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The HSE's asbestos essentials

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Fit testing basics

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When is it safe to handle asbestos?

The law

Any work involving asbestos or asbestos-containing materials (ACM) must meet the requirements of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 . The regulations are quite flexible in that they provide for different levels of precaution according to the risks. There are some low-risk scenarios in which it is possible to work legally with ACMs without being a licensed contractor. An old outbuilding comprising asbestos profile sheeting will be made of asbestos cement. In this type of product the asbestos fibres tend to be firmly bound into the cement matrix and therefore not readily made airborne. For this reason, work with asbestos cement is one of the types of job you may be able to do in-house.

What are the rules?

The HSE’s Asbestos Essentials (AE) worksheets help to determine whether you can go ahead and if so how. In all cases, a risk assessment is needed to determine if a licence is required.

Tip. Check out the HSE’s AE information to help with your risk assessment and determine if you need a licensed contractor (see The next step ).

Non-licensable work

If your outbuilding can be carefully removed by unscrewing etc. with minimal damage to the sheets, it falls into the lowest category of risk as far as the HSE is concerned which means that you can simply follow the task sheet instructions. However before you rush to this conclusion you should think about whether you can meet the conditions imposed, i.e. that you’re not: (1) using mechanical means to remove it; or (2) breaking it up creating a lot of dust, e.g. “dropping” an asbestos roof; and (3) it’s not already in poor shape.

Tip. If you cannot meet the conditions listed, the work may well be “notifiable non-licensed work” , which is a middle band between licensable and non-licensable. This triggers additional requirements including medical examinations for workers. Therefore, for a one-off job you’ll undoubtedly prefer to subcontract the work to a specialist contractor, despite the additional cost.

Ready to go ahead?

If you’re happy you can take the building apart by hand, and you meet the conditions of the AE worksheet, you can potentially do this in-house.

Tip. Staff carrying out this work will need to be trained beforehand in the risks of the materials and the task-specific safe system of work to be followed, including protective clothing to wear and how to safely dispose of the waste.

Tip. Wellingtons, “Type 5” disposable overalls, and a minimum of FFP3 respiratory protection, will all be necessary. You’ll need to ensure that the respirators have been fit tested (see The next step ). Although the AE worksheet looks simple, it cross-references other guidance documents which you’ll also need to work through.

Warning. Asbestos handled incorrectly could lead to future civil claims as well as enforcement action by the HSE. Unless you’re prepared to put in the time to plan and prepare according to the guidelines, let the experts handle the removal.

For links to HSE Essentials and Fit testing basics, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk, Download Zone, year 19, issue 02.