Rank: Forum user 
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Yesterday I had a meeting with one of our clients.
The client wants an Emergency Personal Asbestos Kit for every one of our team of electricians on their site for accidental disturbance of ACMs.
This kit will contain a respirator, coveralls, signs, tape to seal off rooms etc.
Our electricians (who we have trained in UKATA asbestos awareness and to work with non licensed asbestos) will be working in most cases at occupied council houses.
Is this me or is this way over the top? Can you imagine the panic on the tennant if men in space suits start to seal off their house because somebody has disturbed something that may be asbestos.
The houses we visit are by surveyed the client before we go in, we have provided relevant asbestos training.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Sites have undertaken surveys
Employees have received training in asbestos awareness
Are the results of surveys available on site?
Unless your electricians are involved in demolishing, or total refurbish then what significant risk warrants use of RPE, coveralls, tape etc?
If suspected asbestos then treat as such by reporting, warning others and suspend work until it has been identified or not as the case may be.
The issue of such kit suggests that they intend to carry on and finish the work regardless as suspecting ACM is present??
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Rank: Super forum user 
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IMHO this smacks of lack of knowledge and understanding on the part of the client. Have you considered offering the client asbestos awareness training so they have a better understanding? It sounds to me as if the client is of the school that believe the mere mention of the "A" word will cause you to drop dead!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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In the event of inadvertant release, focus should be on preventing further spread. This will involve change of clothing washing etc and bagging of contaminants, closing windows, doors, damping down and preventing unauthorised access etc.
Your client should be asking to see YOUR emergency procedure, not 'dabbling' in it. You do need to be in position to your client that you can deal with such a situation. Despite the best precautions, every house is different and these kinds of incidents DO happen.
Whilst perhaps slightly (only slightly) OTT, I believe your client has a justifiable concern and the matter does need to be addressed.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Clearly client believes that the work may disturb asbestos therefore where is the survey information that should have followed such a belief. He is obviously expecting intrusive work.
Bob
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Rank: Forum user
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I would say this is a client lacking in the knowledge to exercise their duties under reg 4 of CAR2006, namely the duty to manage. It seems they are expecting disturbance and are asking your electricians in this case to be able to respond to an emergent situation. On the surface this seems (to them) like the logical thing to do as it demonstrates (to them) some sort of control measures. However, if the ACMs are managed properly in the first instance there should be no need for anyone (sparks or otherwise) to inadvertently disturb ACMs. Yes, a management survey may not pick up on concealed or previously inaccessible ACMs but, a refurb/ demolition survey must do so. Get the client to provide access to the survey. This will inform how the ACMs are to be managed. Do the work in compliance with the survey findings & management plan. If ACMs require disturbance this needs to be in compliance of CAR 2006 and may need a licensed contractor to be involved depending on what form the asbestos is and/ or what the anticipated exposure levels might be. Having said all this you should take some comfort from the fact you have an overly cautious client as opposed to the 'gung ho' version.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Regardless of opinion here, there is specific duty placed on both parties (client and contractor) by Regulation 15(4) of CAR (L143 ACoP refers).To paraphrase:
"In the event of an accident, incident or emergency related to the unplanned release of asbestos at the workplace, the employer shall ensure that immediate steps are taken to mitigate the effects of the event....".
I would stress to all concerned here that despite precautions including training, survey, planning, communications etc. etc. such incidents DO occur in the context of works in domestic housing stock.
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Rank: Forum user
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I have lost a very close friend to an asbestos-related diseases ,so in my mind we can not have e nuff precautions in place as it has been said before accidents do happen and things can be missed on surveys we all need to be very aware of the dangers of asbestos and what it can do so if we have to go that bit if it saves one life is that not what we are in this job for
Kev
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Rank: Super forum user
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No - not over the top! - all the information you need is provided in HSE Asbestos Essentials Task Sheet EM1 - free to download from the HSE website. Hope that helps
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