Some processes or products give off dust more easily than others, but work on any of the following activities is likely to produce some asbestos dust or fibre release:

* the removal (stripping) of old asbestos insulation materials from buildings or machinery. This is an activity that is likely to produce very high dust levels and should normally be carried out by a contractor licensed by HSE;
* the manufacture of products wholly or partly made from raw asbestos, e.g. asbestos textiles;
* the installation, maintenance, repair and general handling of products containing asbestos, e.g. asbestos cement products, insulating board, friction materials such as brake pads and clutch linings;
* the removal of roofing felts, old floor tiles, textured paints and plasters containing asbestos;
* some installation, repair and maintenance work by plumbers, electricians, carpenters etc.

From May 2004 all duty holders have a duty to identify and manage Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) in non-domestic premises. Duty Holders are all those with responsibility for maintenance and repairs on non-domestic premises.

Those in control of premises should:

* Determine the location and condition of any ACMs, presume that materials contain asbestos unless there is evidence that they don’t
* Make a record of the location and condition of ACMs in the premises.
* Assess the risks of how likely anyone is to be exposed to fibres from ACMs
* Have in place a plan on how the risks will be managed, and take steps to put in place and action a management plan.
* Provide information on the location and condition of ACMs to anyone likely to work on or disturb them.

You should ask to see the ACM register which should contain details of where any ACMs may be located and the chances of disturbing them during the work.

Progress through the processes associated with the implementation of the duty to manage may encourage the need to appoint a competent person to carry out all or part of the work e.g. surveying, asbestos bulk sampling, asbestos removal and asbestos air testing.

HSE’s ‘Comprehensive guidance on managing asbestos’ (HSG 227) provides useful tips on the tendering and contracting process in relation to the engagement of surveyors and licensed contractors. The information includes the things to look for to help you ensure that a contractor has the competences to provide you with the most appropriate service. A List of Asbestos Contractors can be found on HSE’s Asbestos Topic site whilst lists of accredited surveyors and laboratories can be obtained through the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)

Usefull web links
www.ukas.com.
www.arca.org.uk
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/asbestos/index.htm

* check that their current arrangements for the management of asbestos within their premises are effective and are being applied properly;
* adopt a precautionary approach to maintenance work. Until a proper assessment has been carried out of their premises they must assume that all materials being worked on containing asbestos, adopting the standards set out in 'Asbestos Essentials'. Alternatively they can carry out a 'mini survey' of the material being worked on before the work is done; and
* carry out an initial inspection of the premises to look for serious damage and disturbance of material and take effective remedial action as necessary.

NO

Asbestos is only a risk to health when it releases its fibres. So where the material is in good condition and in a location where it will not be disturbed it should be left in place and effectively managed.

Where asbestos materials are found to be in poor condition and/or are likely to be disturbed then removal may prove to be the appropriate option. However, you should firstly be considering encapsulating, repairing or sealing damaged materials, or where disturbance is an issue reorganise the workplace to avoid the risk. Where this can be achieved then leave the materials in place, record their presence and manage them effectively.

It should be remembered that removal of asbestos that is in good condition and is not likely to be disturbed could give rise to unnecessary risk and expense.

Work with asbestos can release small fibres into the air. Breathing in asbestos fibres can eventually lead to a number of diseases. These include:

* asbestosis or fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs;
* lung cancer; and
* mesothelioma, a cancer of the inner lining of the chest wall or abdominal cavity

However, provided the asbestos is intact, sealed and undisturbed, it will not pose a risk to health.

Trades such as plumbers, carpenters, electricians and structured cabling contractors and other construction workers are most at risk as they may come across asbestos during routine repair, installation or refurbishment work. Asbestos insulating board is particularly common in buildings constructed before 1980 and was used in fire doors, ceiling tiles, internal walls and panels.

Due to the length of time between exposure and the onset of mesothelioma (up to 60 years) other high risk industries can generally be associated with past exposures to asbestos including:

Shipbuilding and ship repair, railway rolling stock and locomotive building, and the installation of lagging or other insulation materials in buildings or industrial plant.

There are three main types of asbestos - chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite; they are usually called white, brown and blue asbestos respectively. However they cannot be identified just by their colour. Only white asbestos is now used in the UK, mostly for the manufacture of asbestos textiles, gaskets, friction materials such as brake pads and clutch linings, and asbestos cement products.

Blue and brown asbestos (the two most dangerous forms) have not been imported into the UK for nearly 20 years and are now banned by law. However all three types may still be found in:

* sprayed asbestos and asbestos loose packing - generally used as fire breaks in ceiling voids;
* moulded or preformed sprayed coatings and lagging - generally used in thermal insulation of pipes, boilers;
* sprayed asbestos mixed with hydrated asbestos cement - generally used as fire protection in ducts, firebreaks, panels, partitions, soffit boards, ceiling panels and around structural steel work;
* insulating boards used for fire protection, thermal insulation, partitioning and ducts;
* some ceiling and floor tiles;
* millboard, paper and paper products used for insulation of electrical equipment, asbestos paper has been used as a fire proof facing on wood fibre board;
* asbestos cement products, which can be compressed into flat or corrugated sheets. Corrugated sheets are largely used as roofing and wall cladding. Other asbestos cement products include gutters, rainwater pipes and water tanks;
* certain textured coatings.