Rank: New forum user 
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I am trying to work through the CHAS accreditation. We are a ground working firm, mostly on the highways etc. One section asks how we deal with asbestos. We dont! if, in the very rare occations asbestos is found we call in specialists to dispose of it. However we have to prove what we do. Im finding it difficult to prove that we DONT work with asbestos!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Difficult one for you and my sympathies, I presume you cannot leave the field blank or write we don't deal with asbestos? I presume you don't have a policy/procedure for asbestos, but you may have an approved contractor for those rare ocassions you do need asbestos removed. Failing that, I suggest you call CHAS and explain the situation, they may agree to a sensible compromise.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Why not simply state that due to the nature of your work that asbestos is rarely encountered. That you call in specialists. The issue should also be coveted in CDM pre construction information brief.
It's a bit like saying to to an office of accountants, how do you deal with DSEAR.
Just because safety regulations are on the Statute book it doesn't follow that they apply to you in a practical sense.
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Rank: Super forum user
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On the other side though I have encountered groundworks on land contaminated with ACMs to a significant extent. You should therefore have a standard procedure on what to do if any ACM is encountered. This therefore implies some level of training for your operatives
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Rank: Super forum user 
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As said, you do encounter it (not forgetting asbestos cement waterpipes) and you should have a risk assessment detailing controls. That should include basic awareness for your operatives.
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Rank: Super forum user
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We've had to get our installation teams (fencing) to UKATA Asbestos Awareness otherwise we could end up with not being able to work for certain companies. Our own internal though good isn't accredited, mind i'm due to go on a proper course in the very near future to cover us as a duty holder with the fact it always means we can join UKATA and do the training (hopefully).
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Rank: Super forum user
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Many Clients and Major Contractors are unfotunately insistent on UKATA training. A bit lazy on their part, and IMO somewhat OTT for groundworks, fencing, etc.
Once you go down that route you're forced into OTT periodic refreshers too.
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Rank: Super forum user
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As a company you should really have a documented policy on asbestos which should then satisfy what CHAS is asking for. Whilst many people don't consider groundworkers and the like as being likely to discover asbestos, in my previous employment at a demo/asbestos firm we were forever getting called out to jobs where someone had dug up something suspicious. And with the amount of brown field regeneration going on at the moment i can see this getting even more common. Your policy would simply be a case of proviing AA training for staff and stopping work and notifying the client if anything is discovered whilst digging. It doesn't have to be anything more complicated than that. I agree with the comment that AA training every year is excessive but unfortunately this is what most companies seem to insist on nowadays.
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Rank: New forum user
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Many thanks for the help guys
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi, Just an extract from the HSE Website:- Refreshing information, instruction and training on asbestos awareness Information instruction and training on asbestos awareness is merely intended to help workers avoid carrying out work that will disturb asbestos. There is no legal requirement to repeat an entire formal awareness refresher training course every 12 months. However some form of refresher should be given, as necessary, to help ensure knowledge of asbestos awareness is maintained. Refresher awareness could be given as e-learning or as part of other health and safety updates, rather than through a formal training course. For example, an employer, manager or supervisor who has attended an awareness course and who is competent to do so, could deliver an update or safety talk to employees in house. A realistic, common sense approach to refreshing knowledge and skills, based on judgement of individual abilities and training needs is all that is usually required. There is no need for employees who have received training for licensable or non-licensable work to do the lower level awareness refresher training. Cheers Andy
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Rank: Forum user
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I had a similar problem with attaining CHAS. We are a resurfacing company who never encounter asbestos. However, I went on an Asbestos Awareness 1 day course and produced a company asbestos policy. If any of the bigger clients ever ask for asbestos awareness training (which has only happened once), I send them my cert and conduct toolbox talks with the operatives before they go to site. It got us through CHAS.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Originally Posted by: Ron Hunter  As said, you do encounter it (not forgetting asbestos cement waterpipes) and you should have a risk assessment detailing controls. That should include basic awareness for your operatives.
I agree with Ron, basic awareness training, a risk assessment and a simple procedure which details what frontline staff need to do if the unexpectedly encounter ACM, which is usually nothing more than stop and report.
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