UKAS Accredited Asbestos Inspection Bodies (AIB) Launch Asbestos Industry Dutyholder Client Survey

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Following the recent HSE publication of HSG 264 – the Asbestos Survey Guide, a new asbestos surveying, industry-focused blog was formed.  The blog was developed to further promote HSE’s message that clients need to ensure they select competent organisations and that this can clearly be demonstrated by selecting UKAS accredited or certified surveyors for asbestos surveys.

AIB have today launched an industry survey exploring Client’s awareness and understanding of HSG264 and how they select asbestos surveyors and asbestos inspection firms.  The survey can be taken here.

The survey will be promoted across all industries and all Dutyholders, clients, FM’s, Property Managers of non-domestic buildings will be encouraged to take the survey.  Results are expected to give an insight into awareness of HSG264 and its implementation in the marketplace.

UKAS currently accredits over 100 asbestos inspection bodies to carry out asbestos surveys.

John Richards, Managing Director of analytical and surveying firm, Thames Laboratories said:

“The HSG 264 Asbestos Survey Guide strongly recommends the use of an accredited, competent surveyor to carry out an asbestos survey.  The AIB Blog is a collaboration aimed at promoting UKAS Accredited organisations who should be the first choice for companies who have to commission surveys for asbestos.”

He went on to say “Non UKAS Accredited firms will be hit hard by this Guidance since the release of the HSG 264 document, it has been reported that non-accredited companies are already seeing their insurance policies being revoked on that basis.”

The AIB Blog, encourages subscribers to participate in ‘comment and debate’ sessions via Blog posts.  This has many benefits for subscribers, namely, the online promotion of best practice from their individual organisations via articles, press releases, news stories, video and podcasts.

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www.asbestosinspectionbodies.co.uk

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Asbestos Re-inspections, why it’s not being done/competency

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Those people who are responsible for a building and have the power to authorise work upon the fabric of the building, have duties under Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.

Poor quality asbestos insulation in roof void

Poor quality asbestos insulation in roof void.

To summarise those duties:

  • Ensure that the people that work there or visit there are not exposed to asbestos.
  • Ensure that workmen who work on the building are informed where the asbestos is to be found.

Although there is a lot of guidance as to how this might be achieved; how it is actually achieved does not matter.

If asbestos is present in the building, its condition obviously has to be monitored. It may have looked alright a year ago, but what state is it in today? Is it exposing people that work near it to airborne asbestos fibre?

This is as basic a health and safety principle as a worn carpet creating a trip hazard or a pile of boxes blocking a fire exit. We all know that there are organisations where the worn carpet and the pile of boxes are ignored and the likelihood of asbestos being managed is nil.

On the other hand, organisations with otherwise good health and safety procedures may have had an asbestos survey but have done nothing with it. They have started on the road to asbestos compliance but have not completed the journey. Read the rest of this entry »

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Inside the global asbestos trade

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(BBC News: 21st July 2010) Banned or restricted in more than 50 countries, white asbestos continues to be widely used in China, India, Russia and Brazil, and many developing countries. The BBC’s Steve Bradshaw and Jim Morris from the ICIJ report on an industry supported by a global network of lobby groups.

The Jeffrey asbestos mine in Quebec is an astonishing sight. “Big and beautiful,” says one of the regular flow of tourists and locals who peer into its depths from a public observation deck.

Asbestos production, consumption and export

Asbestos production, consumption and export

Kites glide above the tiny azure pool far below.

Elsewhere in Quebec Province, Janice Tomkins, an amateur watercolourist, is painting birds for the first time. She does not know how many more she will paint because she has mesothelioma – a rare illness linked to asbestos.

Janice believes she is ill because of exposure decades ago to blue and brown asbestos – forms of the mineral now banned.

What is mined in Quebec is a different kind of asbestos – white asbestos or chrysotile – the only kind now used commercially worldwide. Countries like Russia, China, Brazil, and India – although not Canada – use it widely as a cheap and effective building material.

The president of the mine, Bernard Coulombe, told us their chrysotile is “sold exclusively to end-users having the same industrial hygiene practices as Canada,” and said the federal and provincial governments have proof this is the case.

But, despite still being mined in Quebec, white asbestos is now banned or restricted in some 52 countries, on the grounds that any form of asbestos can cause devastating illnesses like Janice’s.

Opposition

Many scientists fear the continued use of asbestos could significantly prolong a global epidemic of asbestos-related illnesses that began when blue and brown asbestos were legal. The WHO says white asbestos “is a known cause of human cancer,” including mesothelioma.

Dr Vincent Cogliano, of the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer says: “My own personal view is that these risks are extremely high. They are as high as just about any known carcinogen that we have seen, except, perhaps, for tobacco smoke.

“Any exposure is going to prolong the asbestos epidemic – continued export and continued use of chrysotile will increase the incidence of lung cancer and mesothelioma for many decades to come, he said.”

Janice does not want the Quebec provincial government to approve a C$58m (US$56m, £37m) loan guarantee that would enable the Jeffrey Mine to boost exports to developing nations such as India. Read the rest of this entry »

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HSG 264 – Implemented and the impact on asbestos surveys in schools

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HSG 264 is now fully implemented within the market place and all businesses should now see a marked difference in the approach to asbestos surveys under this new guidance.  Asbestos Consultancies have had to make a number of changes to meet the requirements of HSG 264 some of these are as follows:- Read the rest of this entry »

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Competence is key: Ensure asbestos surveyors are qualified for the job

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Asbestos surveys are only effective if competent surveyors are employed to do them…That is one of the key messages being promoted at roadshows to help explain new guidance devised for those responsible for managing the risks from asbestos. Read the rest of this entry »

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Asbestos Surveys: Insurance implications of the introduction of HSG 264: The Survey Guide

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Insurance for those undertaking any form of asbestos work has long been an issue as the insurance sector world wide are having to pay substantial sums of money to deal with claims from historic asbestos exposure.

In the UK we have three types of insurance that are applicable to those who undertake asbestos inspection work. Read the rest of this entry »

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The old type 3 Asbestos Survey – How has it changed???

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I am regularly asked what is the difference between the old ”type 3′ and the new Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys . So a bit of background first!
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My survey shows the house I’m buying has asbestos. Should I pull out of the deal?

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Whilst keeping up with the latest Asbestos Industry news I stumbled across an article posted today on the Independents House Doctor page:

Question: The survey on a home we’re buying has just shown a likelihood of asbestos in the property and in the attached garage. Obviously, I’m upset and in two minds to either pull out or ask for a huge discount. However, everybody including the estate agent, seller and mortgage broker tells me I’m kicking up a fuss for no reason. Surely this isn’t right? I thought it was still a nasty threat. Written by James Pelling, Stoke Read the rest of this entry »

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Asbestos Surveys – HSG 264 and the impact on the demolition industry

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Asbestos Surveys Demolition news podcast – Interview with Spectra Analysis’ Angela Chouaib on changes to UK asbestos regulations.

Angela Chouaib - Spectra Analysis

Angela Chouaib - Spectra Analysis

Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys have been carried out as ‘Type 3’ surveys since the introduction of MDHS 100 in July 2001. This document provided advice and methodology for surveyors engaged in all asbestos survey types. However, the guidance for Type 3 Surveys was nominal which inevitably led to varying degrees of inspection procedures by the surveying companies.

In this exclusive audio interview, Spectra Analysis’ Angela Chouaib explains the changes and what they mean to UK demolition contractors undertaking asbestos-related work. Just hit the play button (below) to listen.

Listen to Demolition News Podcast here

For further information please contact Angela Chouaib - Spectra Analysis.

The UKAS Accredited Asbestos Inspection Bodies blog is an information portal developed by the UKAS Accredited Asbestos Inspection Firms listed on this site. Subscribe to our RSS newsfeed here.

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Cheap surveys! Exactly as it says on the tin!

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Asbestos awareness has grown due to the remarkable increase in media and press coverage highlighting the potential health risks this naturally resulted in an increasing demand for asbestos surveys. Initially the flood gates open for every man and their granny to complete the 4 day P402 course and pass the multiple choice test that would qualify them to be a  Asbestos Surveyor and with very low overheads OMB’s (one man bands) started popping up here, there and everywhere, offering rock bottom priced cigarette packet asbestos surveys. Read the rest of this entry »

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