

Posted By Dave Wilson
PS for all you Licensed Contractors out there it is now a statutory requirement to give your people copies of their Training, face fit and medicals when leaving your company!

You know who you are!

Posted By Martin Oliver
Will these changes address the problem....does it go far enough or are they too restrictive. Introducing a single control limit coupled with the new counting method seems in direct opposition to the de-licencing of TCs.

So how do these changes relate on the shop floor. How do Occupational Hygienists see their role adapting.

Posted By Dave Wilson
Chris you have answered your own question!! I never work with asbestos but come across it from time to time!!!!!!!

that's the whole point, people in the allied building trades do not know if they are or are not working with Asbestos on a daily basis!

is this board I knocking down AIB or supalux? Is this wall I'm about to knock down have an AIB liner, is this ceiling tile I am about to remove have limpet above it!

ALL Persons in the allied building trades have to undergo asbestos Awareness training, it is a mandatory legal requirement look in the ACoP Li43 Working with materials containing asbestos - The Control of Asbestos Regs 2006.

Also if you look in the licensable bit, it used to say that if you work on

AIB
LIMPET
Insulation you had to have a license unless it was minor works

Now it is ANY work with ANY asbestos unless it is 'Short duration maintenance work ( the old minor works 1 hour seven days and no more than two man hours etc, is still there) AND from the Risk Assessment it is work which is of sporadic and low intensity" So you now have to throw into the equation the STEL of 0.6 f/ml of air and your Risk Assessment MUST state why you are of the opinion that the STEL will not be exceeded.

The RA MUST be written by a COMPETENT PERSON for ALL WORK WITH ANY ASBESTOS not just the licensable stuff. So Artex, Cemenet, Floor tiles, gaskets etc and the contents of the RA and MS are explained in detail in the ACoP.

happy reading, any questions email me or you can email Brucie Boy!(Hope you dont mind Bruce!)