Hi David, Can you let us know the context. Will the people who may inadvertantly find any asbestos know what it is? Under what circumstances is it possible they may find it?

Does that mean this is more likely to be a standard procedure than an emergency one?

David Basically your chaps need to know if they find anything suspicious which could be asbestos that they stop work and report it immediately to their supervisor/manager. It must be checked or tested before work resumes. If it is in a dangerous condition (ie friable) to warn colleagues working nearby. It is good practice to brief operatives on any potential asbestos related materials in a building, where it might be or is, if not disturbing it. Other good practice is to identify ACMs with a label and anything which might be wrongly accused of containing ACMs should also be labelled to avoid confusion.

As far as I was aware there is no real way of telling if a material contains asbestos at least no visually with the naked eye I was more recently surprised just what products it's found in like floor tiles for example. So exactly how would somebody become suspicious of a product containing asbestos whilst carrying out works. I would have thought it was sensible to suspect everything unless it clearly made of metal or in a product that has never been manufactured using asbestos. Am i right in thinking that asbestos was stooped from being used in manufacturing of products after 1985 other than a specific few exceptions (brake pads). Phil

"Basically your chaps need to know if they find anything suspicious which could be asbestos" It's just statement like the above i don't think are very clear it sounds as if anyone would be able to identify what contains asbestos just by looking at the material in front of them. may be a statement like "if you find material that has not been tested for asbestos and could contain asbestos then stop work" May be that is a clearer message backed up with training on products that would not contain asbestos as well as those that do. i certainly wouldn't have thought floor tiles would contain asbestos but then it's some time ago since i done an asbestos awareness training course. phil

Afternoon David, As far as an immediate procedure would go I would suggest the following; (although not an exhaustive list but a general overview). I would also suggest that you go back to basics to ensure a good policy/ procedure is implemented. 1. Cease all work immediately within the area & evacuate 2. If possible try and restrict air flow through the area (by closing doors, windows etc) 3. Remove & bag up the clothes of those working in the area at the time of discovery (if necessary to prevent further contamination) 4. Cordon off the area and display appropriate warning signage (lock off if possible) 5. Brief all employers & others who need to know & escalate where needed 5. Re evaluate the asbestos register & check the permit to work, method statements & risk assessments 6. Call in a specialist to conduct a type 2 survey & take samples (you may wish them to increase their search for more ACM's that may be present in the immediate area) 7. Await results of survey 8. If no ACM's are found, continue work as per your plan 9. If ACM's are found contact a licensed, HSE asbestos removal firm 10. You may wish to conduct "air sampling" to ascertain levels of asbestos prior to resuming work following removal. 11. Keep all employees & others briefed of the discovery and the plan going forward 12. If ACM's are found, re evaluate working plan prior to re commencing operation. Ensure that you have the correct mitigations in place as per evaluation of the risk. Hope this helps? KS

Lets not be too pedantic and hung up on words. Most tradesmen know the difference between gyproc and ACMs. It is about being vigilant without going OTT. For any structual type work in a building an asbestos survey should be completed in the first place. Reporting any suspicious material is merely a precautionary measure in most cases.

On a slightly different but related questions; I've had a couple of instances recently when speaking to prospective clients where they have stated "There is no asbestos used in this building". To be fair the buildings are fairly simple steel and concrete or breeze block shell structures, one is a tyre fitter in a building that has been there since the 1800s. I can see very little possibility of asbestos being used and no evidence of it is present (but I'm not an asbestos "expert"). Do they still need to get a survey done or is it enough to just be aware that it may be present and watch for it if the do any structural work on the building? Thanks

The author of the thread does not indicate either way whether the discovery of ACMs has been in included in any asbestos awareness course, or indeed whether a course has been provided. The original question was based on an asbestos procedure and what to do on the discovery of asbestos, which I believe has been answered.

Bob Agreed. However, it is possible that a stand alone procedure for asbestos may be part of the management system, just as it is with confined spaces etc. The author himself may not have received asbestos awareness training and is just asking the question. Ray