Hi. Please help I'm advising an estate agency business who have had recent correspondence from environmental health as to how they are protecting their staff and customers from exposure to asbestos fibres in homes for sale. In the correspondence, the EHO has said: "I would expect that you would carry out a health & safety assessment of the risks relating to each property to ensure the health, safety and welfare of your employees and non employees". I have 2 thoughts on this. Is it 'reasonably practicable' to carry out asbestos surveys on every home that comes on to the market? This also raises another question: How can you protect the staff who are carrying out the asbestos survey? Isn't that a chicken and egg scenario? (wouldn't mind hearing from anyone involved in carrying out asbestos surveys on that one) Secondly, if they did do a generic risk assessment, wouldn't the risk v's likelihood (taking into account the likelihood of airbourne fibres during a visit x frequency of exposure) surly would come out negligible risk? And my daftest suggestion yet: All staff and customers to wear PPE (I know!!... but you can see my frustration here) I am discussing with colleagues, but though I would ask you good people here as you have helped me in the past. Thanks if anyone can give some thoughts.

It's a strange request. I would feel inclined to follow it up with...what do you suggest? When visiting the property it is probably not known whether it contains any ACMs, unless it belongs to a council or housing association - they may have an asbestos register for the property. ACMs are not normally in a dangerous state which might give cause for the concern. The only thing I can think of in terms of protecting the estate agent's staff is Asbestos Awareness Training. This would give them the necessary insight but in reality OTT in my opinion. PPE would be of little benefit unless it was at a level which could guarantee protection - not considered reasonably practicable in my opinion. Anyway the short duration of any potential exposure would negate the need for PPE.

Thanks for the responses so far. I like the suggestion of getting back to the EHO asking for recommendations. It's interesting that fire authority deficiency reports always carry recommendations but this one has not. Also that this one is using the H&SAWA as opposed to CAR. Also, agree with your suggestions of asbestos awareness training and asking sellers for information up front. this is probably the route we may go down.

where are we going with this country??? I would go with the answers already supplied [Ray-Ron etc.] and it shows yet again just how poor competency is out there in the world

Ivor - i was a local authority inspector for over 30 years - and this ranks high in the risk of madness i have read. Duty to manage does not apply to domestic property. As an EHO this person probably visits private homes on a regular basis to see complaints etc. Ask them if you can see their asbestos risk assessment as guide to what you should be doing.

Love the fact you have thanked him Peter - slip of the finger i think LOL

Jodie i think you and i are reading this post very differently, I dont think this is about doing an asbestos survay - i think its about estate agents going into a domestic house to value the property. A little bit of asbestos awareness training would not go amiss but i dont see it as a significant hazard for the industry, its not like they will be disturbing anything. - lone working has shown to be far more of a concern.

Spammers frequently use old posts - perhaps posts on to a post that has been inactive for (say) 3 months should automatically be reviewed by whoever moderates before being posted.