Home | New asbestos survey regime heralds strict obligations

New asbestos survey regime heralds strict obligations

05 August 2009

Those responsible for protecting others from deadly asbestos in buildings will soon have strict new guidelines to follow.

Revised Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance for asbestos surveys is set to be introduced in the autumn.

National law firm Shoosmiths is warning those requesting and carrying out surveys that they must meet their obligations under the comprehensive new regime, which covers surveying, sampling, and assessment of asbestos containing materials (ACMs).

Asbestos causes the greatest number of work-related deaths every year. 

Those affected by the new guidelines will be asbestos surveyors, and duty holders – people or organisations responsible for protecting residents or employees from asbestos in homes and workplaces.

Express obligations have been imposed on duty holders concerning the planning and execution of asbestos surveys, and they will have to provide information on the number of buildings to be inspected, plans and surveys, building usage, known hazards, and access details.

Duty holders will also be responsible for making sure surveyors are competent by obtaining details from surveyors, including insurance, references, and plans showing where asbestos sampling and disturbance will take place.
 
Under the new regime, there will be two types of survey:

• management survey – designed to locate the presence and extent of ACMs, so that the duty holder can prepare a plan for the management of asbestos

• refurbishment/demolition survey  – a much more intrusive survey, designed to locate all ACMs so they can be removed before refurbishment or demolition takes place

The guidelines recommend a site meeting between the duty holder and the surveyor before surveys begin.

Once completed, duty holders have a further obligation to check the accuracy of the survey report, including that it is of the type requested, that all rooms and areas have been accessed, and that sufficient samples have been taken.

Shoosmiths partner and asbestos specialist Angela Taylor said: “The new guidelines certainly represent a step forward in asbestos surveying.

“Duty holders should familiarise themselves with the express obligations imposed on them, in particular checking the surveyor’s competence, being involved at the survey planning stage, and checking survey reports.

“At the same time, surveyors must be aware of the extent of the work to be undertaken, and not be tempted to do a sub-standard job in the interests of offering a competitive price for the work.”

For further information please contact:
Name: Alastair Gray
Phone: 08700 864096
Email: Alastair.Gray@shoosmiths.co.uk

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