Posted By vincenzo
A type 3 survey has found asbestos on a floor in our office building that is due for refurbishment.
There were significant amounts of Chrysotil(white) and Amosite(brown) asbestos found in some areas.
The condition ranges from very poor/damaged to intact.

My understanding is that there is no immediate risk when the asbestos is intact, only when it has been disturbed or deteriorated.

Some of the asbestos found is in dust form and/or in very poor condition according to the survey.

The fact that asbestos has been found has raised a lot of concerns among the office employees.
Some of the areas found to contain Amosite asbestos in poor condition are frequented by employees but not on a continuous basis.

Is it right in saying there is a need for our employer to put those areas off-limits, where asbestos condition is poor/damaged, to employees until Risk Assessments have been made?

Is there now an immediate need for our employer to inspect all areas of the building for any further asbestos and keep an asbestos register?

Is there anything else that to be aware of to protect the office workers from further risk?

Posted By Robert K Lewis
Vincenzo

You have not made clear which is the host country for these offices. If I presume the UK then the statements you are making suggests that a routine type 1 or 2 inspection should have identified these as suspected materials and the requirements for a management plan were required even under the CAW regs 2002, not just since the CA regs 2006.

EU countries have the same broad requirements as the regulations flow from the same directive. Elsewhere you need to refer to local regulatory requiremnts.

The problem as it stands however is that you do need a management action plan that will ensure that further exposure will be eliominated and dust spread reduced to below the regulatory limit. As you are about to refurbish you need now to talk to your designers to decide the best options, which may involve partial or total removal as necessary.

Please email me if you need some help. We can work out of UK if needed on an advice basis.

Bob

Posted By Robert K Lewis
Martin

I was trying to point out gently that there should already have been some form of assessment under the 2002 duties and both the Type 1 and 2 should have picked up materials that can be accessed by employees. I realise that the type 3 was probably done as a pre-refurb item. Whatever is intended in the future a Management Plan is needed now to cover the period up to removal or encapsulation.

Bob