Asbestos – for the Health and Safety Beginner.

Asbestos – for the Health and Safety Beginner.

Asbestos is one of those words H & S professionals don’t like to hear. To most people it means Lung Cancer, Compensation or Expensive removal work.
In the maze of H & S regulations, this one often gets forgotten….or worse…some people really believe their building has NO Asbestos, so why bother…even though their building was built pre 1999 (when Asbestos use in building materials was finally banned ). What needs to be realised is that asbestos was incorporated into over 3000 products, including floor tiles, artex, pipe insulation, cement, cavity wall insulation, …..heck they even put it into toilet seats….

The fact is …you have a duty in LAW under the ‘Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (CAWR 2002) Regulaton 4 The Duty to Manage’, to produce an Asbestos Management Plan and Asbestos Register detailing the locations of any Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM’s) and to continue to manage any positive areas.

Why?

The object of the register is to provide information relating to the building and the whereabouts of ACM’s. This allows tradesmen to plan and carry out any remedial or improvement works safely. Would you want to be sitting in your office while the maintenance man drills into a wall to put up a shelf ….only for you to hear him say… “hey, I’m sure this wall is Asbestos Board”? or for your boss to say “someone is suing us for exposure to asbestos, where’s the register, I’ll prove it wasn’t” and your answer is “what register?”

So what do you do?

Firstly don’t panic…..if you have had an asbestos register done previously, check it to establish when it was last updated, you may need another survey. Registers should be updated on a yearly basis or earlier if damage is reported, along with the measures taken as a result of this report.

Things change over time, sometimes these changes are not recorded and no one has any idea who did what or when!.

A Competent person will need to do a visual re-inspection to establish that areas found to contain Asbestos are damage free and still in good condition, and will need to document the findings, Its no use going around the building checking if you have no proof you have done it! Or get an Asbestos Surveyor to do the re-inspection, many companies choose this route because Asbestos Surveyors are qualified and insured to do this specific type of work.

If you have not had a register done previously, you need to assess the probability of your building containing Asbestos.

All buildings must have a register, if your building was built after 2000 a letter from the architect detailing that materials were sourced which do not contain Asbestos will suffice, file it and relax.

If your building was built before 2000 you need to survey. For many this is done through a surveying company.

Most importantly you need to sit down and plan how you will survey, what type of survey you need, who needs access to the survey results and how will they will be accessed ( hard copy, electronic database) and also how you will manage the survey results in the future.

Most dutyholders use asbestos surveying companies to produce their asbestos report.

Surveying costs vary with the size of site and the type of survey required and can be expensive, however it doesn’t always pay to go with the cheapest company, whoever you decide to employ, remember the following.

Asbestos survey companies have qualified surveyors. Asbestos qualifications are specific, a surveyor must hold a minimum qualification of BOHS P402, a senior surveyor S301 and a consultant will hold a Certificate of Competence in Asbestos (CCP) this is the highest qualification you can get in the Asbestos industry. Ask to see copies of your surveyor’s qualifications.

Check that the surveying company you use has adequate insurance cover, some surveying companies are not insured for type 3 surveys.

The main thing is communication with the surveyor, tell the surveyor what you want the survey to achieve, and any areas you specifically want surveyed. If the building is to be demolished or undergo major refurbishment your needs will be different to a building that isn’t, a good surveyor will tell you what is and isn’t possible during a survey and what areas you need to take into consideration.

Ask to see a copy report, a survey report is no good if it is written or presented in such a way that you or your tradesmen don’t understand it!

Ask for references…and check them, ask the customer if they were happy with the service…and the after sales service.

Does the company have a database system that allows your results to be accessed on line by authorised personnel? This is a particularly useful management tool for companies who manage more that one site eg housing authorities.

There are 3 different survey types, which one do you need

Type one: Location and assessment survey (presumptive)

Type 1 surveys are designed to locate, as far as reasonably practical, any ACMs and assess the risk and are used when sampling is not a suitable option. All areas of a building are accessed but as materials are only presumed to contain asbestos they rely heavily on the experience and knowledge of surveyor. Samples would have to be taken before maintenance work started to confirm the presence or absence of Asbestos.

Type two: Standard Sampling, identification and assessment survey (sampling survey)

The purpose and procedures of a type 2 survey are as for a type 1 survey but includes the sampling of suspect ACMs to confirm the surveyors’ judgment. The samples are analysed by an accredited laboratory and the resulting report informs exactly which materials in the building are or are not asbestos containing. This is the most commonly utilised survey for asbestos management plans.

Type three: Full access sampling and identification survey (pre-demolition/major refurbishment survey)

Type 3 surveys are used to locate all ACMs, as far as reasonably practicable within a building and its structure and may involve destructive inspection techniques. These surveys are designed to estimate quantity of asbestos rather than condition to allow tendering of asbestos removal prior to demolition or refurbishment.
On some larger sites a mixture of the above survey types can be used if different parts of the site have varying requirements.

How will you manage the survey in the future?

Once the survey is completed you need ongoing management of the data. Put procedures in place for responsibility and timescales to make sure the information is updated and re-inspections are carried out.

Finally……. train all employees on Asbestos Awareness and put in place a contingency plan in case asbestos is found or accidentally damaged.

A good effective asbestos management plan will satisfy the HSE and your insurers.

Remember, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) take the enforcement of asbestos legislation very seriously – ignorance it not a defence! http://www.hse-databases.co.uk/prosecutions/

The HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos and www.etonservices.co.uk - Eton Environmental Services Ltd. Eton, Windsor, Berkshire | Asbestos Consultancy Service are a great place to start to get free information on asbestos.

Risk Assessments and Health and Safety

Risk Assessments and Health and Safety

One area that really needs to be enforced in schools is risk assessments. Not just by the caretaker, but by every member of staff. Everyone working in a school has a responsibility to those they work with and teacher to ensure they work in a safe and healthy environment.

TeachersTV has recently made a film about the importance of completing risk assessments and Health and Safety. The film highlights some of the main points that you need to address.

Proper Storage

Schools are busy places. Equipment left out can be a cause of accidents. As part of the risk assessment, you should identify areas where there is a need for correct storage. This can be cupboards for equipment or lockers for pupils. Busy corridors and fire exits are places that equipment should never be stored.

Manual Handling

Many staff will attempt to place items for storage above head height or try to work on noticeboards or display boards above head height. These areas of risk should be identified within the risk assessment. Staff should be given clear instructions and told not to use chairs, tables or even pupils to gain that extra height. Step ladders should be provided. Within the instructions, staff should be aware that when using step ladders, another member of staff should be present to steady the steps and you should not carry items up the steps yourself, but have them passed to you when you are at the correct height.

Employers have a duty to provide you the correct equipment.

Lifting and Carrying

All staff should be aware of the techniques for lifting and carrying. Within the risk assessment, items like Briefcases, books, Over Head Projectors (OHPs) and laptops should be highlighted. It's often these small but bulky items that get overlooked.

Always bend at the knees keeping your back straight. When you finish the lift, straighten your knees, always keeping your back straight.

Keeping corridors safe

All school should have strict rules of conduct in corridors. Pupils should be aware of the dangers of pushing, shoving or running in corridors. Pupils should be aware of the reporting process if they find spillages or loose tiles in corridors. Corridors should be kept clear at all times, this includes pupils. Do not let pupils hang around in corridors (eg breaktimes). Do not place chairs or tables in corridors. Corridors are also the main fire exit within schools. If a panic was to happen during a fire, a chair or table could cause a serious problems.

These are just some of the issues the 15 minute film covers.

To watch the film provided by TeachersTV now, CLICK HERE to be taken to the Caretakers' Website hosting the film. You will need a broadband connection to stream this (35mb) media and Windows Media Player.

Written by thecaretaker of The Caretakers' Website

Changes to the Rule for Training of Drivers of Vehicles carrying Dangerous Goods

Changes to the Rule for Training of Drivers of Vehicles carrying Dangerous Goods

Currently drivers of vehicles with a permissible maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes have to posses an ADR training certificate.

From 1st January 2007 the exemption for drivers of vehicles less than 3.5 tonnes expires. From that date drivers of all vehicles that carry dangerous goods will be required to hold a vocational training certificate (ADR).

General Training Requirements

Since 1999 all persons (not only drivers) such as consignors, carriers, packers and container operators, whose duties concern the carriage of dangerous goods require some form of training. They have to receive training appropriate to their responsibilities and duties. This training is usually an awareness course.

The awareness course must cover the following subjects:

General Awareness Training
Function-specific Training &
Safety Training

Driver Training from 1st Jan 2007

When would a driver require an ADR certificate?

There will be some exemptions that can still be claimed for the driver to have an ADR. These can be found in section 1.1.3.1 – 1.1.3.6.4 of ADR. Some examples are:

1) If the vehicle is being used for private use

2) Carriage of machinery or equipment

3) If package meet the requirement of Limited Quantities

There is an additional exemption where the quantity of dangerous goods carried does not exceed the values set out in table 1.1.3.6. of ADR. To know if this exemption can be claimed, you first need to establish what transport category the goods belong to. This information should be available from the consignor. The second piece of information required would be the quantity of dangerous goods on the vehicle.

If the quantity of dangerous goods carried does not exceed the value indicated for the given transport category the carrier can then claim exemption for the requirement of the driver for having an ADR certificate.

For example:

For Transport Category 0 there are no exemptions

For Transport Category 1. The exemption applies until the quantity carried exceeds 20 (kilograms or litres)

For Transport Category 2. The exemption applies until the quantity transported exceeds 333 (kilograms or litres)

For Transport Category 3. The exemption applies until the quantity transported exceeds 1,000 (kilograms or litres)

Although the driver is exempt from an ADR certificate he would still be required to have awareness training. Where these values (or values for mixed loading in 1.1.3.6.4) are exceeded then the driver would be required to have an ADR.

How the changes came about

August 2002

The Government of Liechtenstein proposed mandatory training for drivers carrying dangerous goods regardless of the permissible maximum weight of their vehicle.

November 2002

Opinions at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe were divided on the proposal. Some delegates noted that these vehicles were regularly able to carry goods in quantities greater than the exemption limits of 1.1.3.6 and those vehicles were increasingly being used to carry dangerous goods since they were subject neither to the same speed limits as heavy vehicles nor to weekend travel restrictions (for certain countries).

Others considered that in view of the number of drivers concerned, a measure of this nature would have considerable economic consequences and that the cost for carriers should be carefully evaluated with a view to the benefits in terms of safety, which needed to be supported by accident statistics. It was also noted that the drivers of these vehicles were in any case subject to the general company training requirements of Chapter 1.3.

The representative of Liechtenstein was asked to submit a new proposal for the next session, which would take into account the necessary consequential amendments.

May 2003

Liechtenstein resubmits it proposal but this time with support from other countries: Austria, Norway, Poland and most notably Germany

Some delegations said that the proposed obligation concerning the training of drivers of vehicles with a permissible maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes would involve a very large number of drivers and would therefore have considerable economic repercussions.

Other delegations stressed that training requirements had caused a significant increase in the production cost of the transport of dangerous goods, and that in order to avoid it, the industry was more and more resorting to using vehicles not exceeding 3.5 tonnes, which were increasingly effective in power and speed but fell short of numerous safety requirements.

The representative of Italy proposed that the decision on this proposal should be deferred, so as to give Governments time to collect accident statistics and assess safety advantages in relation to cost. After a vote resulting in equal numbers for and against, the proposal was not accepted.

The Working Party finally decided to adopt the proposal by Liechtenstein to the effect that all drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous goods, irrespective of the permissible maximum mass of the vehicle, subject to the exemptions set out in 1.1.3, must be trained in accordance with 8.2.1. This measure would take effect on 1 January 2007 at the latest (see annex).

So industry has not only had the usual six month introductory period but it has had over 2 years to get ready.

It is unlikely that there will be any extension or exemption as the view is that industry has already had two years to adapt. If they have not adapted by now then they have only themselves to blame.

Although spot checks will not be carried out on January1st 2007, I have been assured that enforcement will be taking place as of the 2nd of January.

Are you ready?

www.ritchiestraining.com

Further information on the exemptions that can be made can be found in the following Microsoft Publisher file:

Exemption Book A4 Size (PDF 296KB)