A Simple Note

Need an Asbestos Management Plan For Your Building?

There are a number of laws that require action to be taken in respect of asbestos in non-domestic properties, but primarily they put a legal responsibility on the person who owns, occupies or controls the maintenance of the property to manage the risk from asbestos materials or to co-operate with the person who does have that responsibility.

To understand these requirements it is important to know why asbestos is dangerous and where it may be found. It is the fine fibres found in asbestos that can cause asbestos related diseases, mainly cancer in the lungs and chest cavity caused from breathing these fibres. Asbestos has good fire and heat retarding properties and because of this was used extensively in construction processes. There are three main types, known as blue, brown and white asbestos with the first two being the most dangerous. You can not tell the types of asbestos by looking at their colour however and any determination of whether a material is made up of asbestos should only be made as part of a professionally undertaken survey (by an accredited firm or person).

Indeed a survey should be the first step in any plan to manage asbestos in a non-domestic building (and this will include common parts of residential properties, such as stairwells). Whilst it may be necessary to test certain samples, there should also be a presumption that asbestos is present in any material can not be tested that may contain asbestos.

Where asbestos is identified it either needs to be removed or made safe. If it is in good condition and does not need to be disturbed then the latter course of action is often preferred as being the safest. If is to be removed this should be undertaken by a trained and competent contractor and disposed of properly.

Any contractor working within the property should be given a copy of the asbestos survey so that they can make sure that work they do is not going to disturb any remaining asbestos or if they are working in an affected area, suitable steps are taken to remove the asbestos containing materials before they start work.

The third requirement is to prepare an Asbestos Management Plan to monitor the remaining asbestos in the property. This should relate back to the asbestos survey and include a routine of regular monitoring and inspections of remaining asbestos to ensure that it remains in good condition. This plan should also be regularly monitored and updated as required.