University of Strathclyde, Estates Services

University of Strathclyde, Estates Services

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ID: SAF001

Procedure: Asbestos - Introduction

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Author: PM

Legislation

1. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
2. Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
3. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Narrative

Many of the buildings within the University will have Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) present within their fabric as this material was commonly used in construction until the mid-1980s. Estates Services is responsible for ensuring the risk to staff, students, visitors, and contractors is minimised by effectively managing and controlling work where ACMs are present.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 sets out the way in which work may be carried out on asbestos. Work on asbestos insulation or on asbestos insulation board, may only be carried out by contractors licensed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Arrangements for such work are coordinated by Estates Services through the Asbestos Coordinator and project managers.
It is important to stress that where ACM’s are in good condition and remain undisturbed they do not present a risk to health. Providing the asbestos is well maintained it does not present any hazard to health.

Introduction

What is Asbestos?
There are three main types of asbestos-
Chrysotile, usually called white
Amosite, ² ² brown
Crocidolite, ² ² blue
They cannot be identified by their colour, Laboratory analysis is required.
How does it get into the body?
Asbestos fibres enter the body through the nose and mouth; they cannot be absorbed through your skin. The body naturally gets rid of any asbestos fibres that you might take in with food and water. The body will get rid of most of the larger fibres, but tiny fibres can pass into the lung where they can stay for many years leading to disease.
It is because fibres can remain in the lungs for so long that small but repeated exposures on different jobs, over the years, can potentially lead to the development of an asbestos-related disease. This is why it is important to prevent or control exposure to asbestos on every single University job.
Where is asbestos found in University buildings?
Asbestos materials have been put to many uses over the past century. Blue and brown was banned by law in 1985 following that, the importation supply and use of white asbestos products was banned in In 1999 with the exception of a few specialist uses where there is no suitable substitute available. Of the many thousands of tonnes of asbestos used in buildings in the past, much of it still remains there today.
Its most common uses were:
·  Loose asbestos packing between floors and in partition walls:
·  Sprayed (‘limpet’) asbestos on structural beams and girders;
·  Lagging on pipework and boilers, calorifiers, heat exchangers etc;
·  Asbestos insulating board ceiling tiles, partition walls, service duct covers, fire breaks, heater cupboards, door panels, lift shaft linings, fire surrounds, soffits etc;
·  Asbestos cement products such as roof and wall cladding, bath panels, boiler and incinerator flues, gutters, rainwater pipes, water tanks etc;
·  Other products such as floor tiles, mastics, sealants, rope seals, gaskets and textured coatings etc.
What should those in charge of organising works within the University do
(e.g. Project Managers, DLO Supervisors)?
·  Find out whether asbestos materials are present. The University has a Register of known locations of asbestos. The contents of the Asbestos Register can be viewed electronically from your desktop p.c. or you can view a hard copy version of the Register via the Estates Asbestos Co-ordinator;
·  Plan the work out to avoid disturbing the asbestos material;
·  Where there is a risk of disturbing asbestos, liaise with the Asbestos coordinator to arrange for a licenced asbestos removal contractor (See appendix 1) to safely remove the asbestos to allow works to progress.
·  Ensure that anyone working on the fabric of the building has undergone asbestos awareness training
·  Ensure no asbestos or suspected asbestos material is handled before contacting the Asbestos Coordinator or nominated person acting on their behalf (See appendix 2 for info), for guidance
Under no circumstances should work involving the disturbance of the building fabric be carried out unless the material likely to be disturbed has been confirmed as free from asbestos

Appendix 1

The following licensed Asbestos Removal contractors have been approved by the University.
·  Carymar Construction Services Ltd. Tel 0141 776 5551
·  Enviviraz (Scotland ) Ltd. Tel 0141 882 8440

Appendix 2

Paul McGowan - Asbestos Coordinator
T: 5783
M: 07967581769
E:
Richard Samson - Assistant Asbestos Coordinator
T: 2038
M: 07971035781
E:
Mark Lindsay - Assistant Asbestos Coordinator
T: 2112
M: 07971032785
E:

Date: May 2017 Page 4 of 4