Rank: Forum user 
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I am hoping someone can help me on this. We have sites where there has been no asbestos survey carried out. We are asked to run cabling. We refuse unless a suitable report is carried out of at least, the areas we need to drill. If that client then decides to go off and do their own drilling, is there anything that says we cannot then go in and do the non intrusive follow up works? We are having this discussion, as if it has not been removed correctly then there could be fibres in the air, however I need a reference point to use, if there is one. Thanks
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Rank: Forum user
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Before starting work you need to check what asbestos is present, in commercial properties there should be a plan/register – ask to see it. You need to check that the plan covers the area of the building that you will be working in and if you are doing refurbishment work that it includes a survey that tells you what types of asbestos is present and it’s condition. If there is no register or survey or the report is not clear – do not start work.
Alternatively, you can assume that any material you need to disturb does contain asbestos. The client also needs to see your plan of work to understand what work you are going to do, and how.
If there is no record and you have reason to suspect asbestos, ask for an asbestos refrbishment/demolition survey to be done before accepting the contract. Check if the work could require a licenced contractor prior to your works.
When a licence is not needed for the work, check if the work is Notifiable non-licensed work and if so, follow the requirements and then follow the task sheets or other HSE guidance.
If there is no task sheet for the work, get help from a competent health and safety advisor.
When you seek advice, ensure that the person providing that advice is competent with asbestos work.
The link below offers some excellent advice and guidance. The A0 sheet has a useful flow chart which will help you decide.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/
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 1 user thanked Woolf13 for this useful post.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks for that. It's more of a specific question I am asking. We do all of those things. The thing I am unsure about is going into a building to do non intrusive works, when someone else has drilled in there. Are we at risk of airborne fibres and is there anything to say we shouldn't go in?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Your question cannot be answered completely without knowing if and where any ACMs may be located. As the previous poster has mentioned, an asbestos register or survey should have been available to identify where ACMs are located for the contractor who drilled the holes and also for anyone else who may be carrying out work afterwards.
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Rank: Forum user
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What if this information has not been provided?
There are instances where a client has not had a survey done or has lost the paperwork. We will refuse to carry out any intrusive works based on that, but there are some works we could do that don't require any contact with ACMs. I am then questioned on whether we will go in and do the non intrusive works.
I am concerned that if someone had works done without following the correct procedures, we could be at risk from fibres that have been released through work processes.
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Rank: Super forum user
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You need assurances and evidence from the client or Principal Designer, otherwise your only option is to refuse to take on the work.
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1 user thanked RayRapp for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Even if the Client breaches regulation 4 “Duty to manage asbestos in nondomestic premises you still are duty bound to carry out a risk assessment under regulation 5 “An employer must not undertake work in demolition, maintenance or any other work which exposes or is liable to expose employees of that employer to asbestos in respect of any premises etc.” Therefore without a suitable survey or enough information to gain reassurance that none is present you should not carry out the works as there is a risk of exposure. Some Clients are not worth working for!
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1 user thanked Alfasev for this useful post.
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Rank: Forum user
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either way no matter who undertakes the intrusive works you should ask for copies of the clean air certifcation and the certificates of re-occupation.
Unless you get these my advice is DO NOT undertake any work in the area, or enter that area as you could be at risk.
Ask yourself /the client /the principal designer a simple question - would you be happy for yoru son or daughter to work under such circumstances?
If the answer is a resounding no (as it should be) why should anyone elses son or daughter be put at risk?
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1 user thanked allanwood for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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To answer if you are at risk! Potentially Yes but to what level of risk is unknown without all the points made above becoming a known quantity.
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1 user thanked Bigmac1 for this useful post.
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