If you are a client, designer or contractor in the construction industry, then you need to know about materials that contain asbestos (ACMs).
This means that before you commission or do any construction work that is likely to disturb asbestos, you will need to find out if there are any ACMs in the premises or structure, and if so:
For demolition and refurbishment work, it is essential to find out, either from checking existing records (such as the client's survey, asbestos plan or register) or commissioning a suitable survey before any construction work starts. It is good practice to include the need to survey asbestos and protect or remove it in the initial project cost and programme.
Work with high-risk asbestos products, such as asbestos insulating board, sprayed fire or insulation coatings or lagging, must only be carried out by an asbestos licence holder who works within the conditions of their licence.
For work with lower-risk asbestos products, such as decorative ceiling coatings and corrugated asbestos cement sheets, make sure that workers are properly protected and that you minimise the spread of debris - public fear and bad publicity are all too common, and decontamination costs can be huge.
Make sure that asbestos waste is disposed of properly and in accordance with Environment Agency and Scottish Environment Protection Agency requirements.
It is a legal requirement that your workers are trained to know about the health risks associated with asbestos, how to spot it, and what to do if they uncover damaged asbestos.
Once construction work is finished, you may need to share information about the location and condition of any asbestos that is still within the premises. This is so that the client can comply with their duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises.
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