Asbestos Removals, Asbestos Surveys & Asbestos testing branchesAsbestos Removals, surveying & testing branch - Contact an advisorASBESTOS CONTRACTORS & SURVEYORS | OLD STYLE TYPE 1, 2 & 3 SURVEYS HAVE NOW BEEN CHANGED TO ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT AND REFURBISHMENT/ DEMOLITION SURVEYS!!, ASBESTOS REMOVALS, TESTING & EXPOSURE ADVICE

With the introduction of HSG 264 (Asbestos: the survey guide) documentation earlier this year in January the older style Type 1, 2 & 3 asbestos surveys have now been replaced with:

• Asbestos Management Surveys & Removal costs
• Asbestos Pre-refurbishment / Pre-demolition surveys

These two types of Asbestos surveys that ASL provide throughout Edinburgh, Glasgow and the UK are described in the new government guide (HSG 264) and are outlined below.

Please note, if you lease, own or manage commercial premises or are in charge of a workforce of any sort (employees or external staff included such as sub-contractor tradesmen) then you have a duty to protect these people from exposure to asbestos. The new guidelines will apply to you and can be enforced by the government with fines and imprisonment!

If you are unsure of the new changes in guidelines please contact ASL today.

Asbestos Management Survey (Old TYPE 1 & 2 asbestos survey)

An asbestos management survey which is undertaken to address the risks from asbestos associated with the continued use of the building (ie normal occupancy and activities and associated maintenance and development).

Management surveys are performed to ensure that no one is harmed by the continued presence of asbestos in premises (ie ACMs (asbestos containing materials) remain in good condition and that no-one inadvertently disturbs ACMs during maintenance and other work).
The purpose of this type of survey is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect ACMs in the building. Management surveys may involve minor intrusive work and some disturbance to allow maintenance or installation work.

Management surveys are a combination of the older styled type 1 & 2 asbestos surveys.

The old style Type 1 asbestos survey consisted of:The type 1 asbestos survey was the simplest of all asbestos surveys and did not usually involve sampling. A visual, rather than invasive survey, the old type 1 asbestos survey involved the surveyor examining all accessible areas of a building looking for asbestos containing materials (ACM’s).

The old style Type 2 asbestos survey: was also known as a sampling survey.
Like the type 1 asbestos survey, the type 2 asbestos survey was a visual survey and was non-invasive. The asbestos surveyor would take small samples of materials suspected of containing asbestos and then arrange for laboratory testing to confirm or rule out the presence of asbestos. NOW THE SURVEYOR MUST TAKE ALL REASONABLE STEPS TO ACCESS ALL AREAS OF THE BUILDING. THIS HAS MEANT THAT SURVEYS ARE MUCH MORE INDEPTH!

Pre-Demolition/Refurbishment, Asbestos Survey (Old TYPE 3 asbestos survey)

This type of survey is necessary prior to any demolition or refurbishment work being carried out. These “demolition/refurbishment” surveys will be quite different and much more intrusive and destructive compared with management surveys as their intention is to locate all the asbestos containing materials (ACM'S) so that they can be removed before the demolition or refurbishment takes place. All buildings require a management survey as part of the on-going arrangements to manage asbestos. However refurbishment / demolition surveys will only be required as necessary when the needs or use of the building changes.
The revised technical guidance sets out how to survey workplace premises for asbestos containing materials (ACMs) and how to record the results in a usable form.
Its function is to support other duty-to-manage guidance, which deals more broadly with the management arrangements.
The methods of asbestos surveys purpose, irrespective of the type, is to assist in the management of asbestos in the buildings. The survey has to provide sufficient information for an Asbestos Register/plan to be prepared and for a risk assessment to be carried out.

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What you should expect from your asbestos surveys
• Firstly, the asbestos survey must as far as reasonably practicable locate and record the location, extent and product type of any presumed or known asbestos;
• Secondly, it must inspect and record information on the accessibility, condition and surface treatment of any presumed or know ACMs
• Thirdly, it should determine and record the asbestos type, either by collecting representative samples of suspect materials for laboratory identification, or by making a presumption based on the product type and its appearance etc.

Recent breaches of the health & safety at work act 2006 (regulation 4)

Heating firm fined £8000

as staff exposed to asbestos

A HEATING firm has been fined £8000 after three of its employees were exposed to asbestos while working in a church
Lothian Heating Services Ltd (LHS) failed to spot the deadly substance at St Teresa's RC Church in Edinburgh before sending Craig Cumming, Stephen Smith and John Thomson to replace a decrepit heating system

Asbestos exposure costs local firms £25 000
Two companies have been fined over £23 000 after a courtheard how contractors were exposed to the risk of inhaling asbestos during refurbishment work

Speaking after the case, investigation health and safety executive Tom Cleary said: "In order for demolition or refurbishment projects to be undertaken safely, clients must fulfil their legal obligations under the Construction Design and Management Regulations. Clients must provide comprehensive information on the condition of the building, including an intrusive asbestos survey."

Source: Safety Management

Don't get caught out! call ASL today on 0131 664 2107 to have your suspected asbestos material surveyed, sampled & tested & removed.