Checking the competence guide

HSG 264, which replaces and expands on the existing guide for the surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos containing materials (MDHS 100) has been released.

A link to the free download from the HSE's website is to your left.

The key areas to be aware of are:

Competence.

It is the duty holder's responsibility to ensure that they appoint a competent organisation or person to undertake the asbestos survey.

• Surveying company -
  To be accredited they must have ISO/IEC 17020. UKAS(United Kingdom Accreditation Service) is the normal accreditation body. So your "surveying" company can be checked at their website.
• Click the link to your right for UKAS Inspection Body

• Analytical/testing company - To be accredited they must have ISO/IEC 17025. UKAS is the normal accreditation body. So your "analyst" company can be checked at their website.
• Click the link to your right for UKAS Testing Lab

• Asbestos Surveyors can also demonstrate that they are technically competent to undertake specified surveys through holding 'personnel' certification from a Certification Body accredited by UKAS for this activity under ISO/IEC 17024. The Duty Holder should not appoint or instruct an independent surveyor to carry out a survey unless the surveyor is competent. Typically a "P402"- Certification from BOHS is the norm but there are other bodies. A surveyor must be certified, have the required experience to undertake such work & have undergone Refresher Training as laid out in Regulation 10. Such evidence can be obtained from the surveying company as at this time there is no definite list available.

Survey Types.

There are now two classifications of asbestos survey, not three.

Type 1 and Type 2 Surveys - become Management Survey.

This is the standard survey that should be carried out for the continued management of asbestos in premises. The purpose of the survey is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect ACMs in the building and assess their condition. Sampling is the most common approach that has been used for surveys. However, a management survey can also involve a combination of sampling and presuming the presence or absence of asbestos. Any materials presumed to contain asbestos must also have their condition assessed (i.e. material assessment). Management surveys may involve minor intrusive work and some disturbance.The extent of intrusion will vary between premises and depend on what is reasonably practicable for individual properties. Caveat's are to be minimised as much as possible.

Type 3 Survey - becomes Refurbishment and Demolition Survey.

These surveys will be used to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all ACMs in the area where the refurbishment work will take place or in the whole building if demolition is planned. The survey will involve destructive inspection as necessary, to gain access to all locations, including those that may be difficult to reach. Refurbishment work may vary from relatively small to large projects. A full sampling programme is undertaken in these areas to identify possible ACMs. Even though ACm's may be identified for removal the management plan must take into account that this may not be instant so the risk must be manged up until the point of removal.

Survey Restrictions and Caveats

The value and usefulness of the survey can be seriously undermined where either the client or the surveyor imposes restrictions on the survey scope. They should be included only where absolutely necessary, and should be fully justified by both the Duty Holder and the surveyor as it can undermine the management plan. All restrictions and caveats must be documented within the report.