Hi Ladies and Gents

I have had an incident on a site we are working on where the client has just closed off an area (a plant room) where they have found asbestos residues on cable tray, floors and other parts of the room.

I understand that it is the responsibility of the duty holder to manage and it is not mandatory for a survey to be carried out, but good practice.

In the situation where a survey has not been carried out it should be presumed that materials contain asbestos (unless totally discounted).

My question(s):

(1) In this particular case where asbestos residue has been identified - does this mean that there has been a failure to manage on the part of the client?

(2) Would forum users, if were in this situation, now request that all plant rooms are checked for asbestos residue as precaution?

(3) If we put our workforce to work in all of the other plant rooms the client owns with the knowledge of this current situation, would we be held liable if we did not ensure the other rooms were checked for residue?

If it were me, I would refuse to carry out any further works until the relevent survey is carried out.

In answer to your questions;
1. I feel that yes they have, if a survey was carried out prior to works then this would have been removed off site in a controlled manner,
2. Yes I would,
3. I would think that yes your company would be held semi liable if further asbestos was found owing to the fact that it has been found in this one plant room.

Asbestos is found in pretty much everything and anything in buildings prior to 2000, for peace of mind for your employees I wouldnt continue until you have proof that there isnt a risk of exposure.

Hi All

Thank you so much for the quick response. With over 600 plant rooms, it would be a massive decision to pull out. This is why I am hesitating giving a penultimate decision.

Fire Safety 101 - Good point! I think my initial request will be for this document in order to scrutinize their plan.

I am of the mind to limit the non attendance of all plant rooms of similar characteristics i.e. contained in similar buildings and act form their, what do you guys think?

600, wow thats a lot.
Do they have a AMP and a register? What have they said upon finding the asbestos in that one plant room? What course of action are they taking to remove the asbesots from there? What is the building/ and works (refurb?). There will be contracts in place, so you dont have to pull out totally of the job, but the Client/ PC should be managing this, you need to protect your workers.

Only one other thing to add to the excellent replies already posted and that is in regard to the statement on training.

I believe it's regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 says something along the lines of "folks need asbestos awareness training if there's a chance they may be exposed to asbestos."

Also says the sort of thing you need to be told on the course such as properties, health effects, ACMs(Asbestos Containing Materials) and Emergency Procedures

Also Blue (Crocidolite) and Brown (Amosite/Grunerite) banned in 1985, White (Chrysotile) banned in 1999.

Perhaps another "legacy" issue from some of the poor stripping practices prevalent in the 1980s.
Decon and clearance was often poor, and significant asbestos insulation left at flanges, valves and part-way down difficult to access ducting. Your people should be made aware of these 'histrical' risk issues via appropriate awareness training.
The inexpert client/employer can be given a false sense of security by referring to a decades-old "insulation removed" record - best to get up-to-date confirmation!!!