ASBESTOS TESTING

As we have mentioned on other pages, it is a legal requirement for all UK businesses to identify asbestos containing materials in commercial buildings. There are no exemptions to this wide-ranging legislation.

However, there is no legal requirement to actually test for them under the legislation and it is acceptable to presume that a material contains asbestos for the purposes of the regulations in some cases.

There are a number of reasons why you should test though.

Under various health and safety legislative measures, employers have a duty to ensure that their employees and visitors to their offices, factories, shops etc., are kept safe.

Whilst many asbestos containing materials are perfectly safe, once they become damaged, they are potentially lethal.

Imagine the potential catastrophe if an office wall panel that you assumed was plaster board was drilled or otherwise damaged by a maintenance worker and turned out to be an asbestos insulation board.

Everybody in that office could be contaminated with millions of highly dangerous, microscopic asbestos fibres invisible to the human eye.

Once inhaled, asbestos is impossible to remove from the lungs, where it eventually hardens, creates tumours or tissue thickening that eventually disables and then slowly suffocates the victim.

If suspected or actual asbestos fibres are released into the work environment;

The entire area has to be evacuated, sealed and decontaminated immediately.

The incident must be reported to the Health & Safety Executive.

Your company will be sued and fined heavily.

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, a breach can result in a two year prison sentence for the principal of the business.

As you can see, the implications are serious.

Even if you strongly believe that there is no asbestos in your premises, there is a strong chance that some of the building or insulating materials used in the construction contain it.

That is why it is wise to get certain materials tested by a properly qualified, UKAS approved asbestos testing laboratory.

For example,

Are you certain that the ceiling tiles in your office do not contain asbestos?

The pipe lagging in your boiler room might look innocent, but what is it?

The sprayed fire protection coating on steel beams is often asbestos

Your fire doors could contain asbestos panels - if drilled, could be lethal

What about roof panels, guttering and down pipes to your factory?

Is there any office or factory partitioning? What's it made of? Are you sure?

Just because you have asbestos in the workplace, it doesn't mean that it has to be removed.

Properly contained and managed, asbestos presents no risk to health and the asbestos regulations only state that you have to identify the asbestos and manage it accordingly.

This means ensuring that it is not disturbed by maintenance or refurbishment works.

It's not as bad as you might think.

Testing suspected or unknown materials is a safe investment that can save more than money. It can saves lives too.

Taking the best case scenario, let's assume that the lab analysis reveals no asbestos containing materials are discovered from your samples.

This result leaves you free to make alterations on your building without having to worry about or even consider asbestos contamination.

However, if you follow the asbestos regulations and presume that materials do contain asbestos, your maintenance costs could increase considerably - to the degree where even changing a fluorescent light bulb would become difficult.

For example, let's say that under the regulations, you presume that your office ceiling tiles contain asbestos. (Not uncommon actually).

To change a florescent light, here are the procedures that would have to be followed (or you face jail):

Minimum two people required

Both need protective clothing and approved respirators

The room concerned has to be emptied of people (no exceptions)

Asbestos warning signs have to be placed in the area

The work area beneath the ceiling tiles has to be protected with plastic sheeting

As one person changes the light, the other has to shadow vacuum with an approved H-Type vacuum cleaner.

If a tile is accidentally broken, the room has to be sealed and air monitoring carried out.

As you can see, not testing can turn out to be a very expensive option - and what message do you think such actions send to your staff?

Would they feel safe seeing their office evacuated just to change a light tube? Take a look at the pictures below to see what it looks like:

Protective clothing and respiratory protection essential. The fitting has to be vacuumed before it is disturbed.

Plastic sheeting protects floor. Thorough cleaning is essential.

How would they feel seeing the maintenance workers in breathing apparatus? How would you feel?

Testing can confirm that asbestos is not present and can therefore save you all of this expense, worry and trouble.

It can also save lives.

To arrange a survey and/or testing of your commercial premises, please contact us directly.

Asbestos surveyors have a duty to be impartial and independent. We will provide you with the best advice in common sense terms that apply to the real world - not legalese and Heath & Safety jargon.

Call Robert Street or David Carter on 0121 733 8686