Posted By lee boylan Hello Everyone, I am writing a procedure of what to do if one of our maintenance guys accidentally disturbs Asbestos Containing Materials on site. Can anyone send me a copy of their procedure or can anyone offer some guidance on this. Cheers Lee

Posted By Ron Hunter A 'google' search on the term "asbestos emergency procedure" will give you access to the efforts of several organisations in this regard.

Posted By Robert K Lewis Fully agree with Rodger. CAR06 is quite clear that ALL maintenance and refurbishment operatives who can foreseeably encounter asbestos materials must be suitably trained, ie awareness training as the basic start point. Part of this training would be essentially a simple process requiring reporting, isolation of immediate work area and suspension of further work in the area pending further decision. Also the asbestos management plan, including emergency procedures, is a mandatory requirement for all employers who foreseeably put employees to work in such areas under their control. In situations such as housing stock repairs the situation is complicated by the tenant occupation but this does not excuse any duties to manage once you place your employees in the place to undertake work. I am beginning to find that surveyors particularly are now beginning to recognise the issues involved. Bob

Posted By Amandac I agree with all the posts explaining the need to prevent the repairs/maintenance guys disturbing ACM's, however in reality even after you have done everything you can you still get accidental disturbance. When this occurs you need to have the procedures to deal with it.

Posted By lee boylan Thanks for all the responses which I have found great. We do have an Asbestos register which is maintained every 6 months, but as Amanda pointed out, the type 2 survey that was carried out potentially will not pick up on all the locations of asbestos. All the maintenance guys have had the asbestos awareness training and have access to the locations of known asbestos (asbestos locations are also clearly marked). But the procedure that I am writing is incase they accidentally damage UNKNOWN locations of asbestos (that the type 2 survey did not pick up) they will need to know what to do in this circumstance. Regards Lee

Posted By Robert K Lewis Ron is spot on - if you are to intrude into places where type 2 will not be sufficient you must do more detailed investigation. I feel very uncomfortable with some statements that I hear which suggest that the encounter with ACM was accidental. The need for information and assessment is firmly embedded into CAR06 as it is in CDM08. I have recently likened this to sending a painter to premises to paint a room without telling him/her the colour to be used until they arrive and look in the room. I then expect them to be prepared for whatever they meet. Seal off areas and report back immediately, with possible isolation of ventilators, is about all you can achieve. But if they do cause significant damage to a material suspected of being ACM then one has to consider whether the training has been properly absorbed by the operatives. Bob