Scenario as follows: Employees are tasked with drilling holes into 2 mm thick metal cladding, the premises has an asbestos survey report with all areas found to contain ACMs marked up as such. Work was at height on a MEWP and the drilling was at waist height. The area of this work has no such markings so it was presumed no asbestos present. A short while into the drilling operation there was concrete dust and a white material exiting the hole, this dropped to the ground, work stopped immediately and this reported to relevant people. One of the employees had received asbestos awareness training and followed the correct procedure. Samples were taken and subsequently proven to be asbestos. Questions: What RPE should the workers have used ? (They did not expect ACMs to be present) Do the workers need to be seen by a medical practitioner as a matter of course? Is the incident reportable to HSE? If so who should report? Thank you

nickh thanks, I din't think you are wrong, but would like some guidance on whether respirator was required even though there was a survey report and no indication of potential for ACMs to be present?

Sounds like a lengthy and substantial drilling operation, so yes would seem reportable. Analysts can usually advise on likely exposure at point of release (but outside, the weather conditions will be a deciding factor). Your employees exposed, so your report to HSE. If they aren't otherwise engaged, there's an increased likelihood of them coming to investigate. I trust your 'procedure' included showering and disposal /cleaning of contaminted tools and clothing. The interal colume of the drill (for example) is now likely to be contaminated with asbestos fibres. Presumably this wasn't your workplace. Onus on the host employer/duty holder to determine potential for ACMs before authorising the intrusive work. That's easy to say of course, but the real-life practicality and foreseeability are often a different matter. There's NO legal requirement point or purpose in medical or health surveillance intervention - your people aren't "asbestos workers", so the CAR requirements don't apply. A correct and detailed record of this exposure should be made in the employee permanent record, and they should be given a copy of that record. RPE should (IMHO) have been mandatory due to the dust arising from the normal drilling operation. Attempt should be made to capture or suppress this dust at source, backed up by FFP2 respirator (I think - happy to be corrected). If (non-licensed) ACM work had been anticipated, the Asbestos Task Manual refers on PPE requirements. RPE for that is FFP3.

Is this white powder confirmed as asbestos ie has the material now been analysed. If so then the information given in previous post is useful, if not then it is all speculation. Regards PaulR

I'd still tend to report it, but be guided by the analyst. It's till likely that those with their face up close were exposed above the control limit. Asbestos- the fibres that are microscopic are the ones that harm us. We have natural defences and barriers for the big stuff.