Asbestos is a material that has the potential to kill with the minutest fragments.
As part of the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) there is an obligation on all employers to ensure their workforce is not exposed to asbestos.
This is not an option but is legally enforceable. It is always best practice to have an asbestos survey carried out by a competent person and then to ensure that adequate controls are put into place for any identified asbestos to be monitored and controlled. A mistake that many companies do is to have a survey carried out and then ignore the findings and carry on as if there is no asbestos to worry about. It is essential for companies to put in place regular inspections on the areas of identified asbestos and to take actions if there are any signs of deterioration.
Part of the controls for asbestos when working with the material is air monitoring. New codes of practice has recently been issued.
http://arca.org.uk/downloads/ARCA%20GN012-V0316-Other%20Trades%20and%20Live%20Enclosures.pdf
http://arca.org.uk/downloads/ARCA%20GN001-V1015-Monitoring%20of%20Airborne%20Asbestos%20Fibre.pdf
These codes of practice help companies and contractors understand the requirements of controlling exposure and to give guidance on air monitoring.
For further information or assistance please contact us on 01889 881887, email andy@qscconsultancy.co.uk, tweet us @qscconsultancy.