Asbestos Briefing for Health & Safety Co-ordinators

Transcription

1 Asbestos Briefing for Health & Safety Co-ordinators

2 What is asbestos? Basically a rock mined from the earth. Asbestos is a term used for a group of fibrous forms of naturally occurring minerals gathered from the rock. The three main types of asbestos which have been used commercially are: - chrysotile (often referred to as white asbestos ). amosite (often referred to as brown asbestos ). crocidolite (often referred to as blue asbestos ).

3 What is asbestos? (contd.) All are dangerous but blue and brown asbestos are known to be more dangerous than white. (The different types cannot usually be identified by their colour alone). This picture shows bundles of microscopic brown asbestos fibres. There is no simple test to identify the different types of asbestos. Laboratory analysis will always be required.

4 How does asbestos get into the body? Asbestos fibres enter the body through the nose and mouth; they cannot be absorbed through the skin. The body naturally removes asbestos fibres taken in with food and drink. The body s defences will block and remove most of the larger fibres which enter through the nose and mouth, however tiny fibres can pass into the lungs where they can remain and cause disease. This picture shows asbestos fibres lodged in the lungs.

5 How can asbestos affect you? Either long term exposure or small but repeated exposures can lead to the development of three fatal asbestos related diseases. These are:- Asbestosis scarring of the lung leading to shortness of breath. Lung Cancer Mesothelioma cancer of the lining around the stomach and lungs. There is presently no cure for asbestos related diseases.

6 How can asbestos affect you? (contd.) People who smoke and become exposed to asbestos fibres are at greater risk of developing lung cancer. These diseases can take from 15 to 60 years to develop from first exposure, so you would not be aware of any sudden change in your health after breathing in fibres. This picture shows a piece of asbestos lagging being gently shaken. Notice the fibres in the air. Remember - it is the precautions you take now which safeguards your health in the future.

7 How can asbestos affect you? (contd.) In general, the likelihood that people may develop one of these diseases will increase with: - the type of asbestos fibres they are exposed to. the younger they are when exposure starts. the number of fibres they breathe in. the number of times they are exposed. whether they smoke. The best way to be sure that you do not develop one of these diseases is to: - avoid disturbing asbestos contaminated materials. keep exposure as low as reasonably practicable.

8 Where can asbestos be found? Loose asbestos materials have been put to many uses over the century. The most common were:- loose asbestos packing between floors and partition walls. sprayed asbestos on structural beams and girders. This picture shows sprayed amosite asbestos coating on a beam in a ceiling void.

9 Where can asbestos be found? (contd.) lagging on pipework and boilers, calorifiers, heat exchangers etc. This picture shows a small area of damaged chrysotile asbestos pipelagging. This picture shows an asbestos lagged hot water cylinder.

10 Where can asbestos be found? (contd.) asbestos insulation board ceiling tiles, partition walls, service duct covers, fire breaks, heater cupboards, door panels, lift shaft linings, fire surrounds, soffits etc. This picture shows a suspended ceiling in a corridor This picture shows a damaged perforated ceiling tile.

11 Where can asbestos be found? (contd.) asbestos cement products such as roof and wall cladding, bath panels, boiler and incinerator flues, fire surrounds, gutters, rainwater pipes, heat tanks etc. This picture shows asbestos cement roofing. This picture shows an asbestos cement downpipe.

12 Where can asbestos be found? (contd.) other products such as floor tiles, mastic, sealants, decorative coatings, rope seals and gaskets (in pipework etc), millboard, paper products, cloth (fire blankets, etc) and bituminous products (roofing felt etc). This picture shows decorative ceiling coating which contains asbestos. This picture shows an asbestos gasket on a pipe flange.

13 Where can asbestos be found? (contd.) The following photographs show some of the applications/situations of asbestos use. Asbestos rope seal. Asbestos pipe lagging.

14 Where can asbestos be found? (contd.) The following photographs show some of the applications/situations of asbestos use. Asbestos rope lagging. Asbestos debris.

15 Where can asbestos be found? (contd.) The following photographs show some of the applications/situations of asbestos use. Asbestos debris on cable tray. Damage to asbestos insulation board.

16 What should you do if you think you have discovered an asbestos material? If you come across any hidden or dusty materials which you suspect may contain asbestos, stop work and inform the Estates Office on Ext Remember, provided the asbestos material is in good condition and in a position where it cannot be damaged or disturbed, it will not pose a risk to your health.

17 University of Birmingham Asbestos Policy and Guidance. Strict regulations have been put in place for asbestos encountered in the workplace. In order to abide by the regulations and manage asbestos here, the University has its own health & safety policy and guidance document specifically for this subject. The document can be accessed through the Health & Safety Unit s Website Document no USHP/14/ASB/04.

18 University of Birmingham Asbestos Policy and Guidance. (contd.) The document mentions that:- The Estates Office is responsible for managing asbestos associated with the University's buildings and infrastructure. Budget Centres are responsible for managing asbestos associated with their equipment. The University forbids interference with any of its engineering services or building fabric without express permission from the Director of Estates. Financial rules require that any goods and services which involve any modification of, or attachment to, the fabric of a building will be subject to the control of the Director of Estates. The Estates Office is required to keep a register of all asbestos and presumed asbestos containing materials, including those that are the responsibility of other Budget Centres.

19 What are the current regulations? The Control of Asbestos Regulations which came into force on 13th November 2006 as a replacement for the previous regulations. They place explicit duties on employers to manage asbestos on their premises. They also place a requirement on employers to prevent exposure of employees to Asbestos fibres as far as is reasonably practicable. The guidance document HSG 264. Produced by the HSE sets out how to survey workplace premises for Asbestos Containing Materials and how to record the results in a useable form. HSG 264

20 What types of survey are available? There are Two types of survey described in HSG 264. Management survey Will often involve minor intrusive work and sometimes disturbance. Factors such as type of building its nature of construction and accessibility will determine the extent of intrusion. The survey may include an assessment of the conditions of materials suspected of containing asbestos and of their ability to release fibres into the air.

21 What types of survey are available? (contd.) Management survey (contd.) A survey will involve taking samples of found materials and analysing them to confirm or deny the presence of asbestos. A management survey can also involve presuming the presence or absence of asbestos. It can be completed by using a combination of sampling and presuming. Any material presumed to contain asbestos must also have their condition assessed (i.e. a maternal assessment) Management Survey

22 What types of survey are available? (contd.) Refurbishment and Demolition Survey A refurbishment and demolition survey is required prior to any refurbishment or demolition work being carried out. The survey should locate and describes, as far as is reasonably practicable, all the contaminated materials in the area of work or in the whole building if demolition is planned. The survey will be fully intrusive and involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach. Refurbishment and Demolition Survey

23 What types of survey are available? (contd.) Refurbishment and Demolition Survey (contd.) A refurbishment and demolition survey may also be required in other circumstances. Examples:- When intrusive maintenance and repair work will be carried out. Prior to removal or dismantling of plant. There are specific requirements under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, identified in Regulation 7 for all asbestos containing materials to be removed, as far as is reasonably practicable, before major refurbishment of final demolition. Removing asbestos containing materials can also be appropriate in smaller refurbishment situations which involve structural or layout changes to buildings. This could involve removal of partitions, walls, units etc.

24 How did the University complete its survey? The Type 2 Survey (as previously described in HSE Guidance MDHS 100 now described as a Management survey in the latest Guidance HSG 264) was selected as the most suitable. All buildings built prior to 2000 were surveyed. The survey commenced in November 2003 and was completed at the start of Each identified Asbestos Containing Material was subject to a Material Risk Assessment which took the following into account:- material type. extent of damage. surface treatment. asbestos type. Each assessment identified the high risk materials which would most readily release airborne fibres. Highly damaged pipe insulation

25 How did the University complete its survey? (contd.) Any area or specific asbestos material which gave immediate cause for concern was:- secured. listed on the Estates intranet. where possible removed, repaired or encapsulated. or cleaned and where appropriate labelled (e.g. Plant Room Area.) Information from the material risk assessment was entered onto the Estates Office Asbestos Register.

26 How did the University determine how they would manage the Asbestos Containing Materials? A Priority Risk Assessment was completed for each identified source of asbestos. It took account of :- its location. its extent. the use to which the location is put. the occupancy of the area. the activities that are carried out in that area. maintenance activities. The assessment formed the basis of the management plan i.e. determined appropriate actions and to what frequency the source would be inspected, if left in-situ. Asbestos Boiler Flue would be assessed and inspected as necessary Information from the priority risk assessment was also entered onto the Asbestos Register.

27 How did the University determine how they would manage the Asbestos Containing Materials? (contd.) Areas where sources of asbestos containing materials are known to exist would be labelled with a caution notice. Sources of Asbestos Containing Materials are monitored on a regular basis to determine whether there has been any deterioration or damage to the source. A hand held computer holding information downloaded from the asbestos register provides evidence about the sources condition when last monitored. The information gleaned from the current inspection is entered onto the hand held computer and downloaded onto the Asbestos Register, ensuring that up to date electronic records are available. An example of a caution notice

28 Why are we applying labels? The University are applying labels in order to reduce the possibility of anyone becoming exposed to hazardous asbestos situations. The University has developed a labelling system to be used when identifying sources of asbestos which are located generally within buildings; Labels complement the Estates Office Asbestos Register. There are 4 types of label being used.

29 Labels that affect the areas primarily controlled by the Estates Office External warning for plant rooms Being used as warning signs in Plant Areas, Riser Cupboards, Subways etc. where asbestos containing materials have been identified and left in-situ. They are strategically placed to target trades staff and contractors working in the areas.

30 Labels that affect the areas primarily controlled by the Estates Office Individual Warning Labels Being used when material is presumed to contain asbestos, but has not been confirmed by analysis They have been placed in areas only normally accessible to trade staff and contractors (eg to pipe work insulation)

31 Labels that affect the areas primarily controlled by the Estates Office Warning of asbestos residue Have been used when 100% asbestos removal is not feasible and encapsulation is required or where contamination is suspected - e.g. for pipe work surfaces beneath insulation They have been placed in areas only accessible to trade staff and contractors. Warning! Asbestos Residue Beneath Insulation.

32 Label for general use in a variety of occupied areas Infrastructure Disturbance Notices Have been used in areas other than Plant rooms, riser Cupboards and Subways etc, when known or presumed asbestos containing materials are present. It alerts and reminds everyone that they MUST NOT undertake any work liable to disturb building fabric or services without firstly obtaining full approval from the Estates Office. Will be located (one per room) on walls and at sight level, adjacent to the opening edge of the main entrance door.

33 Typical location for the Infrastructure Disturbance Caution Notice Caution notice location

34 REMEMBER All Asbestos Containing Materials are safe if in a good condition and left undisturbed

35 Any Questions?

36 Now your turn

37 1. In what year was the import and use of asbestos completely banned?

38 1. In what year was the import and use of asbestos completely banned? 1999

39 2. Which types of asbestos are reportedly the most dangerous?

40 2. Which types of asbestos are reportedly the most dangerous? Blue (crocidolite) & Brown (amosite)

41 3. Why doesn t the colour come into play when trying to decide what type of asbestos is in a sample?

42 3. Why doesn t the colour come into play when trying to decide what type of asbestos is in a sample? Because the raw asbestos can be mixed with other materials.

43 4. What is the typical size of asbestos fibres which can get past the body s defences?

44 4. What is the typical size of asbestos fibres which can get past the body s defences? 5 microns long and 3 microns wide

45 5. Is it possible that everyone has breathed in asbestos fibres at sometime during their life?

46 5. Is it possible that everyone has breathed in asbestos fibres at sometime during their life? Yes

47 6. When does asbestos pose no risk to health?

48 6. When does asbestos pose no risk to health? When it is left undisturbed and undamaged

49 7. When did the University complete its asbestos survey and which type of survey was completed?

50 7. When did the University complete its asbestos survey and which type of survey was completed? A Type 2 Survey was completed in 2005

51 8. Why are identified sources of asbestos containing materials being maintained?

52 8. Why are identified sources of asbestos containing materials being maintained? To identify deterioration and damage.

53 9. Where is the monitoring information to be recorded?

54 9. Where is the monitoring information to be recorded? In the Asbestos Register located in the Estates Office.

55 10. Why has the University developed a labelling system?

56 10. Why has the University developed a labelling system? To identify sources of asbestos located in all areas and in an attempt to prevent anyone becoming exposed to asbestos.

57 11. Where will the Infrastructure Disturbance Caution Notices be located?

58 11. Where will the Infrastructure Disturbance Caution Notices be located? On walls and at sight level, adjacent to the opening edge of the main entrance door to a room.

59 For further information please contact:- Roger Blandford Assistant Director Maintenance & Utilities Estates Office Ext Kevin Cotterill Statutory Standards Officer Estates Office Ext Ken Byng Head of Maintenance - College Services Estates Office k.byng@bham.ac.uk Ext Sophie Gask Occupational Health Advisor Occupational Health Services s.m.gask@bham.ac.uk Ext Mark Hoare Health and Safety Advisor Health & Safety Unit m.r.h.hoare@bham.ac.uk Ext Graham Timmins Estates Office Health & Safety Advisor Estates Office g.d.timmins@bham.ac.uk Ext 46403