Effective asbestos management

1. Lets Talk Shop
Effective asbestos management
Safety & Health Expo 2014, Excel London
Martin Stear BSc DipOH CFFOH
Chartered Occupational Hygienist
BOHS Faculty Registrar

3. The 21st century asbestos
challenges of retail
 The exposed group
 Large numbers (inc. children)
 Staff – casual, seasonal, young etc.
 The environment
 Lots of ACMs were used
 Services hidden in voids
 Maintaining a contemporary look
 The work
 Maintenance whilst trading
 Refurbishment whilst trading
 24/7 trading

4. Asbestos and retail - dutyholders
 Cases of poor asbestos
management – some in
retail

6. Competent advice - surveying
 Restrictions
Its too high

7. Competent advice - surveying
 Is it safe to work?

8. Competent advice - other matters
 Inspections - what, when and
why?
 Managing survey data
 Managing removal works
 Air sampling and when is it
safe?
 Clearance testing
 Etc.

9. Retail Asbestos Working Group
(RAWG)
 A Group of Health & Safety
Managers & Directors from
some key players in the retail
sector
 Share good practice standards
for asbestos management in
the retail sector
 HSE, BRC, BOHS ACAD, ARCA
and ATAC are supportive of
the initiative

10. RAWG guidance published
 “Asbestos Management in the
Retail Sector: Interpreting the
Control of Asbestos Regulations
(CAR) 2012”
 Published October 2013
 Authored by
 Martin Stear – Chartered
Occupational Hygienist
 Rob Blackburn – Asbestos
Consultant
 http://www.brc.org.uk/asbestos-
guidance

11. What does the guidance do?
 Establishes a good working practice
standard for asbestos management in
the retail sector
 Flexibility - not rules for retail
 Complements HSE guidance but does not
challenge or contradict
 “Good” and not “best” practice
 Targeted at retailers but also those who
work in retail
 Targeted at small independent shops to
large retailers

12. Asbestos surveying
 Asbestos can be hidden in
voids and cavities, and behind
may shop refits
 The survey should address the
full scope of any maintenance
or building works
 Continued store trading is not
a reason for a sub-standard
survey – NO MATTER WHAT
YOUR SURVEYOR SAYS

13. Maintenance
A pipe
bursts
The
plumber
arrives
to fix
the leak
?
Leak
fixed
Store
closed
for 2
weeks
If this step is poorly
considered then asbestos
will be disturbed

19. Different approaches
Time
and
Space
Close
the
shop
Close
a floor
Hoard
the
floor
Crash
deck
scaffold
Barriers
and
cones
Etc.

20. Zoning

21. Ceiling voids are a
huge issue for retail
and most sectors

22. What’s Safe!!!!
<0.01 fibre/cm3
<10,000 fibre/m3
<0.0005 fibre/cm3
<500 fibre/m3
New Analysts Guide?? = <0.002 fibre/cm3
Leak tests Reassurance tests

23. Background exposure – store air
Background air tests (PCM) carried out in stores
Location
No. Of
Results
Range
(fibres/ml)
LoQ
Mean
(fibres/ml)
Store 1 8 0.0003 to 0.0012 <0.0005 0.0007
Store 2 8 0.0003 to 0.0033 <0.0005 0.0013
Store 3 8 0.0001 to 0.0003 <0.0005 0.0002
Store 4 8 0.0013 to 0.0029 <0.0005 0.0017
Store 5 8 0.0009 to 0.0040 <0.0005 0.0019
TOTAL 40 0.0001 to 0.0040 <0.0005 0.0012

24. Background exposure – void air
 Void tests – AHU on/off
 14 tests – PCM / SEM
 <0.005 fibre/ml PCM
 <0.001 fibre/ml SEM

25. RAWG - next steps
 Good practice standards
 Influencing policy
 Technical expertise
 Further guidance?
 Landlord / tenants

26. 2014 Event
 RAWG are proposing an asbestos seminar for the retail
sector in September 2014