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??

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.

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.

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